The Tennessee Department of Safety is proceeding with a rule making hearing to amend the existing regulations by that agency which regulate how Tennessee's handgun permit courses are taught.  The proposed rule is scheduled to go into effect on January 27, 2026.  A redlined copy of the proposed rule is on the Secretary of State's website. 

What are the changes that some are viewing as unnecessary micromanagement by one of the state agencies that has consistently opposed removing restrictions on the constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms?   Consider these:

1)  The existing rule requires that instructors be eligible to obtain Tennessee's enhanced handgun permit.  The new rule requires that instructors "maintain a valid Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit..."  Obviously, with efforts being made to move toward real constitutional carry, this requirement is just an attempt by the Department of Safety to force instructors to pay the fees to the state required to obtain and maintain an enhanced permit.  However, the new rule would also preclude nonresident instructors or those otherwise exempt from having the enhanced handgun permit (like law enforcement) from being instructors.  The Department of Safety can establish no justification for this requirement since, obviously, those without enhanced permits are capable of otherwise competently serving as an instructor. 

2) Another change that has instructors furious is the provision stating that "No prohibited weapons, as defined by T.C.A. § 39-17-1302, of any type will be possessed by
any person at or in the approved classroom of any site when an Enhanced Handgun Safety
Course is being conducted. Only permanently disabled handguns are authorized in the
classroom during instruction."   The last sentence is new.  The question is why?   Clearly, the impact would be that instructors, including law enforcement instructors, can no longer possess loaded OR unloaded firearms in the classroom during instruction.  The new rule will also ban the practice of some instructors to inspect the handguns to be used by students in the classroom rather than on the range.  

These changes continue the process of the Department of Safety regulating what can and cannot be done in the training classes that far exceed any reasonable meddling by a government entity. 

If you are concerned about these proposed changes, you must take action immediately.  The proposed rule is scheduled to be heard on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, by the Legislature's Joint Government Operations Committee (see agenda and list of committee members)

You can also contact the individual attorney in the Department of Safety who likely wrote and is presenting this rule change (and who herself frequently testifies in the Legislature against your 2nd Amendment rights):

Elizabeth Stroecker
Elizabeth.Stroecker@tn.gov
615-712-1525
312 Rosa L Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243

(you may want to save her phone number and email address for the upcoming Legislative session)