How to Get Your Tennessee Concealed Carry Permit
Most people who own and carry a firearm daily do it for their own personal reasons. But let’s face it, the world is a very dangerous place, and you never know what kind of situations you might run into. Wherever there is a possibility for random people to act unpredictable or without rule of law, you had better be prepared.
Carrying a concealed firearm has never been more important than in today’s world. There are numerous benefits to carrying a gun on your person at all times, and getting your state’s concealed carry permit should be at the top of everyone’s list. But this process is usually never easy, and most gun owners have little to no idea where to start.
Luckily, thanks to technology, it is now possible in many states to take a concealed weapon course and obtain a permit online. These states, such as Tennessee, offer a new alternative to taking a long class and receiving this important license. This can make the entire process much easier and smoother to do, streamlining the entire process and giving a person the ability to do many of the steps on their own schedule.
Getting Your Concealed Carry Permit
Getting your concealed carry permit obviously will vary from state to state, and you will need to check the laws in the state where you want to get the permit first. Keep in mind, there are basically three different types of issuing of this permit, and these are:
Shall Issue - The majority of states will prescribe to this method of issuing concealed carry permits, which basically entails that a permit to carry a concealed weapon will be issued to a person if a set of criteria is met. This usually means a basic class and a clean background check.
May Issue - This type of issuing usually requires a permit in order to carry a concealed weapon, but will give permits at the discretion of the authority issuing it. Besides meeting all of the set criteria that they layout, you may also need to show “good cause” in order to carry a concealed weapon. Wanting to carry a gun for self-defense alone does not usually satisfy this requirement. It is not unusual for many states to deny a concealed weapon permit without giving any specific reason. Right now the “may issue” states are California, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Maryland, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.
No Issue - Last on the list is “no issue” jurisdictions. This means that the jurisdiction will not grant concealed weapon permits to private citizens. While there is technically only one “no issue” jurisdiction in the country (District of Columbia) many of the “may issue” states like New Jersey, Maryland, and Hawaii are basically “no issue” states because most permits seem to be denied for no apparent reason.
Depending on the state you live in, getting your concealed carry permit may be extremely easy, or it might be very difficult. Luckily with states like Tennessee, you now even have the option of doing most of the process online. No matter where you might live, there are a few basic steps to take in order to get your concealed carry permit. These are just a very basic guideline, and you should read and study the laws of your particular state!
Identify and understand the proper methods and authority in your state, and get the proper concealed carry permit application or materials.
Fill out all necessary paperwork for an application, and ensure that all of the information is up to date and correct. Double-check it a few different times just to make sure!
Pay any required fees. This step will come into play at different times depending on the state, and you may have to pay a fee after the entire process is complete or to begin the process, and every fee will vary in price. Check your state!
Take a gun safety or concealed weapon training course. Like every other step, this will vary from state to state but most will require you to take and pass some sort of formal training. Many states will require this training to be in person, while others allow it to be done completely online.
These are obviously a very basic overview, and every location will be different. But the overall process will be similar, and you must always follow the proper procedure in order to obtain a permit to conceal carry your gun. But now, thanks to technology, step number 4 can be done online in many states like Tennessee.
Getting a Permit in Tennessee
Many people may not be aware that it is entirely possible to get your concealed carry permit online. Let’s take a look at Tennessee as an example. In January of 2020, a brand new law went into effect in which residents of the state can now get a new concealed weapon permit online. This new permit is called a concealed carry permit and it does have a few minor differences from the previous enhanced carry permit.
Let’s go over the entire process to show you how it is done. First, you must be a resident of the state of Tennessee. You will then go and complete the online application for the carry permit. After the application is complete, you take a simple 90-minute course that covers everything related to concealed carry. This is a great way to skip an in-person class or course that may take much longer, especially for people who prefer to learn and do things on their own. After this course, there is a test that you must pass based on the course that you just completed.
If the test after the course is successfully passed, you will then receive a certificate as proof of taking and completing the training. This particular certificate is good for up to 12 months and will expire after that. With the course completed and certificate received, you must also fill out a CCP Proof of Training form to submit with your certificate. These can be found and downloaded online. Now that the online portion is done, let’s get to the second part of the process!
After you complete the course, have your certificate AND the CCP Proof of Training form filled out, you will then go to a Full Services Driver Services Center. It must be a Full Services center, as others will not be able to complete the process for the permit. Once you get there, you will:
Pay a $65 application fee that gives you an eight-year permit
Submit the CCP Proof of Training form along with training certificate
Provide a certified proof of U.S. citizenship (photocopies are unacceptable)
Have a Tennessee drivers license OR two proofs of Tennessee residency that include your name and a current address
Have a photo ID
Once you pay the fee and have all the proper documents, you will get your fingerprints taken and submitted. After the fingerprints get submitted, all you then have to do is wait for your permit to arrive in the mail! As you can see, the process is not entirely online, but the class and the training are. These are usually the two most time-consuming parts of the process, so having the ability to do it on your own time and schedule can be a huge benefit to people in Tennessee wanting their concealed carry permit.
