Cole Personal Safety

Certified Training School and Instructors      

Tennessee Handgun Permit Travel Guide 

• States that honor the Tennessee Handgun Permit, and the restrictions in each state.                                                    
• States that do not honor the Tennesee Handgun Permit, and how to transport your pistol in each state.
• Tennessee codes and restrictions.
• Advising a Law Enforcemenet Officer you are legally armed.
• This guide will only cost you $10.00 plus $1.50 shipping/handling
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75 rounds of ammunition                                      Dickson, TN. After getting directions; when on Bruce Drive, go straight

Pistol you wish to qualify with                              past the two water towers then

Holster that fits pistol you will be using                 your first left (after water towers),

Good, strong belt                                                   take your first left and then go to

Eye and Ear protection                                          the end of the road. This road,

Pencil and Paper                                                  Peeler Drive, will dead end at the

Appropriate weather gear                                     range.

A great attitude

Class starts promptly at 8:00 am

What People Are Saying About Our Handgun Permit Class: 

"The instructors were great and very helpful.  Made me feel very comfortable in the class of all men!  I would recommend this class to everyone."

"Great class!  You guys have a great passion for people and self defense and it shows.  Thank you so much for speaking and instructing into our lives and families."

"Aweome job!  You make a "blond" female student comfortable in the classroom and field.  Lots of fun on a Saturday - when can I come back?!"       

"Had a blast and learned some things too, even though I've been shooting for years."

"I think this is great what you are doing.  This whole class has been an enjoyment.  The atmosphere was very comfortable and help ease whatever tension there may have been.  Thank You."

"Was every bit worth the money!"

July 18, 2008 Dickson Herald Article:

Handgun class sets sights on self-defense needs
Officer’s home-biz focuses on safety

(Brian Keithline/The Herald)

When instructor Jimmy Newton stands in front of a handgun safety class, he looks out over the room and in his deep voice says:

“First of all, guns don’t kill people. People kill people.”

After that, the whole room goes eerily quiet.

“Think about it,” Newton continues, “guns aren’t bad. It’s the person behind the trigger. Otherwise, we might as well say that cars make people drive drunk.”

It’s his way of grabbing their attention. After all, when it comes to guns, safety is the number one concern.

“When I hear about a gun accident, I shake my head,” Newton says. “I don’t call it an ‘accident.’ I call it premeditated carelessness.

“Responsible gun owners learn how to safely use and carry their guns.”

That’s the challenge given to attendees to the Cole Personal Safety school. It’s also the reason why about 160 people have attended the program in its first year.
Students might be registering for the course in hopes of getting their handgun carry permit, but they’re also signing up for much more.

They’re signing up for a lifetime of skills that could save their lives.

It begins with being a more knowledgeable gun owner.

The daylong course, held at the Dickson Police firing range is a state-certified class that’s also the first step in applying for a handgun carry permit.

But in the end, attendees realize that they’ve learned everything from better gun handling techniques to a better understanding of the law.

David Brooks of Ashland City says the course surprised him. He ended up learning more about gun safety and legal aspects than he had originally expected.

“What you have to understand is that people don’t sign up for this class to go out there and shoot someone,” Brooks says. “They want to be better educated about guns. They want to know how to protect themselves.”

David Cole, owner of Cole Personal Safety, started his home business for that very reason: to give people the education and training they were looking for.

“Let’s face it, the police can’t be everywhere all the time,” Cole says. “People want to learn how to protect themselves. Too many bad things are happening to good people.”

Cole, who also works as the Crime Prevention Officer for the Dickson Police Department, knows that education is the key. He enjoys seeing people taking the initiative to learn more about gun laws, safety and gun handling skills.

“They want to learn,” Cole says. “We need to encourage that. It’s the ones who don’t want to learn that are causing the accidents.

Since the school opened in September 2007, there’s been a steady line of participants. Cole has held 18 classes with an average of eight to ten people.

“Word is getting out there and we’re growing,” he says. “With our Web site, a lot of people are finding out how they can protect themselves. It begins with this class.”

Experience counts
Between Cole and Newton, there’s nearly three decades worth of experience. And, there’s a few good jokes mixed in.

