I'm coming to TN on vacation on memorial day. I live in NC and have applied for my concealed permit however the end of the 45 day wait period is the Friday we are planning on leaving. Knowing my county Sheriff it will NOT be ready in time for me to take with me. From the reading I've been doing it appears I'll have to be unarmed. It appears I can't have a firearm in the car that I have access to AND have ammo accessible. This is unbelievable to me. Please help me understand this.
That's pretty much right. About all you can do is have an encased firearm in your trunk (preferably a locked case if your car does not have a trunk) and ammunition that is separate from the gun, neither of which can be "readily accessible" to anyone in the car. Really, other than Oklahoma, Tennessee is the most restrictive state in the "South" concerning the 2nd amendment. Five out of eight of our neighboring states (MO, KY, VA, AL, and your own NC) generally allow open carry on foot without a permit. Seven out of eight of our neighboring states (AR, MO, KY, VA, your own NC, GA, and MS) allow varying degrees of car carry without a permit. Our state allows neither one without a permit. Further, even though we recognize all out-of-state permits, our own TN permit requirements are among the strictest in the country (as far as "shall-issue" states, anyway): $115 fee for a 4-year permit, 21 or older age requirement, 8 hours of training that includes passing both an in-class test and live-fire range test, and up to a 90 day wait period.
I don't know if it will help you in time. But, you could try to get New Hampshire's out-of-state permit (I think it's only $10, is usually issued within a week or two, and requires only a background check with no training). As I said earlier, TN recognizes all permits; and we don't require you to have a permit from your state of residence. For that matter, if you have any children or other relatives age 18 to 20, you might want to encourage them to get it (New Hampshire is one of six states that will unconditionally issue a permit to someone age 18). That would allow them, as I understand it, to carry here.