Pre-permit days

[Guest TNDixieGirl]

Before it became law in TN to acquire a permit for carry, what was the handgun carry law? Could you carry without a permit? Was it illegal to carry at all?

[Im Neero]

You could get permission from local law enforcement. Memphis had what they called the Special Deputy Program. A special deputy could carry a gun, and even had a badge.

[Guest canynracer]

You could get permission from local law enforcement. Memphis had what they called the Special Deputy Program. A special deputy could carry a gun, and even had a badge.

LOL.......OH NOOOO, NOT A BAAAAADGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Im Neero]

Ha, tell me about it, my dad still has his.

[Guest canynracer]

does he OPEN CARRY with it????

BTW, if he does, he IS my new hero!!!

[Im Neero]

It is completely invalid now, since the statewide carry permit did away with any local programs, so I don't know where it is now. As far as I know he never really carried at all, so I suppose he kept it concealed if he did.

He's already my hero

[Guest 270win]

I have heard before 1996 and definitely before 1994 it was a hassle to get a carry permit in this state. You had to qualify with what you carried, pay a bond, and get the permit/written directive usually from the county sheriff. Before 1994, it was a 'may issue' system under the county sheriffs, 1994-1996 'shall issue' under county sheriffs still requiring the bond to be paid, and 1996 to present shall issue under the state.

[Fallguy]

I have heard before 1996 and definitely before 1994 it was a hassle to get a carry permit in this state. You had to qualify with what you carried, pay a bond, and get the permit/written directive usually from the county sheriff. Before 1994, it was a 'may issue' system under the county sheriffs, 1994-1996 'shall issue' under county sheriffs still requiring the bond to be paid, and 1996 to present shall issue under the state.

I think razorback is about right.

The part with the sheriff and a bond and so on, I think that even a period prior to that, in which you basically could not carry off your property. But I'm not sure of the time frame.

[Guest Grout]

Prior to 94 you could only carry in your home county.

[Guest TNDixieGirl]

I have heard before 1996 and definitely before 1994 it was a hassle to get a carry permit in this state. You had to qualify with what you carried, pay a bond, and get the permit/written directive usually from the county sheriff. Before 1994, it was a 'may issue' system under the county sheriffs, 1994-1996 'shall issue' under county sheriffs still requiring the bond to be paid, and 1996 to present shall issue under the state.

Thats exactly how we were remembering it, but I couldn't find anything to verify it, so thought I'd ask those that would likely remember.

Thanks guys.

[Guest GregRN]

No law ever stopped many of the old timers in the rural areas where I grew up from carrying. The local law enforcement probably knew also, but didn't care because they knew these old timers would not do anything stupid. But remember, this was in the time before metal detectors were so prevalent, and doors were never locked.