Handgun permits rise as legislators try to ease laws

In 2008, roughly one out of 32 Tennesseans had a valid handgun permit. Now, it's nearly one out of 13.

As the number of valid gun permits in Tennessee prepares to exceed half a million — 300,000 of which are new since 2008 — Tennessee lawmakers continue to push to ease restrictions on where and when Tennesseans can pack heat.

Gun-rights advocates say there's no reason to fear more people legally carrying guns, and there's no correlation between more guns and less safety. But opponents say that's simply not true, arguing any weakening of gun laws only increases the chances of violence and tragic accidents.

500,000 handgun permits

In the next few days, the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security will almost certainly announce there are more than 500,0000 valid handgun permits in the state.

As of Feb. 10, there were nearly 490,000 valid permits in the state, compared to about 190,000 in January 2008, according to state data.

The number of permits increased in every county since 2008 — in some cases by more than 200 percent. And that doesn't account for any permits for people visiting the state, as Tennessee recognizes handgun permits issued by any other state.

Tennessee permits are concentrated in the state's most-populated counties. There were about 55,000 in Shelby County, 31,000 in Knox County and about 29,000 in Davidson County.

Montgomery County — near Fort Campbell — and Williamson County — a conservative hotbed in the state — have fewer total permits, but the permits in those counties have more than tripled since 2008.

From 2008 to 2013 though, the number of "crimes against persons" involving a firearm have gone down, according to data provided by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations. In 2008, all Tennessee law enforcement agencies reported a total of roughly 10,400 such crimes. That number dropped to a little less than 9,000 in 2010, rising to a little more than 9,100 in 2013.

Interpreting the data

John Harris, executive director of guns rights advocacy organization Tennessee Firearms Association, argues there is no correlation between more Tennessee handgun permits and more people owning guns.

Citing TBI data on background checks performed at the time of gun purchases, he says the TBI processed roughly 4.5 million guns purchased between November 1998 and December 2014.

Shotguns and rifles account for more than 2.5 million of those weapons during that time, he argued, evidence he believes further bolsters the idea that more permits don't equate to more guns. TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland said the TBI processed transactions for a little more than 2 million handguns and 3.1 million long guns from November 1998 through the end of this February.

Harris acknowledges the number of permits rose drastically since 2008, without any significant law change to make it easier to get a permit.

"Although there is no study that we are aware of to indicate why this increase occurred in the early summer of 2008, it does coincide with the 2008 election cycle as the presidential primaries made it clearer who would be the candidates in November 2008," Harris said in an emailed statement.

He didn't mention names or particular parties, but there is a general fear among gun rights advocacy groups — which tend to support Republican or conservative candidates — that Democrats or liberal candidates are trying to take away or restrict ownership of guns.

"On the other hand, numerous threats from the government to ban or restrict civilian access to certain categories of firearms or ammunition does appear to (sic) resulted in corresponding increases in both demand and volume for those items 'before they become unavailable,'" Harris said in his statement.

There is "undoubtedly" a connection between a state's gun laws and firearms related deaths, argues Beth Joslin Roth of the Safe Tennessee Project, an organization advocating against easing gun laws. She points to several studies from the Harvard Injury Research Center that argue in states with more guns there are more accidental shootings and homicides.

Only eight other states had higher rates of death through injury by firearm than Tennessee in 2013, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Roth said the CDC currently ranks Tennessee 12th in accidental shootings.

"Some accidents happen when an adult who should know better, including in some cases law enforcement, drops a gun or forgets that a gun is loaded," Roth said in a statement.

"We understand that gun-related accidents happen. We just want to minimize the chance that they're happening in public places, especially places where children play and learn, such as parks, playgrounds and school campuses."

Harris and the TFA are advocating for several gun proposals introduced this legislative session. Roth and the project oppose them.

Gun week at the General Assembly

It's gun week at the Tennessee General Assembly.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, lawmakers are set to discuss more than 50 proposals related to guns. That number includes companion bills — similar proposals made in both the House and Senate — and some aim to increase restrictions. One bill would make it a misdemeanor to openly carry a real or fake gun or other weapon within 250 feet of a school.

