Knox County Sheriff offering free handgun carry classes to military

Sheriff Jones

Knox County Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones is offering free handgun carry classes to Tennessee Military members. Sheriff Jones decided to offer the classes when it was announced on Thursday by Governor Haslam that Tennessee military members with valid Tennessee handgun permits will now be allowed to carry handguns at state military facilities and recruitment centers.

Sheriff Jones had called and offered to bond military personnel the day after the July 2015 shooting at two military installations in Chattanooga, but was told that he could not do so under state and federal regulations.

When Sheriff Jones learned on Thursday that military personnel had been given permission to carry at state military facilities and recruitment centers, he made the decision to offer the free handgun carry classes using the firearms training staff of the Knox County Regional Training Academy. Sheriff Jones said, “I consider the military to be part of our law enforcement family. We all put our lives on the line daily to protect the lives of others and I will always support our military in any way I can.”

Interested military personnel may call the Knox County Sheriff’s Office training Division at (865) 281-0606 for more information or to register for classes.