News
Tennessee Governor supports constitutional carry bill
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced support for legislation to allow residents of the state to carry a firearm concealed without a concealed carry permit. The bill would apply to those 21 years old and up to both open and concealed carry in non-restricted areas. If this bill becomes law, this would become the 15th state to pass such a law.
“The Second Amendment is clear and concise and secures the freedoms of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms,” Lee said. “I am pleased to announce Constitutional Carry legislation today that will protect the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans, while also stiffening penalties on criminals who steal or illegally possess firearms.”
With this new legislation would bring tougher repercussions on those that steal or use firearms illegally.
- Increasing the penalty for theft of a firearm to a felony;
- Providing a sentencing enhancement for theft of a firearm in a car;
- Increasing the minimum sentence for theft of a firearm from 30 days to 180 days;
- Increasing the sentences for unlawful possession of a firearm by violent felons and felony drug offenders, possession of a handgun by a felon, and unlawfully providing a handgun to a juvenile or allowing a juvenile to possess a handgun.
You can see the press conference Gov. Bill Lee making the announcement here
Types of concealed carry permits in Tennessee
Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit
- Effective 1/1/2020, the current handgun carry permit will be referred to as an Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit.
- Application fee of $100 ($65 if active or honorably discharged military)
- Allows open or concealed carry.
- Permits will be issued for eight (8) years.
- The permit shall entitle the permittee to carry any handgun – which the permittee legally owns or possesses.
- The permittee shall have the permit in their immediate possession at all times when carrying a handgun and shall display the permit on demand of a law enforcement officer.
- Training requirements
Concealed Handgun Carry Permit (Effective 1/1/2020)
- 2019 Public Chapter 479
- Must carry Concealed at all times
- The fee for the permit will be $65
- Training requirements
- Must fill out CCP Proof of Training form to submit along with training proof
- The card will have an eight (8) year expiration date
- May not carry at any school or university (public or private)
- Name based background check run every 5 years
Lifetime (Enhanced Only)
- Allows open or concealed carry.
- Application fee of $300 ($265 if active or honorably discharged military), $200 if upgrading from eight (8) year permit
- No expiration date
- The permit shall entitle the permittee to carry any handgun – which the permittee legally owns or possesses
- The permittee shall have the permit in their immediate possession at all times when carrying a handgun and shall display the permit on demand of a law enforcement officer.
- Training requirements
- Name based background check run every 5 years
Retired Law Enforcement Lifetime
- No application fee
- Pursuant to TCA § 39-17-1351 (x) (5), the fee for a Lifetime permit shall be waived if the applicant:
- Is a former federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, as defined in § 39-11-106;
- Served for at least ten (10) years prior to leaving the law enforcement agency and was POST-certified, or had equivalent training, on the date the officer left the law enforcement agency;
- Was in good standing at the time of leaving the law enforcement agency, as certified by the chief law enforcement officer or designee of the organization that employed the applicant; and
- Is a resident of this state on the date of the application
- Must have one of the following:
- Completed Verification of Retired Police Officer For Lifetime Handgun Carry Permit form (SF-1551) required.
- LEOSA IN-1736 form and current LEOSA card
- Has a “Retired Law Enforcement” banner on the front of the card
- Name based background check run every 5 years
Temporary Permit
- No application fee
- Pursuant to TCA §36-6-626; §39-17-1308a; §39-17-1365 a person granted an Order of Protection has the ability to carry a handgun for 21 calendar days if they legally own the firearm and carry a copy of the Protective Order
- Such person may also apply for a temporary Handgun Carry Permit within the same 21 days
- A person who does not apply for the temporary Permit within 21 days will not be authorized to carry a handgun once 21 days has lapsed
- To be eligible to receive a temporary permit, one must apply in person with a certified copy of the Order of Protection, provide proof of identity and residency, and meet all other qualifications for a Handgun Carry Permit
- Prior to issuing the temporary Permit, a criminal history check will be conducted
- The temporary Permit is valid only in Tennessee for 60 days and will be issued as a letter without photograph
For more information, please see the official Tennessee site here.