This is just a basic overview of how Tennessee’s new permit issuing process works, and your own due diligence should be taken before getting your concealed carry permit. It is important to note that this is the process for only residents of the state of Tennessee.
Can You Really Get Your Permit Online?
It is not so much of a question if you can get a concealed carry permit online, it is more of a question of what degree you can do it. Every state will have their own way of doing things, such as allowing things like applications or fingerprints to be mailed in or sent in electronically. Many times, this also involves going to a law enforcement center or another third party agent in order to get this done.
For example, some states like Arkansas will allow a person to submit an application for the permit online, but other items like fingerprints or a certificate of training have to be sent in through the physical mail. While the entire process is not completed online, you can at least get the majority of it done, especially the parts that might take the longest amount of time.
So why would a person who wants to get a concealed carry license do it online if it is available in their state? There are plenty of benefits to this, with convenience being one of the biggest ones. Not everyone has an infinite amount of time to be able to travel to every place they need to go to get applications, submit them, fingerprints, classes or courses, etc. Some people might even live a considerable distance from these places, making the online option even better of a choice.
Another group of people that are taking advantage of the online concealed carry permit system is nonresidents to the states from which they are applying. These people are looking for a non-resident permit that gives them greater reciprocity than that of what they might get from their own state (if they can even get a permit in the state they live). Some state licenses have greater and more widespread reciprocity with other states, so the online option is obviously a lot more convenient for these people as well.
Online VS Traditional
So should you get your concealed carry permit online or through the more traditional methods? This will largely depend on the state that you want a permit in and your personal preferences. Don’t really have the time to take an all-day class or course? Then the online option is perfect, allowing you to take the course on your own time. Want a more hands-on, real-life training? Then doing everything in person might be the better choice for you.
If there is one thing that we cannot stress enough is to do your homework BEFORE applying and trying to get your permit. Research and study the laws and regulations, and learn as much as you possibly can before starting this process. This will help you considerably in the long run, and prevent you from making any mistakes along the way. The process of getting your concealed carry permit does not have to be a long or drown out endeavor, and learning before you start will usually ensure a smooth and easy process.
Final Thoughts
This world is a dangerous place, and it only seems to be getting worse as more time goes by. Carrying a gun has never been more important, and has never seen popularity as it has recently. Getting your concealed carry permit might be a personal decision, but for those that like to take their safety and preparation in their own hands, this is a great move to make.
But getting your concealed carry permit can be a bit confusing and challenging at times. Luckily, more and more states are embracing the advancing technology and using the internet to allow gun owners to complete training and courses online to streamline this process of getting a permit. While every state may be different, more and more states are going to this method of issuing permits every year.
As gun owners, we too can now embrace technology and get our concealed carry permits through online means and always have our guns on our person. Carrying a firearm comes with plenty of responsibility on its own, and luckily getting the permit can now be a little bit easier.
Summary
NOTE: You DO NOT have to qualify with a firearm to apply for a concealed carry permit in Tennessee.
· Must be a Tennessee resident
· The first step of applying for an original Tennessee conceal carry permit would be to complete the application online under the Handgun Permit tab.
· Take our 90 minute concealed carry permit course online.
· Once you pass the written test, you’ll receive a certificate you use as training proof. This Certificate is good for 12 months.
· Must fill out CCP Proof of Training form to submit along with our certificate.
· Once the course has been completed, you will go to a Full Services Driver Services Center. Be sure to check the state’s website for a FULL SERVICES Driver Services Center. Those are the only locations you can apply for a permit. At the Driver Services Center:
· Pay application fee of $65 for an eight (8) year permit
· Submit completed CCP Proof of Training form along with training proof
· Provide CERTIFIED PROOF of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency (Photocopies will not be accepted)
· Provide proof of full SSN
· Have photo taken
· If you do not currently have a Tennessee driver license, you must submit two proofs of Tennessee residency with your name and resident address - NO P.O. BOXES (Documents must be current and within last 4 months.)
· Present a photo ID to the Department at the time of filing the application
· Once transaction is complete, the examiner will provide you with the instructions for being fingerprinted
Once all that’s done and your fingerprints are submitted, you’ll wait a little for your permit to come in the mail.