Eastern Tennessee Experiencing sharp increase in Concealed Permit Holders

Saturday classes offered by the Knox County Sheriff's Department have been booked. They've even added extra sessions.

Instructor Sgt. Mike Lett says many students are coming through because of the brutal murder of a Knox County couple and the Virginia Tech campus shooting. He trains officers the same way he trains citizens -- to pull the trigger only as the last resort. But he says people have to decide if they can do that, before they pick up a gun. "Each individual person has to decide if they want to carry a firearm for their own protection, " said Sgt. Lett. "It's not a decision I need to make or anyone else."

In December of 2005, 63 people in Knox county applied for permits, versus 205 in April. That's a 225% difference. The number in Blount County went up by 50%. Campbell, Claiborne and Grainger counties saw single digits turn to double.

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Eastern Tennessee Experiencing sharp increase in Concealed Permit Holders
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