Tennessee concealed carry permit classes not needed for military.

[firnatine29]

While home on pcs leave from Ft. Lewis, WA to Ft. Stewart, GA I stopped in at the local DMV here in Covington, TN and I asked a few questions about the steps I need to take to obtain my Handgun Carry Permit. They told me an 8 hour class-80$, a background check, and a 115.00$ application fee. Turn around 90 Days...I think. So I went home and did some further research and found out that military in the state of Tn are not required to go through the 8 hour class. In place of that you can print off your DD2586 ( a record of your military training). This is great to know so I called and confirmed this with one of the top instructors in the Memphis area and with the DMV. I went online entered my dfas information and then printed the form. Once I was ready to get my Handgun carry permit, I brought all of the required identification, money, and DD2586. The lady at the counter said that I needed the "original copy". I explained to her that it came from a government website that I had to enter my dfas information to obtain the records. After arguing with me for a couple of minutes, she got on the phone with her manager who confirmed that it was acceptable. Long and short of it is that I was able to use the form and apply for my Handgun Carry Permit. After thinking about this for the next week or so I began to think, "is this the best law"? I mean I've worked with people in the military before that should never be allowed to carry a firearm into combat, much less off duty and concealed. I don't really agree with this "blanket law" and I would like to know your thoughts on this. On top of all of this, I have been researching the gun laws in my state and the states around me for months. I believe that I am fully prepared to carry my firearm, but I do find myself wondering, "what goes on in those classes"? I think once I get to Ft. Stewart I'll sign myself up for some civilian concealed carry classes. I will research the classes first. I don't want to end up in one like my buddy's where the instructor gabbed about his old stories for 2 hours.

 

[eagleeyes]

the discharge papers are coded to tell if a person is mentally fit or not fit to carry off duty.......
and i hear you being many vets come back with psychological instability and suicidal tendencies ...

 

[firnatine29]

what are your thoughts on this?

 

[firnatine29]

Thats for when you leave the military thats your dd214 i think? I'm only pcsing I think that people that get out of the military only have access to the dd2586 for so long.

 

[firnatine29]

and I mean just idiot people in general lol

 

[Tucker's Mom]

I do not know what you mean by what do we think of what you did. I think it is highly commendable of you to do your research about this. Our son is in the military and he has been a gun nut ever since I can remember. He grew up with guns and has been in camps and all that in the military. But to be able to get his license, we as parents, required him to take the basics so if there will be no questions at all about his ability to handle one, at least with his extra training outside of the military. We found a ccw class he can attend while he was here on his Christmas break. He came home disappointed because he already knows what the instructor had taught him there, but we brought him down to earth by saying "Don't be such a jerk!" -- he said nothing after. Then we filled up his papers to get him his license in Florida because he was just too young at the time to get one here in Missouri. When he comes home next month since he is already at age (23 years) he can apply for his MO one.

 

[firnatine29]

I do not know what you mean by what do we think of what you did. I think it is highly commendable of you to do your research about this. Our son is in the military and he has been a gun nut ever since I can remember. He grew up with guns and has been in camps and all that in the military. But to be able to get his license, we as parents, required him to take the basics so if there will be no questions at all about his ability to handle one, at least with his extra training outside of the military. We found a ccw class he can attend while he was here on his Christmas break. He came home disappointed because he already knows what the instructor had taught him there, but we brought him down to earth by saying "Don't be such a jerk!" -- he said nothing after. Then we filled up his papers to get him his license in Florida because he was just too young at the time to get one here in Missouri. When he comes home next month since he is already at age (23 years) he can apply for his MO one.

I agree, what I mean by what are your thoughts on this is what do you think about blanket laws? There is also supposedly a law in the state of GA that gives off duty military the same rights as an off duty law enforcement officer. From what I understand if you are military you do not need to apply for a concealed carry permit...even being military I fully disagree with this law.

 

[FN1910]

This is one of those things that is not a matter of fact but rather political. It is also what is a person who receives a CCW permit expected to know. In some states the only thing required is that the person pass the background check. Others they are expected to know how to use a gun and the laws of the state involving guns. It is "assumed" that a person with military training knows how to handle a gun. This can be debated about how much does the military require of every soldier but most do get some "basic" training about guns and usually gun safety. To me this would usually be sufficient as they will be trained as much as the typical person who goes through a CCW class. Knowing which end of the barrel the bullet comes out of and being able to shoot without closing your eyes and looking away is about all I really care about requiring for a CCW.

The second part for most CCW classes involve the gun laws of the individual state. A person receiving their training in the military has no more advantage or knowledge for this part of the class and requirement than anyone else. However due to political pressure most states have granted this exception to the requirements for those who have served in the military. I don't know that this is a major problem as how much training one gets in a CCW class is a factor of both the instructor and the student. Some are very good or excellent o and some are a waste of time. In some classes the instructor may be excellent and the student still leaves with no understanding or knowledge.

So to the original question I don't see a real problem with allowing military personnel to exempt the training but we need to recognize that it is based on politics and not actual facts. It makes good Internet forum fodder but that is about it in the real world. As for me I think that there should be no restrictions (other than criminals etc.) on a person having a gun in their home but once they walk out into the public with it they should be required to have knowledge of what a gun is all about. How this requirement is satisfied is a topic for another discussion but your home and my home or workplace are two different places with different requirements as far as I am concerned.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

I agree, what I mean by what are your thoughts on this is what do you think about blanket laws? There is also supposedly a law in the state of GA that gives off duty military the same rights as an off duty law enforcement officer. From what I understand if you are military you do not need to apply for a concealed carry permit...even being military I fully disagree with this law.

Are you sure? That I completely disagree with...because sometime in your military life, you have to have a leave and go somewhere out of the barracks or your home. Maybe this is not what you meant, maybe you mean that as a military, you will just be automatically be granted a ccw permit. If that is the law in GA, then it is up to you, as an individual, to practice as much as you can to be able to protect yourself and your family because a permit to own and handle a gun is a big responsibility by itself.If you think you are capable, then by all means, take advantage of the freedom of not having to go through what normal mortals like us have gone through....it is my take on this...it is all up to you, your personal responsibility.

Have a very nice day.

 

[Chuck M]

A DD214 is all that needs to be shown in Virginia to prove competancy with a weapon. You have to apply for a CC permit, however, to ensure all appropriate background checks are done.

 

[wjh2657]

A major part of my Tennessee HCP classes was TN Law and the legal right of self defense as it pertained to civilians. I spent 30 Years active duty in the Marines and never received any instruction in civilian law. Our "use of deadly force" classes in the USMC were of no use for civilian carry. I personally believe that all new carriers need the law classes. As far as the range part went it was a joke for an old "Master Gunny", I fired a S&W 686 with wadcutters and kept everything in a 5" circle! But the law part was very important.

 

[seaduck]

I think you are doing the right thing in attending a CCW class. The military can train you in the mechanics of the weapon but does not address the very significant legal issues that will follow any shooting. Watch out for those legal beavers....they can bite.

 

[firnatine29]

Just a quick update, I received my carry permit in the mail today. Only problem is I had a black eye from a homemade slingshot incident. And a scruffy beard because I was home on leave. I look ate up! I can't wait to see the expression on an leo's face when a clean cut soldier hands him that permit card lol.