Carrying a Handgun in TN

[conn_air7]

Hey guys, I'm new to this whole forum, so forgive me for the rookie questions. I just wanted to get the opinions of some of you guys who have been carrying for a while.

What are some important things to note that people miss when carrying (laws, tips, safety). I just took my class this weekend, but I feel like I lack sufficient knowledge to feel fully confident about all the laws and information needed. Feel free to shoot me any tips you have. Post links to other discussions or whatever is easiest, I'm sill trying to figure out how to navigate the forum. I appreciate it very much.

- Conner


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[LagerHead]

I have heard that different instructors teach different things, so to clear it up, you DO NOT have a duty to inform a police officer that you are carrying when they make contact with you. I do, but only because I hope it will buy me goodwill that might get me out of a speeding ticket. Success rate is around 80% so far, so I'm gonna keep doing it.

 

If you didn't come from another state where you had a carry permit, you will probably find yourself touching your gun a lot to make sure it's still there/in place. This will pass as you carry more.

 

Carry enough that get used to doing so, but never complacent. You don't want to find yourself staring down a rookie cop's AR/M16 because you carried somewhere you shouldn't. It happens.

 

Fly with your guns. Once you've done it a couple of times, it's no big deal. Different airports will handle it slightly differently, but within the same legal context. For example, some airports will have the TSA agent come to the ticket counter to do their thing, and others will have you escort the bag and agent to a room where they do their thing. Just budget a little extra time for it and you'll be fine.

 

In Tennessee, but not all states, "No guns" signs carry the weight of law, meaning don't enter while carrying. Most of the time if you do and are discovered, you'll simply be asked to leave and that will be the end of it. If the cops are called, they do have the right to cite you for something. I've never been in the situation so I don't know for what.

 

Practice your draw deliberately leaving your booger hook off the bang switch. Make this as natural as moving your foot from the gas to the brake pedal in your car. Don't ever, ever let yourself get into the habit of drawing with your finger on the trigger or you'll end up like ole Tex Grebner. (Search for him on YouTube if you don't know who he is.)

 

Above all, stay safe and keep your head on a swivel. Don't go looking for trouble, but be prepared should it come looking for you. There are surely more tips, but I don't want to hurt my puny little brain trying to think of them all.

[conn_air7]

Awesome advice, I appreciate it very much. Definitely some things I didn't think about.


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[peejman]

Relax.  Being all fidgety making sure your gun is concealed is a dead giveaway and makes people suspicious. 

 

Here's a good summary of the laws...   http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/tennessee.pdf

 

[Pain103]

 Be responsible and know when it's time to draw and or use the firearm. Also invest in good holsters. If you prefer concealed find a holster that allows you to actually be concealed. If you want to open carry that's fine but please don't use those $5 nylon holsters.

[thundersnow]

Admins, can we pin this thread?

[CommsNBombs]

Definitely echo what Lager had mentioned, I think the most important (they're all very important points however) point is to practice your draw.

 

To go with that make sure that you have your outfits and the right holster already in mind, my first holster was a cheap Blackhawk softy, that wouldn't cinch down and try to draw from it I was liable to pull my pants all the way up to my face. Find a comfortable holster that wears well, then get used to drawing it in differnet outfits, don't want a beaver-tail or a safety getting stuck in your cargo shorts or jeans belt loops. Same thinking applies to not wearing your sister's shirts when you're out in public, yesterday at iHop this dude was carrying behind his waist band and his wife-beater was riding up on him so he looked silly with his M&P sticking out of his butt crack.

 

And as always, keep your damn finger off the trigger, this is especially important if you carry with a hot tube (most of us do, I'd like to think) and have a weapon like a HK VP9 without an external safety device.

 

Along with that, I prefer to carry CONCEALED, yes you can open carry but in all honesty it makes you a target, and depending on your style (I am not making presumptions) you will look a like a tool. I can't tell you how many times I've seen dudes walking around and turning their hip towards people, or finger-banging it in their holster, or checking if they have a round in it. This unnerves people, and makes you look like a major douchecanoe/threat to others.

