We stand in solidarity with Antioch High School. We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a young woman’s life, the devastating decision made by a 17-year-old, and the trauma thousands of students experienced on Wednesday.
One life was lost, but the ripple effects of this tragedy will be felt by thousands of students, their families, staff members, and the community. At Safer TN, we firmly believe firearm tragedies like this are preventable.
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has a fund set up for those directly impacted by school violence in Nashville, and is currently raising money to help those affected by the Antioch High School shooting.
The Mayor’s office has also provided a list of mental health resources for Nashvillians in need.
You can also support Safer TN’s efforts to prevent firearm tragedies by hosting a gathering or using our legislative guide to reach out to your representatives. We’ll provide talking points to make your message impactful.
School shootings have skyrocketed
There were at least 330 school shootings in 2024, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database, and so far there have been at least nine nationwide so far this year.
This database tracks events where a gun is fired, brandished with intent to harm, or when a bullet strikes school property, regardless of victims, time, or day. It includes gang violence, domestic disputes, shootings during sports events or after-hours school activities, suicides, disputes escalating into gunfire, and accidental discharges.
A 2023 report by the Tennessee Office of the Comptroller analyzed the K-12 School Shooting Database and found most Tennessee school shootings occurred at high schools, primarily due to escalated disputes or accidents. Escalated disputes involve physical or verbal altercations that lead to gunfire, while accidental shootings occur when a gun is unintentionally fired (e.g., showing off a weapon or a gun discharging from a backpack).
Three Tennessee school shootings qualified as “active shooter” events, based on the FBI’s definition: individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill in a populated area.
Nearly half of these incidents were committed by students, who should not have had a weapon.
In a comprehensive study of adolescent school shootings from 1990 through 2016, researchers found most firearms were procured via theft, predominantly from family or relatives. These findings stress the critical importance of secure storage, especially in households with children and adolescents.
The Ad Council has provided this compelling secure storage video and additional resources include:
- Where to find free cable locks in every county in Tennessee.
- How to safely store your weapon using a lock box, cable lock, gun safe or off-site storage since nearly 1 in 4 children report having handled a gun in their home without their parents knowing.
- The National Shooting Sports Foundation has a comprehensive guide to effective firearm storage options and how to use them.
- How to talk to your children about guns and what to do if they find one.
- How to ask your family and friends about how they store their firearms.
The first firearm bills have been filed
So far, 10 bills related to firearms and ammunition have been filed by lawmakers this year. With a filing deadline of February 6, lawmakers have two more weeks to introduce bills this session.
- Several of the bills are versions of legislation that failed to advance in prior sessions.
- Each bill needs a House and a Senate version to be considered; not all of these bills have a House or Senate companion yet.
- Safer TN will be closely monitoring new legislation and will finalize our strategy and bill positions following the deadline.
- Find the bills by following this link to the Tennessee General Assembly website.
On Monday, January 27, a special session on school vouchers, disaster relief and illegal immigration will begin. Firearms legislation will not be discussed. Regular session will likely begin week of February 3.
Governor Lee’s State of the State address is currently scheduled for February 10, which is when he will unveil his proposed budget and legislative priorities for the coming year.
Our Legislative Learning Session pulled back the curtain.
On Jan. 8, Safer TN hosted an informative panel discussion that offered valuable insights into the legislative process and how the organization will define success in 2025.
With the start of the legislative session, the conversation served as a crucial opportunity to understand the pathways for impactful advocacy and the strategies Safer TN plans to pursue in the coming year.
Panelists shared their expertise on how laws are shaped, the importance of voter engagement, and the need to build coalitions to strengthen firearm safety legislation. The recording remains available to you to help you stay informed and ready for action.
Violence forced her family to flee Guatemala. Then she died in Antioch High School (Newschannel 5 Nashville)
Shooter’s gun was purchased by an individual in Arizona in 2022 (Newschannel 5 Nashville)
Guns removed from Antioch High School shooter’s home in 2023 (WSMV Nashville)
Tennessee could toughen penalties for those caught firing a gun into or at a vehicle (WKRN Nashville)
Suspects in deadly Lenoir City shooting arrested (WVLT Knoxville)
Grandmother arrested for firing shot near community center (Fox 13 Memphis)
