Posted: 10/19/2006 9:39:33 AM EDT
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Gentlemen: I will be driving through Tennessee this weekend and would like to ask you a couple of questions about CCW. I remember reading that Georgia honors Indiana's License to Carry Handgun, but I can't confirm that because packing.org seems to be down. My questions are: Does Tennessee still honor our Licenses to Carry Handgun? Is there a law against open-carry or printing? Is one required by law to notify an LEO about the firearm on one's person or vehicle? If there's anything else I should know, please advise. Thank you. 
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Thank you, sir. I found the reciprocity link in TFA's website, which didn't help much in my case. I then called the Tennessee Department of Safety and according to them Tennessee will recognize all states' Licenses to Carry Handgun so far as the carrying is done according to the laws of that particular state. Informing an LEO about carrying is not required, but it is highly recommended. |
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It isn't required to let a LEO know you have one. Just highly and extremely advisable to let one know. Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 39-17-1351(n)(1) states: " The permit holder shall have the permit in the holder's immediate possession at all times when carrying a handgun and shall display the permit on demand of a law enforcement officer." You should be good. And for god's sake if one of us asks, don't grab it and say it's right here. 
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Come on Bob, you busting my chops again...  But seriously though. It's common sense really if you think about it.... Because if we happen to see one when it falls out of your glovebox or center console, etc and you don't advise the officer you have one and a license to do so, you will probably get a Glock screwed into your ear. Besides most people have a habit of trying to catch it when it fall out which appears to a LEO to be a potential hostile action on the face of it. I don't have time to determine if you are a scrote or just a klutz. We don't know your intentions. We don't know you, your habits, your lifestyle, nothing. We are encountering you for some violation of traffic or criminal law. Otherwise I wouldn't be there. Most states, including where I am from (Oklahoma) it is a state requirement that goes with the license is that you notify upon police contact that you have one and a license. If I stop you and run your Tennessee license it comes up on the screen whether you have a valid GP (Gun Permit). Officer safety is the main issue is why we advise it. We don't know who we are dealing with on a traffic stop. If you do as I suggest, I always say, "okay, just leave it where it is." After I see your license. Usually CCW holders get a free ride/written warning/verbal warning, what have you because I am (usually) not dealing with a scrote of some kind. If you have any problems with that, I will be free to quell your concerns if you have any other questions.
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State law requires a presentation of a TN CCL along with a TN DL to any LEO in a traffic stop, I was told in my CCL class. In addition, any DL check will also reveal if a driver has a valid CCL, does it not? Having said all that, you didn't specifiy earlier about it being a traffic stop or not....... 
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You are correct about referring to the traffic stop. That is where most of my encounters occur. As far as presenting it upon police contact, I can't find it as a requirement in the TCA. Not to say it isn't there, I just can't find it. As far as what they teach in the class, I have been LEO the whole time and have honestly not had any reason to look up the CCL info as far as what the CCL has to do. I am just used to what they all do (see my above statement). The DL check will show a valid GP for TN DL's only. I don't believe it will cross check other states. It hasn't happened yet. 
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As I recall (from the video that was shown in the carry class), there is no requirement to inform the officer during a traffic stop. But (as illustrated in the video) it's a good idea to inform the officer, to avoid any misunderstandings. The class instructor made it very clear that not informing the officer, during a traffic stop, was not a smart thing to do. |
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what happens when the officer screws the glock in your ear after when you tell him you have your carry permit and the gun is on you? most of the time its happened to some friends of mine and myself we end up face down on the pavement , handcuffed , car searched , then let go with a "sorry about all that , we don't see many of these (CCW permits)" while its not happened in a while it was quite regular for some of us , 3 quit carring because of it and stll got hasseled because it showed on the DL check. not police bashing per say ,just one outcome. I did get my permit through a local cop that happens to be a good friend. funny that its not happened sence I've gotten older. I also have the name of the sargent in charge during the worst one we were in (JBT stop) in nashville if you want to check it (her story ) out. |
Odd story, IMO. Most Metro cops are long since used to CCL's, generally speaking. Having said that, I usually get some smartassed comment from a Metro cop when they hand me my CCL back.......................... Lately, I've been feeding them some comments back, for good measure. 
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this was about 6 years ago . the officer that approched my side of the car drop kicked my CCW under the explorer and put my DL in his shirt pocket ,along with everybody elses . the reason for the stop was " we were told you had weed in here" . this was at 10pm on a staurday night on broadway in front of the GEC . traffic was blocked both ways for quite a while while the truck and we were searched . no weed was found ,mostly because we had none. another good one was a friend of mine was handcuffed one time. one hand out the sun roof and the other to it out the driver window. he no longer carries and let his permit lapse due to so much harrasment. he found out that getting rid of your permit is almost impossible as it still came up till it expired. |
From Metro's finest? Surely you jest, sir????? 
This was Metro as well??? I've been stopped several times & have never had this done to me................... 
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this was in Columbia. sucks to be young I guess. |
