Excellent Handgun Carry Permit Renewal Experience

[hso]

While I'd prefer that any of us not to even be required to have carry permits I'm glad my experience with renewing mine today was about as pleasant as could be hoped for.

My renewal form came in the mail thirty days before the expiration of my TN handgun carry permit. I filled it out in a few minutes at the office today and then drove 10 minutes after work to a nearby driver testing center.

I arrived 20 minutes before they were scheduled to close, walked into the door to be greeted by the clerk and was asked what they could do for me. "Carry permit renewal", I said and she replied with a smile, "Come on up".

She accepted my form, asked a couple of questions verifying my place of birth and current address, checked my current permit to verify I was who I claimed to be and noted I had left a spot blank and checked the box for me. I handed over my $50 renewal fee.

"I don't mind the $50, but I know people that can't afford the initial fee and classes.", I said. She replied, "I know it's tough, but the state pays $90 to the company that does the background checks." (I didn't know that.)

Ten steps down the counter to snap a new ID picture. "Bureaucrats! They insist you have to have a new picture for renewals now", she laughed. She handed me a copy of the form with a code on it and told me to keep it until my new permit showed up in the mail, and "Just in case Nashville screws up".

I was in and out in under 5 minutes.

 

[sm]

That is great service!

 

[230RN]

I want to hire her.

Or maybe even marry her.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

$50 for a renewal? Ouch! Here you go down to Kinko's or whever and get your own photo taken, fill out the application, and take it over to the local credit union to get notarized. Then you just mail the app, photo, and $10 to BCI. Not as much chance for customer service interaction here.

 

[Conqueror]

Renewal is like $70 in NC or thereabouts (don't really remember, I have like 4 years left on mine).

 

[Ringer]

Good to hear good stories about this.

I have to renew in a couple months. I hope mine goes that smooth, err wish rather. Mine will cost $105, require a new photo (self provided, passport size/quality) as well as being re-finger printed. It will involve going to the county and taking a number and waiting......to submit the renewal appliation. Then going to a different building and waiting....to be finger printed. Then going back to the first building to turn everything in. Then wait a couple months for it to show up in the mail. At least that's how it went the last time.

 

[easy]

You obviously don't live in the PRK...

 

[Blarelli]

Renewal in Utah is only $25 I think, and we all know Utah is the best.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Renewal in Utah is only $25

$10 for 5 years.

 

[Tommygunn]

Renewal where I live in Alabama; $20.00, the sheriff sends me a reminder and a return envelope which I send back with check and a week or so later ... presto!

 

[Blarelli]

$10 for 5 years.

Yeah, but Utah is good in more states.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Yeah, but Utah is good in more states.

More states than what? Utah's permit renewal is $10 for 5 years.

 

[Blarelli]

$10 for 5? Hmm, Les must have told me wrong.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

$10 for 5? Hmm, Les must have told me wrong.

I don't know who Les is, but it's been $10 to renew since at least 1998. It used to be for a 2 year renewal, but sometime between 1998 and 2000, it went to a five year renewal and the cost stayed the same. Not a bad deal when you exempts you from the NICS check as well.

From http://bci.utah.gov/CFP/CFRenew.html:
The cost of renewal is $10.00. This may be paid by check or money order. We recommend you do not send cash in the mail.

 

[Mtnvalley]

That's odd that the subcontractor charges the state $90 for background checks, when their own TBI has a billboard along I-40 in Knoxville, offering background checks to the public for like $30-35. Mayhaps she was misinformed, or perhaps the TBI check is less comprehensive?

Glad you had such a great experience, nonetheless.

 

[kd7nqb]

Sounds great to me. I know in Oregon we at 50 for renewal too. The other thing is my GF had a hell of time getting her permit since in her county the sheriff only handles CHL's 4hours a week. Tuesday/Thursday 8-10am if I remember correctly.

 

[Soybomb]

"I don't mind the $50, but I know people that can't afford the initial fee and classes.", I said. She replied, "I know it's tough, but the state pays $90 to the company that does the background checks." (I didn't know that.)

All the more reason to work to get rid of permits, talk about wasteful spending.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Pretty nice, Mike. I have to go to the county courthouse to renew my PA permit. No fingerprints though, and I think it still runs about $19.00 My first permit was issued in a poorer county, and had no picture.


Have you gotten your Utah permit yet?

 

[Kaeto]

Ringer: Don't forget the Concealed carry class again. In Michigan every time you renew you have to retake the class. So there is another 100+ dollars down the tubes.

 

[chipperi]

In TN it is about 50 for the class (not including ammo), 115 for the initial permit+ fingerprinting and background check, then 50 every 5 years renewal. It is easy and the people at the DMV are usually friendly, the only gripe I have is that my local DMV here in Sullivan county is a tiny little shoe box that is always crowded, and they have to send you elsewhere to get fingerprinted.

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

Is it really that enjoyable to be charged money to have the right to bear arms taken from you?

It's great to know that people profit from turning a right into a mere privilege in which one must buy permission from the government to exercise.

 

[txgho1911]

Glad it is allowed to go so smoothly there in TN. Even happier that it is pretty cheap in so many other states. Here in IN the cost for the license went up and they are still trying to hammer out what agencies and the state get from the fees. No fees though to renew.
Lifetime license. Not sure if it will be good for folks who move away and later return.

 

[stephpd]

bulfrogken

I think you can do your permit thru the mail. go to ushandgunlaws and download the form and mail it. Got my non resident permit that way. Cost was $20 for 5 years. And if you send them a passport photo they will tape it onto the permit.
Live in DE, have to go to courthouse and permit is $65 for 2 years. Plus new photo. At least it is laminated and fits in wallet without folding it in half.

 

[Ringer]

Ringer: Don't forget the Concealed carry class again. In Michigan every time you renew you have to retake the class. So there is another 100+ dollars down the tubes.

Not anymore....thank goodness:
Concealed Pistol Permit Renewal Informtion

"5. For an individual licensed after July 1, 2001, and subsequently applying for a renewal:
Pistol safety training course is not required
Applicant shall present a statement signed by the applicant certifying that he/she has:
Completed at least three (3) hours of review of the pistol safety training course and has at least 1 hour of firing range time in the 6 months immediately preceding the renewal application."


I find this part to be overcomplicated and confusing. Why not just make it every 5 years on your birthday? This makes it sound like it is really only good for 4 years.

"1. A license to carry a concealed pistol is valid until the applicant's date of birth that falls not less than four years or more than five years after the license is issued."

 

[Im283]

What happens if by some chance you do not recieve the renewal back before your current permit expires?

Can't we renew here in TN up to six months in advance?