Cole has been working in law enforcement for 13 years. He’s a state certified teacher for the handgun carry permit class, the hunter’s education class and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education class (D.A.R.E.)

Newton is an expert in old and modern guns. He’s certified by both the state and the National Rifle Association (NRA) as an instructor and he’s also an NRA-certified Range Safety Officer.

“Together, we’re full of it,” Cole jokes, “full of knowledge, that is. But honestly, we have a good time. This is like a hobby to us.”

Applying for a handgun carry permit takes more than signing a few papers, too.
“It’s pretty rigorous,” Cole says. “And it takes time.”

First, applicants have to take a state-mandated and approved course, such as the Cole Personal Safety course. That includes spending about four hours in the classroom and four hours on the firing range.

Once the students have passed both the written test and have scored at least 33 of 48 shots on the firing range, they can apply for a permit at the Driver’s License Testing Station. Next, they have to get fingerprinted and undergo several local and federal background checks.

By the time the permit actually arrives in the mail, it might be three to six months later, Cole says.

“Sometimes when people realize all that it takes to get a permit, they get scared,” Cole says. “But that’s O.K., it makes them aware of the legal responsibilities of carrying a gun.”


Making a difference
The mission is clear: Cole says he’s out to make a difference. It begins by helping people with the “little things.”

“That’s what sets us apart,” he says, “the extra stuff we do. We provide you with lunch, targets, fellowship and one-on-one coaching. The other schools can’t do that.

“We even say grace before the meal,” Cole says. “Most of the time, my wife even brings homemade cookies.”

Cole’s wife, Margaret and their daughter, Brooke help with the class. They organize the paperwork, set up tables and do just about anything else that needs to be done. Altogether, it’s a family affair.

“We’re serious about what we do, but we have a good time doing it,” Cole says.
And, don’t forget the trivia.

“You won’t believe all the trivia we know,” Cole laughs. “Jimmy (Newton) is a gold mine. He knows everything from blackpowder guns to modern ones.”

Not only that, but Newton is no stranger to Dickson County. He’s worked for AT&T/BellSouth for 33 years and currently he’s the grand jury foreman.

In fact, it was at a grand jury session that Cole and Newton crossed paths.

“That’s how I met David,” Newton said. “David had to go testify before the grand jury and we got to talking. He asked me about helping with the school and I saw that he believed in what he was doing.

“Eventually, I was helping out with every class and staying around long enough that he had to start paying me,” Newton says, laughing.

Seeing is believe
Although many of the attendees are familiar with guns, there’s still a level of nervousness when 8 a.m. rolls around.

Brooks says he was worried about having to take the written test until the class got underway.

“It’s a good atmosphere and I started to relax,” he says. “There are so many hands-on opportunities and the day ends up flying by. They do a good job and help you to understand what you need to know.”

Dwayne Daugherty of Bon Aqua recently took the course and says it “was very educational and is great for someone who’s inexperienced with firearms.”

“They teach you the things you need to know,” he says. “From how to handle and store the gun to how to prepare yourself and to protect yourself.”

Among their arsenal of tools, Cole and Newton use a variety of props, displays, computer animations and videos. There’s even a road sign—riddled with bullets—that Cole uses to demonstrate what NOT to do.

“It’s people doing stuff like this that gives guns a bad reputation,” Cole says. “It’s reckless, it’s careless and it’s how people get hurt.

By the time class is over, Cole hopes that he’s drilled in an important point.

“Everyone needs to realize they’re criminally and civilly liable for any bullet fired from their gun. And they understand that—it opens their eyes.”

Of course, students like Daugherty are well aware of groups that actively oppose guns and gun rights. But, he sees it differently. Gun owners aren’t “gun nuts.” Instead, they’re law-abiding citizens who take the responsibility seriously.

“I hope and pray that I never have to shoot someone,” Daugherty says. “But, from a Christian perspective, the Lord tells us that as the head of the household, it’s my responsibility as a husband and a father to protect my family and to be prepared—just in case.

“If I never use it—that’s fine,” Daugherty says. “But at least I’ve got the knowledge and training.”