Carry Permit requirements for Former Military, who earned expert ribbons for .45 and M14

[Guest]

Hey guys,

I am a former Sub sailor.   I live in Chattanooga TN.  I am applying for an Enhanced Carry permit.  Does anyone out there know if I have to take a class, considering I am former military with a DD-214, showing that I've earned an expert rating/ribbon for .45 while serving on active duty?   I have some State documents that state it as such, but haven't been able to totally confirm it yet.    Thanks in advance for the help. 

[peejman]

For a TN HCP, yep, you have to suffer through the class same as everyone else. 

[monkeylizard]

Not necessarily.

If your military training certification included at least 4 hours and is less than 5 years old, you can skip both the classroom and firing range portions. If you can prove the training/certification but can't prove the dates or it has been longer than 5 years, you can still skip the firing range portion but you have to do the classroom. Your DD-214 should suffice, but contact the TN DOS to be sure.

It's defined in TCA 39-17-1359 para. e. Here's a link to it: https://tinyurl.com/y5f3kdh7

That said, the classroom portion does cover some useful information about state carry laws. Just because you may be exempt from sitting through a class on them doesn't mean you're exempt from following them. You may get some useful information on lawful use of force and lawful use of lethal force. Of course that's mixed in with more basic stuff like the difference between a revolver and a semi, alcohol + guns = not smart, and how not to shoot yourself on the range. 

Edited August 21, 2020 by monkeylizard