Knoxville - attitude towards firearms?

Fuzzy Dice · February 11, 2017, 08:29 AM

Hello all,

Like many, I've visited this forum for many years and just recently signed on. Lots of helpful folks and great info here.

I live in nyc and am planning on moving to TN - Knoxville - West, North, South (unsure where at the moment), sometime in the next few years. At present I'm in the dreaming and research phase and haven't visited yet but that will be step one.

Part of my plans include obtaining a concealed carry permit once properly established as a resident.

Can someone offer some insight into how firearms ownership is viewed in Knoxville? Is it embraced? Is the range experience enjoyable?

I'm basically at the "I don't know what I don't know" phase regarding Knoxville so any information is welcome.

Thank you,

Fuzzy

osbornk · February 11, 2017, 04:14 PM

I live in Virginia about 50 miles from Tennessee and my daughter and her family live in East Tennessee, less than 100 miles from Knoxville. East Tennessee folks likes guns and you will think you have died and gone to heaven regarding guns. The Tennessee concealed permit takes a one day training class and requires shooting. My daughter got her permit on a Saturday and she had never touched a gun until the evening before she got her permit. I think the new fee for a lifetime permit was changed to $200.

**Aguila Blanca** · February 11, 2017, 05:03 PM

FWIW, the 2017 edition of Traveler's Guide to the Firearms Laws of the Fifty States assigns a rating of about 92 to Tennessee. For comparison, New York (state) is rated at 22. Keep in mind that this book is geared to travelers, so things like recognition of other states' permits is likely a part of the author's algorithm, but in general it would seem that Tennessee is light yars ahead of NYC.

I'm researching places to which to relocate for myself, which is why I have this book. In fact, just yesterday I went through and picked out the top twenty gun-friendly states. Next step for me is to factor in other parameters and see if I can come up with an overall points/rating system to help me narrow my choice.

DaleA · February 11, 2017, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Is the range experience enjoyable?

I wouldn't say I've been at a lot of ranges but I've been to more than a few and only one sticks out in my mind as being 'unfriendly' so if you hit one like that just move on and I bet the next one would be ok.

The 'unfriendly' range I ran across was one for trap shooters and unless you were busting more than 20 out of 25 birds a round you weren't welcome. But there were other ranges in the city that were quite friendly no matter your skill level.

22-rimfire · February 12, 2017, 09:57 AM

Knoxville TN is a very gun friendly city and county. Great place to live.

g.willikers · February 12, 2017, 10:59 AM

You need to go there to see for yourself.
When you walk into a regular ole' sporting goods store and see an entire section full of guns, you will know.

cptjack · February 12, 2017, 11:10 AM

from me experience, you get" you talk funny" and will take years to be accepted, when I was in NEW MEX ON A UNION JOB WHICH IS SCARCE THERE THE LOCAL BOYS ,
CALLED ME YANK which I didn't take as an insult ,They took me for what I am. being brothers even living upstate in my home state ,takes a while for people to warm up. good luck and buy a large piece of land.

g.willikers · February 12, 2017, 11:17 AM

When you go there, don't forget to wear your NRA cap at all times.
Well, maybe not in the shower.

Fuzzy Dice · February 12, 2017, 12:29 PM

Thanks so much for your input guys! This is very helpful. It's refreshing to read comments from like minded folks.

RoughDivider · February 12, 2017, 01:57 PM

The only places in Tennessee that are slightly less friendly than the rest of the state is probably Memphis. Otherwise you'll probably get given a welcome to Tennessee commemorative gun.

jmr40 · February 12, 2017, 06:18 PM

I live in N GA, but have family scattered along the eastern border of TN from Chattanooga to Bristol including some in Knoxville. A couple of cousins in the NW corner too. You won't find a much more gun friendly part of the country.

mk70ss · February 14, 2017, 08:40 PM

I live just north of Knoxville and it is very gun friendly here. Knoxville proper is somewhat liberal because of the college, UT, but the whole region is very gun friendly.

22-rimfire · February 15, 2017, 07:25 PM

Quote:

from me experience, you get" you talk funny" and will take years to be accepted, when I was in NEW MEX ON A UNION JOB WHICH IS SCARCE THERE THE LOCAL BOYS, CALLED ME YANK which I didn't take as an insult ,They took me for what I am. being brothers even living upstate in my home state ,takes a while for people to warm up. good luck and buy a large piece of land.

That sort of thing happens in the hills/mountains. It is a very common local reaction to "Yanks" in Appalachia in general. I ran into that in KY, but not TN.

lefteye · February 16, 2017, 03:45 PM

Tennessee is generally very gun friendly.

Fuzzy Dice · February 16, 2017, 06:02 PM

Thanks again all. I'm not a Yankees fan so I hope I can talk TN folks into calling me a Met. The Mets are my team!

Don P · February 16, 2017, 07:38 PM

Try here for info. Gary and his partner do a fantastic job. www.handgunlaw.us

Fuzzy Dice · February 19, 2017, 08:14 AM

Again, thanks for the input. A scouting trip is definitely in the plans for this year.

