What’s the difference in a Concealed Carry Permit and an Enhanced Carry Permit?
With Tennessee’s new law going into effect on January 1st 2020, you are now allowed to attain a concealed carry permit. The carry permit before January 1st 2020 was simply called a handgun carry permit. That permit is now called an Enhanced Carry Permit. If you already had a carry permit before January 1st 2020, no action by you is needed. If you are looking into getting some sort of carry permit from the state of Tennessee, it will be important to know what the difference between the two is. The biggest key point is that you can attain the training requirements for your concealed carry permit online from the comfort of your own home. There are some small differences when carrying and those are listed below.
For the Enhanced carry permit, here are some key points;
· 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.
You can have any of the following to qualify for the Enhanced Carry Permit
· 8 Hour handgun safety course certificate
· P.O.S.T. certification
o To obtain this exception, a copy of current POST certification must be presented with the application. This does not apply to reserve officers, part-time officers, or other uncertified peace officers.
· T.L.E.T.A. (The Law Enforcement Training Academy)
o To obtain this exception, a copy of signed T.L.E.T.A diploma/certificate pertaining to handgun training must be presented with the application.
· Armed Guard
o To obtain this exception, a copy of the armed registration card or certificate (IN-1313) issued by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance must be presented with the application. A Certificate of Successful Completion of Guard Training (IN-1144) is unacceptable.
· Dept. of Corrections
o To obtain this exception, a copy of the annual weapons qualification card (CR2938) issued by the Tennessee Department of Correction must be presented with the application.
· Proof of military handgun training
o Military personnel who have completed four (4) hours of handgun training and who provide proof of that training on one of the forms listed below, specifying pistol or handgun on the document, may be exempt from taking the handgun safety course altogether:
o DD-2586
o CG-3029
o DA-88-R
o DA-5704-R
o AF Form 522
o DD-214
o Military personnel that have had small arms qualification training listed on their Honorable discharged DD214 form will be exempt from taking the firing range portion of the Handgun Safety Class but they must take the classroom portion.
o Military personnel that have had small arms qualification training or combat pistol training listed on their Honorable discharged DD214 form will be exempt from taking the firing range portion of the Handgun Safety Class but they must take the classroom portion.
For the Concealed Carry Permit, here are the key points:
· 2019 Public Chapter 479
· Must carry Concealed at all times
· The fee for the permit will be $65
· 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
The training requirements for the Concealed Carry Permit are as follows:
At any time:
· Active or honorably discharged military (Active duty ID or DD-214)
· Prior TN Handgun Carry Permit (not suspended or revoked)
· Active law enforcement (Current credential card). Governmental law enforcement agency firearms training course and qualifying to carry a firearm in the course of normal police duties.
Within 1 year - photo copy of certificate of completion, affidavit from instructor, school, club, org or group that conducted/taught attesting to completion of course/class, or copy of any document showing completion of course/class/required experience :
· Hunter education/safety course approved by the Tennessee wildlife resources agency or a similar agency of another state.
· Firearms safety/training course by one of the following:
o Organization specializing in firearms training/safety (NRA, etc.)
o Law enforcement agency, junior college, college, private/public institution/organization, or firearms training school
§ Offered to general public
§ Using instructors certified by TDOSHS or “organization specializing in firearms training.”
o Law enforcement firearms safety/training course/class offered for:
§ Security Guards
§ Investigators
§ Special Deputies
§ Any division or subdivision of law/security enforcement
· Firearms training/safety course/class, including electronic, video, or online course:
o By firearms instructor certified by TDOSHS or “Organization specializing in firearms training/safety
o Meets qualifications:
§ Conveys the basic knowledge and skills necessary for safe handling/storage of firearms/ammunition and includes firearm safety rules, handgun uses, features, basic skills and techniques, safe cleaning, transportation, and storage methods;
§ Conveys the current state law on carrying handguns;
§ ls not less than ninety (90) minutes in length;
§ Includes a test or quiz that confirms competency of the course or class curriculum; and
§ Provides a printable certificate of course or class completion.
o Any other firearms training that TDOSHS deems adequate.