Posted on June 24 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. Crisp, Where did you obtain your figures? I'm having a hard time confirming the numbers that you included in your report. According to the annual reports from the TN Department of Safety website (http://www.state.tn.us/safety/factsandfi...), "the driver license field offices have processed 35,972 applications for Handgun Carry Permits, including duplicates, renewals and originals..." and "The Handgun Carry Permit Unit in Nashville reviewed and processed 34,735 applications" in the 2002-2003 fiscal year. In 2003-2004, the driver license offices received 31,392 applications, while the Handgun Carry Permit Unit saw 36,870 applications (48% were renewals). The sum of these figures well exceeds the 237 applications in 2003 as reported in the article.

There was an increase in applications in the 2006-2007 fiscal year when compared to 2002-2003. Specifically, 44,457 applications were made at the driver license offices. This number includes renewals and duplicates. At the Handgun Carry Permit Unit, 57,321 applications were received, of which 57% were renewals. Summing these numbers together yields 101,778 handgun applications, and at least 32,000 are renewal applications. So where do you get your numbers?

Perhaps you are confusing applications with actual licensees? I don't think so based on the numbers. January 2008 and April 2008 figures are posted on the Tennessee Department of Safety website. 191,208 concealed carry permits existed as of January 7, 2008. As of April 2, 2008, 193,030 permits are in Tennessee. Thus, you are claiming that the number of applications for a permit, which is valid for 4 years, exceeded the total number of permits that are possessed by the citizens of the state. This is an absurd claim, and cannot be factual.

On Chattanooga: Packing licensed heat