Tennessee’s fees to obtain a handgun carry permit and its penalties for violating the law are just fine under the Tennessee and United States constitutions, the state attorney general says in answer to an inquiry from state Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville.
Putting to rest any doubt that might exist out there, Attorney General Robert Cooper and his staff cited more than 140 years of case law supporting the constitutionality of asking Tennesseans to register before carrying handguns in public. The only stipulation is the fees and fines cannot be excessive.
The state currently charges $115 for a permit to carry handgun, good for up to four years. Carrying a handgun without a permit is punishable on the first offense by a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