Buckeye! · February 19, 2017, 10:14 AM

I have lived in TN for 35 years ... About 1.5 from Knoxville .. You are good to go
Gun friendly ...

**Aguila Blanca** · February 19, 2017, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckeye

... About 1.5 from Knoxville ...

1.5 hours, miles, days, kilometers, or parsecs?

February 11, 2017, 08:29 AM	#1
Fuzzy Dice Junior Member Join Date: February 5, 2017 Location: NYC Posts: 13	Knoxville - attitude towards firearms? Hello all, Like many, I've visited this forum for many years and just recently signed on. Lots of helpful folks and great info here. I live in nyc and am planning on moving to TN - Knoxville - West, North, South (unsure where at the moment), sometime in the next few years. At present I'm in the dreaming and research phase and haven't visited yet but that will be step one. Part of my plans include obtaining a concealed carry permit once properly established as a resident. Can someone offer some insight into how firearms ownership is viewed in Knoxville? Is it embraced? Is the range experience enjoyable? I'm basically at the "I don't know what I don't know" phase regarding Knoxville so any information is welcome. Thank you, Fuzzy

February 12, 2017, 10:59 AM	#6
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	You need to go there to see for yourself. When you walk into a regular ole' sporting goods store and see an entire section full of guns, you will know. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

February 12, 2017, 11:17 AM	#8
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	When you go there, don't forget to wear your NRA cap at all times. Well, maybe not in the shower. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

February 12, 2017, 06:18 PM	#11
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	I live in N GA, but have family scattered along the eastern border of TN from Chattanooga to Bristol including some in Knoxville. A couple of cousins in the NW corner too. You won't find a much more gun friendly part of the country. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

February 14, 2017, 08:40 PM	#12
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	I live just north of Knoxville and it is very gun friendly here. Knoxville proper is somewhat liberal because of the college, UT, but the whole region is very gun friendly. __________________ Say when.....

February 11, 2017, 04:14 PM	#2
osbornk Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2012 Location: Mountains of Appalachia Posts: 1,598	I live in Virginia about 50 miles from Tennessee and my daughter and her family live in East Tennessee, less than 100 miles from Knoxville. East Tennessee folks likes guns and you will think you have died and gone to heaven regarding guns. The Tennessee concealed permit takes a one day training class and requires shooting. My daughter got her permit on a Saturday and she had never touched a gun until the evening before she got her permit. I think the new fee for a lifetime permit was changed to $200.

February 11, 2017, 05:03 PM	#3
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	FWIW, the 2017 edition of Traveler's Guide to the Firearms Laws of the Fifty States assigns a rating of about 92 to Tennessee. For comparison, New York (state) is rated at 22. Keep in mind that this book is geared to travelers, so things like recognition of other states' permits is likely a part of the author's algorithm, but in general it would seem that Tennessee is light yars ahead of NYC. I'm researching places to which to relocate for myself, which is why I have this book. In fact, just yesterday I went through and picked out the top twenty gun-friendly states. Next step for me is to factor in other parameters and see if I can come up with an overall points/rating system to help me narrow my choice.

February 12, 2017, 09:57 AM	#5
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	Knoxville TN is a very gun friendly city and county. Great place to live.

February 12, 2017, 11:10 AM	#7
cptjack Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2014 Posts: 314	from me experience, you get" you talk funny" and will take years to be accepted, when I was in NEW MEX ON A UNION JOB WHICH IS SCARCE THERE THE LOCAL BOYS , CALLED ME YANK which I didn't take as an insult ,They took me for what I am. being brothers even living upstate in my home state ,takes a while for people to warm up. good luck and buy a large piece of land.

February 12, 2017, 12:29 PM	#9
Fuzzy Dice Junior Member Join Date: February 5, 2017 Location: NYC Posts: 13	Thanks so much for your input guys! This is very helpful. It's refreshing to read comments from like minded folks.

February 12, 2017, 01:57 PM	#10
RoughDivider Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2014 Location: Collierville, TN Posts: 152	The only places in Tennessee that are slightly less friendly than the rest of the state is probably Memphis. Otherwise you'll probably get given a welcome to Tennessee commemorative gun.

February 16, 2017, 03:45 PM	#14
lefteye Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2006 Posts: 1,433	Tennessee is generally very gun friendly. __________________ Vietnam Veteran ('69-'70) NRA Life Member RMEF Life Member

February 16, 2017, 06:02 PM	#15
Fuzzy Dice Junior Member Join Date: February 5, 2017 Location: NYC Posts: 13	Thanks again all. I'm not a Yankees fan so I hope I can talk TN folks into calling me a Met. The Mets are my team!

February 16, 2017, 07:38 PM	#16
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Try here for info. Gary and his partner do a fantastic job. www.handgunlaw.us __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

February 19, 2017, 08:14 AM	#17
Fuzzy Dice Junior Member Join Date: February 5, 2017 Location: NYC Posts: 13	Again, thanks for the input. A scouting trip is definitely in the plans for this year.

February 19, 2017, 10:14 AM	#18
Buckeye! Senior Member Join Date: September 1, 2008 Posts: 849	I have lived in TN for 35 years ... About 1.5 from Knoxville .. You are good to go Gun friendly ...