Safer TN Tracker | 4.8.26 - Voices for a Safer Tennessee

This week, we’re tracking legislative developments at the capitol, mounting evidence of the urgent need for secure firearm storage practices in our state, and growing statewide momentum around gun safety engagement.

#1 What We’re Tracking: Safer TN Hosts Legislators at the Capitol

Recently, Safer TN hosted Tennessee legislators and members of their staff for breakfast and meaningful conversation before a busy day at the Capitol. This gathering offered an opportunity to showcase our new data dashboard, a research tool that measures the staggering toll of firearm injuries and deaths in the state, developed in collaboration with The Boyd Center at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

A big thank you to Hattie B’s for providing delicious food for the gathering!

We’re grateful to the legislators who stopped by, in addition to our board members and dedicated volunteers who joined us. These connections are vital to the important work ahead.

#2 What We’re Tracking: Safer TN Bill Monitoring

We are nearing the end of the legislative session and anticipate the General Assembly will adjourn this month. Currently, many bills are still moving through the legislative process.

Below is a snapshot of the current status of the bills Safer TN has been tracking this session. Please note that bill status is subject to change. Safer TN will continue to monitor all legislation closely until adjournment. Please visit the advocacy section of our website for additional information on each of these bills.

Passed:

HB2588 / SB2369 (Support) has passed and been signed into law by Governor Lee.

Passed out of committee and pending floor votes:

HB1757 / SB1747 (Support)
HB1802 / SB1847 (Monitor)
HB2376 / SB2352 (Monitor)
HB1900 / SB2145 (Monitor)

Presently placed behind the budget (subject to change):

HB2253 / SB2465 (Support)
HB1505 / SB1776 (Monitor)

Facing procedural hurdles:

HB1737 / SB1851 (Oppose)
HB2064 / SB2467 (Oppose)
HB2514 / SB2478 (Oppose)
HB2371 / SB2422 (Monitor)

No longer moving forward this session:

HB1821 / SB1897 (Oppose)
HB1189 / SB1227 (Oppose)
HB2448 / SB2382 (Monitor)
HB2124 / SB2432 (Monitor)

#3 What We’re Tracking: Secure Storage Vitally Needed in Tennessee

At Safer TN, we believe that supporting the Second Amendment and supporting firearm safety aren’t opposing values. They’re inseparable ones.

Firearm injury is the leading cause of death for children in Tennessee, and our state ranks third in the nation for accidental shootings by children. Research tells us that 75% of children in homes with a gun know exactly where it is, even when parents are certain it’s well hidden. And yet more than half of all firearms in homes with children are not stored safely.

Last week, that statistic had a face and a name. A six-year-old boy, Steven Lamont Ricks, died after finding an unsecured gun in his own home in Nashville.

Secure storage is the single most effective step a gun owner can take to prevent accidents, theft, and misuse, and it is a critical tool in suicide prevention as well.

Help us share lifesaving information by downloading secure storage resources on our website today.

#4 What We’re Tracking: Finding Common Ground Across Tennessee

We hope you will join us at an upcoming event near you to keep these conversations happening. If you’d like to volunteer to attend an event or have us speak to your community group, email our community engagement coordinator Katy Dieckhaus.