There was a slight decrease in the number of handgun permits issued in the seven Tri-Cities counties last year compared to 2006, according to a report from the Tennessee Department of Safety.
Carter, Sullivan and Washington Counties all saw slight decreases. But, between all seven, there was only small decrease: 90 fewer permits.
In 2007, there were a total of 195,251 permits statewide. The Department of Safety said that number has remained fairly constant, with some slight increase over the years.
"Generally, when there's something bad happening - for instance - when the Virginia Tech shooting happened...for the next three or four months we actually turned people away,” permit instructor Ken Potter said. “We booked out. The handgun permit carrier school booked out."
Potter said people of all ages and types are getting permits
"We have law enforcement, ministers, school teachers," Potter said.
An 86 year-old woman recently took a permit class.
“I said, ma'am...at 86 years old...could I just ask you without any offense why are you getting a handgun carrier permit,” Potter said. “She said, well, sonny, I'm going to tell you: I'm getting it for the bears up in Roan Mountain."
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