Senator Diane Black has wanted to get a permit to carry a gun for several years. Last week she took the steps toward that goal when she completed the state-mandated eight-hour course and sent in her permit application.  

Black purchased the “his-and-her” handgun carry permit class through a recent fundraising auction held by the Gallatin Rotary Club. She knew the minute she saw it listed that she had to win the bid.

“Not only was the auction for a great cause because the money goes to help children, it would finally force me to take the time to get it done. I didn’t care what it cost, I was going to win that bid!” she said with a laugh.

Black has personal reasons for wanting the permit.

As a politician, she occasionally receives threats on her life; however, her desire to better protect herself stems from an event  that happened before she ever entered the public arena.

The attempted abduction occurred in West Nashville where Black, who worked as a nurse at the time, was seeking to secure a venue for a church function.

“Three men pulled up beside where I was walking, and they attacked me and tried to force me into their vehicle,” said Black.

“I was kicking and screaming and fighting with everything I had and I got away. But it was, a very scary experience.”

Though Black got away, she did not escape injury. Her attackers fractured her cheekbone, caused severe contusions to her chest area and landed punches on the rest of her body during the kidnap attempt. The senator doesn’t know what they were going to do if they had gotten got her into the car.

“The police told me I did the right thing by fighting as hard as I did,” said Black, who was able to pick one of her attackers out of a photo line up. But authorities were unable to put enough together to charge him, nor were they able to locate the other attackers.

 “The officer said that if you get into a car, you are in trouble because they can take you somewhere remote and do whatever they want. Fighting at least keeps it public ,and you have a better chance of being heard and helped.

“He said if someone wants your purse or your wallet, you should just give it to him without argument, but when they are trying to kidnap you, it becomes crucial to fight back and not go with them if at all possible.”

A woman that knew Black and worked in an office building on the same street where Black’s attempted abduction occurred, heard her screams all the way inside the building, through the office window.

“She told me later that they heard a woman screaming and were wondering what was happening, but she didn’t know until later it was me screaming for help, as they tried to force me into their vehicle,” said Black.

Now Black has taken the steps to protect herself if it ever happens again.

Commending course provider Guns and Leather, of Greenbrier, Black said it was a very thorough indoctrination to gun safety.

“They teach you a lot about caring for and using a gun,” said Black.

“I took a written test and had to do some shooting to demonstrate what we had learned.”

Black felt at ease with the written test but was not sure how well she would do on the target range.

“I didn’t know how it would feel or how the gun would react when I shot it,” said Black.

“But it turned out the class teaches you a lot so by the time you actually ,shoot it, you are comfortable and it goes fine.”

Black encourages anyone interested in taking the course to do it. Taking the course doesn’t force you to carry a gun, she pointed out; it simply gives you the peace of mind of knowing you have the right to if the need ever arises.

“I am glad I got it done,” said the senator.

“It was something I have wanted to do but never got around to it. I feel better now knowing I have the option to carry a gun if I ever feel I need to.”