Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HANDGUNS, SELF DEFENSE, AND THE HANDGUN CARRY PERMIT PROCESS:
1. Q- How do I get a permit to carry a gun?
A- The first step is the Basic Personal Protection Course, which takes eight hours. This is normally done in two four-hour sessions on two days. Once you complete this course, you get a certificate from us, which you take to the Department of Safety, at a Driver’s License Examining Station. They will fingerprint and photograph you, do a background investigation, and issue you a Handgun Carry Permit, in 60 to 90 days.
2. Q- When are these classes available?
A- We normally conduct eight or nine of these classes each month. They are held on week nights, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, on Saturday-Sunday from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and about once a month in a one day format, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. A complete schedule for three months at a time is maintained in another part of site.
3. Q- How do I sign up for these classes?
A- Please call 901-370-5600 any time we are open to register by phone with a credit card. If you prefer, come by the showroom in person any time we are open to register with cash, check, or credit card. Advance registration is required, and classes normally fill up 5-6 weeks in advance."
4. Q- How much does the class cost?
A- The Basic Course costs $99.00, which includes your ammunition, a workbook, and the use of one of our guns, if needed. There are no other fees.
5. Q- What kind of gun should I buy?
A- PLEASE, don’t buy a gun until after you take the class! There is a lot of information you need before you can make an informed, intelligent choice. We hope you will never need your gun for self defense, but if you do, you will need it horribly badly! You must have a gun that meets certain requirements for it to be of much value to you in a self defense situation.
6. Q- What does the Basic Course cover?
A- In the course of eight hours of instruction, we cover Firearms Safety; Mechanical Operation; Basic Marksmanship; How to Carry and Safely Store your weapon; Legal Issues, including your rights and restrictions; gun cleaning and maintenance; and ammunition. You will fire a gun on our indoor range, and take a written test based on the material covered in the course. This course takes the novice through the steps needed to safely and effectively handle a handgun. Range firing is conducted in small groups so the instructors can give individual attention and coaching.
7. Q- How long is a permit good for?
A- The Tennessee permit is valid for four years. Upon payment of a renewal fee, you get another one for another four years, just like a driver’s license.
8. Q- Where can I carry my gun if I have a permit?
A- Your Tenessee Resident Permit is valid anywhere in the State of Tennessee. As of January 1, 2008 it is valid in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. (See www.hangunlaw.us for the most current information.)

There are certain restrictions. For instance, even with a permit, it is unlawful to carry a gun on school grounds, in courtrooms, and in certain places where liquor is served. We cover all of this in the class.

9. Q- Do I have to have a permit to have a gun in my home or place of business?
A- No. The permit is to legally carry the gun on your person as you go about your daily activities. You can possess a gun in your home or business without a permit. You can not keep a gun in your car unless you have a permit.
10. Q- When can I use my gun in self defense?
A- This is too complex a question for this format, and we go over this in depth in the class. The short answer is very simple—THE GUN IS STRICTLY AND ONLY FOR PERSONAL SELF DEFENSE, AS A LAST RESORT, WHEN YOU OR AN INNOCENT PERSON ARE IN IMMEDIATE AND OTHERWISE UNAVOIDABLE DANGER OF BEING KILLED OR BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED. You are not legally entitled to use a gun to prevent a crime, or to protect property. The gun is for the protection of innocent human life.
11. Q- Is a gun really the answer to my personal security needs?
A- The gun is ONE tool at your disposal, but it is not a cure-all or a magic charm. You need other tools as well. In the Basic Course we discuss the actual problems faced by our community and a number of steps you can take to lower your risk of being assaulted. The gun is a part of an overall program of risk reduction and risk management. We will fervently hope you never need your gun, and teach you ways to reduce the likelihood of needing it. But if those measures fail, the gun may be the only thing standing between you and being raped, crippled, or murdered. The average man or woman has no hope of physically defeating a tougher, stronger, and less civilized attacker, and no matter how big or strong you are, you are no match barehanded against a thug with a gun/knife/tire iron/etc. With a proper gun and skill in its use, even the small, the female, the less able, and the elderly CAN defend themselves against social predators.