This Labor Day, take time to recharge after an emotional week.
Dear friends,
I often make the analogy that advocacy is like a marathon. It requires preparation and training, a steady pace, a passionate spirit and a commitment to being in it for the long haul. It comes with challenges to be overcome and requires a healthy dose of self-care. Like a marathon, the rewards that come with crossing the finish line make the journey more than worth it.
This special session marked an emotional first leg of the marathon. As the week comes to a close and we approach the Labor Day holiday, we encourage each of you to take some time to rest, relax and recharge. We have much more work to do to reach the finish line, and it will require all of us to take care of ourselves and each other in the process.
As you recharge, please know of our continued appreciation for each and every one of you. THANK YOU! The willingness of so many of our coalition members across the state to step up and use their voices in support of firearm safety is not only deeply appreciated, but also invaluable to our efforts.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what we achieved together over the past two weeks:
- Members of our coalition that is more than 20,000 strong and representative of all 95 counties contacted state lawmakers asking them to take action on firearm safety.
- Nearly 400 volunteers from 20 counties showed up at the Capitol and Cordell Hull, serving as a physical reminder that the majority of Tennesseans want and expect change.
- We successfully met (and exceeded) matching challenge gifts from Sen. Bill and Tracy Frist and Barbara Hyde to raise more than $300,000 from over 700 people in just 10 days.
- We advocated for the passage of three bills that served as small, first steps toward increased firearm safety and set the stage for deeper conversations leading into the 2024 legislative session this January.
The effort to create a safer Tennessee will continue to take all of us. We are so inspired to be running this “marathon” alongside each of you.
Happy Labor Day, and thank you for being a strong voice for a Safer TN.
Sincerely,
Nicole Smith
Voices for a Safer Tennessee, Board President
P.S. We’d love to hear directly from you about the ways you used your voice and took action during the special session. Please share your stories and photos here.
