NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- More than 150 people, most in conflict with women, have had their handgun carry permits suspended as a result of a Channel 4 I-Team investigation.
The investigation not only exposed people served with orders of protection allowed to have handgun carry permits despite a state law but also a major hole in a system to protect domestic violence victims.
It's a hole that's now closing.
To try to protect people -- mostly women -- from gun violence, there's a state law that says anyone served with an order of protection must have his or her handgun carry permit suspended for the length of that order.
Men in Davidson County served with orders of protection, some ordered to undergo anger management classes, were found to have been allowed to keep their handgun carry permits.
"It was very stunning," said domestic violence expert Verna Wyatt.
The Department of Safety's handgun division wasn't being notified of orders of protection in Davidson County either by the courts or law enforcement, but it was a statewide problem.
The investigation prompted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to send every active order of protection in Tennessee to the Department of Safety.
Across the state, 160 people served with an order of protection still had their handgun carry permits.
Every one of them has now had his or her permit suspended.
"I'm glad you did come to us, because that opened a door for us and gave us an idea of something that was going on we would not have known about," said Col. Mike Walker of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Domestic violence experts said the problem with people served with orders of protection allowed to have handgun carry permits is one of easy access to a weapon if an already tense situation turns worse.
"To have something so accessible when you're on that violent path, it's just a deadly combination," Wyatt said.
The TBI now will update the Department of Safety monthly on every order of protection issued across the state.
"Thank you for shining a light on this, because if you hadn't, nothing would have ever been done. It wouldn't have come to anybody's attention," Wyatt said.
Not everyone served with an order of protection has a propensity for violence.
Copyright 2008 by WSMV.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Got a story idea? E-mail newstips to news@wsmv.com or call the newsroom 24/7 at 615-353-2231.
Video: State Alerted To Communication Issue