But most would ease current restrictions for different people, including those who:

Want to carry guns in parks or schools (but not the state capitol).

Leave guns in their cars without facing punishment from their employers.

Want to use targets or ammunition that explode.

Own guns that might be illegal now, but were legal at the time of purchase.

Have a permit and want to carry guns wherever off-duty law enforcement officers can carry guns.

Gov. Bill Haslam has "deferred" opinion to the General Assembly on the bill to allow people to keep guns in their cars while parked at a school. But he "flagged" — or opposes — a bill that would nullify local laws prohibiting guns in parks and a "constitutional carry" bill that would any not banned from owning a gun to carry one without a permit.

The two flagged bills cover key issues for gun rights activists.

One piece of legislation up for discussion Wednesday specifically references the National Rifle Association's annual conference April 9-12 in Nashville — and its 90,000 members "who will be inclined to want to carry a firearm for their personal defense and protection — as a reason to do away with any prohibitions on guns in parks. An NRA spokeswoman did not answer questions about Tennessee gun laws submitted by The Tennessean.

"We don't need to change it to please the gun lobby or people who'll be visiting our city for a weekend long convention," Roth said.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and other mayors throughout Tennessee have spoken out against so-called guns-in-parks bills. A different guns-in-parks bill passed a Senate subcommittee last week.

Harris and the TFA say the "constitutional carry" bill, sponsored by Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale, and Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, is the organization's biggest legislative priority. The bill aims to make other changes a well, similar to some of the other proposals up for debate this week that address guns in parking lots and at schools.

"TFA recognizes that Tennessee has had for five years now a Republican controlled state government including a Republican super-majority in the legislature. TFA had expected that this absolute dominion over state government would have resulted in these elected officials implementing many of their campaign promises – such as Governor Haslam's statement that he would sign constitutional carry legislation," Harris said, noting a comment Haslam made during his first campaign for governor.

Reach Dave Boucher at 615-259-8892 and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.

Handgun carry permits in Tennessee (and year-over-year growth)

Jan. 2008: 191,208

Jan. 2009: 218,004 (14%)

Jan. 2010: 268,711 (23%)

Jan. 2011: 307,816 (15%)

March 2012: 350,327 (14%)

Jan. 2013: 382,064 (9%)

Feb. 2014: 457,299 (20%)

Feb. 2015: 488,911 (7%)

TOTAL growth since 2008: 297,703 (156%)

Source: Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

Growth in gun permits by county:

Davidson

Jan. 2008: 12,781

Feb. 2015: 29,372

Rutherford

Jan. 2008: 6,266

Feb. 2015: 11,898

Shelby

Jan. 2008: 28,601

Feb. 2015: 55,612

Sumner

Jan. 2008: 4,842

Feb. 2015: 13,841

Williamson

Jan. 2008: 4,417

Feb. 2015: 14,660

Wilson

Jan. 2008: 4,302

Feb. 2015:12,307

Number of "crimes against persons" involving a firearm In Tennessee

2008: 10,426

2009: 10,072

2010: 8,980

2011: 9,430

2012: 9,923

2013: 9,117

Source: Tennessee Bureau of Investigations. Numbers show total crimes as reported by every Tennessee law enforcement agency to the TBI.

How to get a handgun permit in Tennessee

The permits are required for any Tennessee resident who wants to carry a handgun, but don't necessarily reflect the actual number of handguns in the state — a person doesn't need a new permit for each gun. In addition to a taking an eight-hour safety course, anyone who wants a permit in Tennessee must meet several criterion that include:

They must be 21 years old

Never convicted of a felony

Can't be addicted to drugs or alcohol

Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

Never label a "mental defective" by a court

There are exceptions. Anyone who commits themselves to a mental health facility, as opposed to being ordered there by a court, is still eligible for a permit. Law enforcement officers, current or former military officers and some security guards could be exempt from taking the safety course as well.

A permit can be valid for up to seven years, depending on the age of the person when he or she applies for the permit. There's a fee that increases with every year of eligibility.