 

Keep an eye out for posted places, especially local establishments where they don't have a major corporate HQ calling all the shots.

 

Don't try to be a vigilante, and KNOW the law. I keep a current copy in PDF on my phone.

 

Practice makes perfect as always, drawing from the holster and doing other drills are great, but you need to also be proficient with your weapon system!

Edited June 29, 2015 by CommsNBombs

[conn_air7]

Can't thank you guys enough for all this info, like I said, I am brand new to carrying so all of this good information for me.


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[GlockSpock]

Hey guys, I'm new to this whole forum, so forgive me for the rookie questions. I just wanted to get the opinions of some of you guys who have been carrying for a while.

What are some important things to note that people miss when carrying (laws, tips, safety). I just took my class this weekend, but I feel like I lack sufficient knowledge to feel fully confident about all the laws and information needed. Feel free to shoot me any tips you have. Post links to other discussions or whatever is easiest, I'm sill trying to figure out how to navigate the forum. I appreciate it very much.

- Conner


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome!

Read and study the thought process of Gecko45:

http://lonelymachines.org/mall-ninjas/

Hahahaha.


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[GlockSpock]

Welcome!

Read and study the thought process of Gecko45:

http://lonelymachines.org/mall-ninjas/

Hahahaha.


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And then avoid that thought process entirely...


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[chances R]

Your firearm is a tool of last resort, check your ego, leave the area, avoid giving the finger, meaning the only reason to use your gun is keep from having a WORSE day; if you use it....it will be a bad day.  NO ALOCHOL....zilch, nadda, zero.  If you must have a drink unload and store your gun.  Firearm laws are very 'fluid'.  It is your responsibility to keep up with them.  TGO is a great place to do so.  Also be active with your State and US officials.  Let them know what legislation you are for or against.

[M1_Garand]

On the subject of signs, if you see a sign that doesn't meet the legal requirements, please don't point it out to the buildings management. Its not our job to inform businesses that their signs are deficient, and "help" them make the proper posting.

 

Same thing goes for businesses that you may not be sure if they are posted or not. Asking management about whether or not carry is legal will just get the business to post a proper sign.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Edited June 29, 2015 by M1_Garand

[LagerHead]

Welcome!

Read and study the thought process of Gecko45:

http://lonelymachines.org/mall-ninjas/

Hahahaha.


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Always a classic. It's hard to decide which of his split personalities I admire more: SPECED or GEEK045.

[10-Ring]

Buy a good gun belt, a good holster has already been mentioned, it is amazing the difference a quality belt and holster make. Don't be a douche pickle.

[Grayfox54]

I'll echo what others have said. Get a quality holster and a belt made to carry it. Proper concealment has very little to do with the gun itself. Its all about the gear you carry it in and the clothes you wear. Use shirts that are a bit loose. I generally buy shirts one size larger just for this purpose. Use colors and patterns that tend to break up any slight bulge. Jackets should be hip length or longer. Avoid vests as concealment garments. Its reached the point where these things just scream GUN!. I can and have carried the big N-frame S&W revolvers completely concealed using these simple methods.

 

Relax! When you first start carrying you worry that everybody can spot your gun. The truth is that 99% of them aren't even looking. So avoid looking nervous or constantly checking or adjusting your gun. These are things that tell others that you're carrying. 

 

Welcome to the club!  :up:

 

 

[tnhawk]

If you give signals that you aren't comfortable carrying a gun, others will question your motives for carrying it.  As said above a good belt and holster contribute much to the carry and concealment of a weapon.

[monkeylizard]

I know it'd be a long haul from Cleveland, but Vol State community college in Gallatin occasionally offers a great one-day (Saturday) class on self-defense law. There's not one scheduled right now, but check every few months if you're interested. The instructor gets into a lot more of what the law really says, not what an HCP instructor's opinion is. Then you get to try out techniques with the live-action simulator. I learned a lot in that class, both on the law side and the practical side using the simulator. I'd take it again if I see it being offered.

