State Lawmakers Step In to Clear up Confusion on Lifetime Carry Permits

Tennessee citizens with a valid handgun carry permit now have the option to upgrade to a lifetime permit for a lower cost.
In 2016, the 109th General Assembly lowered the renewal fee on lifetime handgun carry permits from $500 to $200. The new fee for an original permit is now $100, and the permit is now issued for eight years. The legislation was sponsored by State Senator Mae Beavers and State Representative Mark Pody.
If you currently have a permit with an expiration date, and would like to upgrade to a lifetime permit, you can now pick up an application at any driver services center and pay the $200 upgrade fee at any time. Handgun carry permits are processed at any full service driver services center. If you’re applying for the lifetime carry permit without first obtaining an original handgun carry permit, the fee will be $300.
Although the intent of the new law was for valid handgun carry permit holders to be able to upgrade to a lifetime permit at any time for $200, the State Department of Safety and Homeland Security initially saw it differently. “After January 1 when the law went into effect, people came in to renew their permit to the lifetime permit by paying the $200 and were told they could not because their renewal was not due yet so they would not let them renew it early,” said State Representative Pody, who was in Smithville Friday.
“State Senator Mae Beavers and a couple of others and myself heard about this and went to the department and told them that what they were doing was not the intent of the law. We wanted anybody who had a gun permit to be able to renew it anytime they wanted for $200 and have it for a lifetime. So the department has reversed and is now saying permit holders can upgrade for $200 at any time. I would encourage anybody with a permit to go and get it renewed for life for $200 right now,” said State Representative Pody.
According to Representative Pody, an amendment to the law may be necessary to clear up any further confusion in the future. “The problem is if they (department) can change these procedures just within the department good or bad, what keeps them from changing it again two years from now. We may have to run a bill to lock them (department) in so they can’t change their minds and reverse themselves again,” he said.
For more information on handgun carry permits, visit the website, http://tn.gov/safety/article/handgunmain