Department of Safety Statement on Handgun Permit Schools
NASHVILLE — This week the Department of Safety mailed new Handgun Safety School Class Roster forms to all 164 Handgun Safety Schools across the state.
The new forms inadvertently included three sections that requested the make of the gun, handgun serial number, and whether the school or student owned the handgun. This should not have been done and the sections were included in error. These new forms had been created in response to a Comptroller’s Performance Audit finding relative to verifying an applicant’s successful completion of a handgun safety course. The intent of the new form was to verify participation in the handgun safety course.
TDOS rules and regulations require records of students who participated in the handgun safety course. This allows the department to verify that an individual applying for a permit has successful completed the course with the handgun safety school. Failure to verify that individuals who apply for a handgun carry permit have successfully completed a course with an approved school may potentially allow individuals to submit false certificates and obtain a handgun carry permit.
A letter from Handgun Permit Unit Director Lisa Knight is being sent to handgun school owners informing them that the Department of Safety has instructed them not to complete the three sections. The Handgun Unit is in the process of revising the form and mailing new forms that omit those three sections.
“There was no intent by the Department of Safety to create any sort of gun registry.” stated Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “The department regrets any confusion or misunderstanding caused by the issuance of the new handgun safety roster form.”
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.