 

http://registration.xenegrade.com/volstate 

Keyword: firearm

[conn_air7]

I know it'd be a long haul from Cleveland, but Vol State community college in Gallatin occasionally offers a great one-day (Saturday) class on self-defense law. There's not one scheduled right now, but check every few months if you're interested. The instructor gets into a lot more of what the law really says, not what an HCP instructor's opinion is. Then you get to try out techniques with the live-action simulator. I learned a lot in that class, both on the law side and the practical side using the simulator. I'd take it again if I see it being offered.

 

http://registration.xenegrade.com/volstate 

Keyword: firearm

That sounds like a great idea, and definitely something I would be interested in. I wonder if there are any classes like that in Chattanooga or nearby? 

[K191145]

 

 

Relax! When you first start carrying you worry that everybody can spot your gun. The truth is that 99% of them aren't even looking. So avoid looking nervous or constantly checking or adjusting your gun. These are things that tell others that you're carrying. 

 

Welcome to the club!  :up:

 

And don't forget to mention, to become comfortable carrying it is always a good idea to go to the local Walmart several times, this is a great place to ease yourself into carrying since most Walmart customers and employees expect anything and don't care. It's called the Wallywalk.  :)

[monkeylizard]

That sounds like a great idea, and definitely something I would be interested in. I wonder if there are any classes like that in Chattanooga or nearby? 

 

Maybe. The instructor at Vol State also teaches the criminal justice classes. If you have a community college in Chatt. with a criminal justice program, you could call and ask if they have the occasional 1-day class like Vol State does. Vol State classifies it under its lifelong learning programs rather than part of an accredited associates degree program. Kind of like motorcycle riding instruction.

Edited June 30, 2015 by monkeylizard

[conn_air7]

Another question that I was just curious about is, "Did most of  you guys carry a hot chamber when you first started carrying?" I kind of feel uneasy carrying my Glock with no external safely fully loaded by my side as of now. Since I am new to carrying, I expect this to be somewhat normal. I think I'm going to ease into it by carrying a full clip, but not chambered for now. Just for information purposes, I do have good holster to carry it in, so that's not going to be an issue. 

[peejman]

A gun without a round in the chamber is an expensive hammer.

Use a proper holster that covers the trigger and you have nothing to worry about.

[M1_Garand]

Another question that I was just curious about is, "Did most of  you guys carry a hot chamber when you first started carrying?" I kind of feel uneasy carrying my Glock with no external safely fully loaded by my side as of now. Since I am new to carrying, I expect this to be somewhat normal. I think I'm going to ease into it by carrying a full clip, but not chambered for now. Just for information purposes, I do have good holster to carry it in, so that's not going to be an issue. 

 

I was nervous when I first started carrying, but the way I overcame it was to load a snap cap in the chamber and then drop my gun and holster several times. The weapon never "discharged" so I started carrying with one in the pipe.

 

If your weapon is functional and you are carrying in a proper holster, you have nothing to worry about. If you are pocket carrying, please remember that your pocket can only carry the gun (and should still be in a proper pocket holster). Don't put other items in that pocket, as you increase the odds that something will come in contact with the trigger and cause a negligent discharge.

[monkeylizard]

That's one reason that my first carry gun was an XD. The grip safety gave me peace of mind with the lack of any other external safety. After a while, it became clear to me that that's unnecessary, so I sold the XD and now carry something much lighter with no grip safety and still no external safety. I don't regret having bought the XD because it served its purpose and helped me become comfortable with carrying a condition-1 firearm.

[Guest Just_Don]

Welcome!

Read and study the thought process of Gecko45:

http://lonelymachines.org/mall-ninjas/

Hahahaha.


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This, all by itself, made my finding of tngunowners.com worth it. Funniest read in a while!