Jessica Jaglois - Voices for a Safer Tennessee

All bills for the 2025 legislative session have now been filed, with over 1400 bills introduced and 94 related to firearms. These proposals cover a range of issues that could have significant impacts on firearm safety in Tennessee. Voices for a Safer Tennessee remains committed to advancing solutions that protect our communities while respecting Second Amendment rights.

The work now begins. Our team will carefully review every firearm-related bill, analyzing each one in detail to understand it in full. After a thorough assessment, we will determine which bills to support or oppose, ensuring that we advocate for policies rooted in data and driven by the goal of saving lives.

The General Assembly is back – and so are we

As the Tennessee General Assembly reconvened for their first week of regular session, Safer TN volunteers made their presence known in meaningful ways across the Capitol. Armed with cookies and comprehensive copies of our annual report, our advocates personally visited legislative offices to establish early connections with representatives. We will be back next week to deliver cookies and our annual report to state senators.

The impact of grassroots advocacy was particularly evident when community members from Memphis joined us for our first “day on the Hill” of 2025. These dedicated citizens didn’t just show up – they shared powerful, personal stories that brought statistics to life. They sat down with their district representatives and spoke candidly about the real-world impact of gun violence in their communities. Parents described the emotional toll of their children coming home with stories of yet another lockdown drill and detailed specific incidents of firearm violence that have affected their neighborhoods and homes.

These face-to-face meetings accomplished something crucial: they transformed abstract policy discussions into deeply personal conversations about community safety and well-being. Our volunteers didn’t just advocate for change – they put human faces and real experiences behind the statistics and policy proposals that legislators will be considering this session.

Make your valentine for Antioch High by Wednesday!

Safer TN is creating 2,500 Valentines for Antioch High School to be delivered on Feb. 13. You can participate in person for a family-friendly Valentine-making event on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Temple, 5015 Harding Pike in Belle Meade. You can also participate from home. Learn more at our Antioch valentines page.

Veterans’ Bourbon-Tasting Event

Safer TN hosted a successful bourbon-tasting event in East Nashville, bringing together about 50 veterans committed to fostering a safer Tennessee. While experts in firearm safety, our veteran community tragically faces a disproportionate risk of firearm-related suicide. That evening we repeatedly heard that their commitment to protect our nation extends to a commitment to protect themselves, their families, their fellow veterans, and their communities by helping Safer TN create a better future.

Interested in hosting an informational session or taking action in another way? Visit our newly revamped Take Action page to explore all the ways you can make a difference in creating a safer Tennessee.

The Trace has created an interactive website that can show how firearm shootings have impacted neighborhoods across the U.S. You can enter your hometown and see firearm incidents between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2024 mapped at the street level.

Gun buyer charged with shooting gun seller in Bojangles parking lot (NewsChannel 9 Chattanooga)

Violence reduction nonprofit reacts to Knoxville shooting that injured child (WATE Knoxville)

Security measures at Green Hills mall after deadly robbery, shooting (WSMV Nashville)

‘Why not me?’: Mom shot while trying to save 1-year-old killed in domestic shooting (WSMV Nashville)

15-year-old dies from injuries in weekend shooting at shop (ClarksvilleNow.com)

Man carrying rifle shot by Memphis cop (Commercial Appeal)

Antioch High School students, faculty, and staff returned to class this week, just six days after a student opened fire in the school cafeteria. Tragically, a young woman was killed, two other students were injured, and the shooter died by suicide after turning the 9mm handgun he had obtained on himself.

Voices for a Safer Tennessee is driven by stories like these—stories of lives cut short, families grieving, and communities left to pick up the pieces. We believe that through education, advocacy, and the advancement of firearm safety policies, we can create a safer future for our children and families.

Read on to learn how you can advocate for safer communities and support the Antioch community.

Safer TN has been exploring ways to support the Antioch High School community beyond our advocacy and firearm education efforts. We recognize that the pain and fear from that day are long-lasting, with ripple effects throughout the community. Our members include Covenant School parents who lost children or experienced lasting trauma following the shooting nearly two years ago, and many more whose lives have been forever changed by firearm violence.

Inspired by the thoughtful goodie bags created by several faith organizations for Antioch’s faculty and staff, we’ve decided to make Valentine’s cards for students, faculty, and staff. Along with delivering treats, we hope to bring a little brightness to their day and show them the communities cares.

We will host a family-friendly Valentine-making event on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Temple, 5015 Harding Pike in Belle Meade. If you can attend, please register here.

If you’re unable to attend but would like to participate, we will have drop-off locations in Davidson County at:

Hamilton United Methodist Church (3105 Hamilton Church Road, off Murfreesboro Pike in Antioch)
Woodmont Christian Church (3601 Hillsboro Pike, Green Hills) in the church staff office building
The Temple (in Belle Meade) in the Temple office

Recent reporting by The Tennessean (subscription required) states that juvenile mental health records are not reported to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System. This means a juvenile involuntarily committed to a mental hospital could legally buy a gun at age 18, unless they have disqualifying criminal convictions.

Last year, Tennessee took a step toward strengthening public safety by barring juveniles with certain violent offenses from possessing firearms until age 25. However, juvenile mental health cases are excluded from reporting due to legal complexities.

And cases involving juvenile mental health adjudications are on the rise. Court-ordered mental health evaluations for juveniles jumped from 263 in 2021 to 540 in 2022, which the state attributed to the growing number of juveniles making threats involving mass violence, which became a felony in 2023.

Since the Antioch shooting, police have arrested at least eight children for making threats, including two as young as 12. Meanwhile, court-ordered mental health evaluations for juveniles jumped from 263 in 2021 to 540 in 2022, attributed to the growing number of threats involving mass violence.

Safer TN will continue working with the legislature to address these gaps and improve background checks. Our statement to the Tennessean was used in part, but in full reads:

“Last year, Tennessee took an important step to strengthen public safety by addressing a significant shortcoming in our background check system. The legislature acted to prevent juveniles with certain violent offenses from legally possessing firearms until they turn 25. Previously, they had become eligible upon reaching age 18.

Recent reporting has highlighted additional gaps that should be addressed. Safer TN will work with our legislature to build on last year’s progress and continue to improve background checks in Tennessee.”

How a bill becomes a law: A timely reminder

With new firearms bills filed, now is the perfect time to revisit how a bill becomes a law. Understanding this process is crucial as we advocate for meaningful, evidence-based firearm safety legislation.

Refer to the graphic above, or view our legislative learning session where former state Senator Lowe Finney explained the process.

More firearms bills have been introduced at the State Capitol. The filing deadline is Feb. 6. We’ll share more details about what bills to track, support and oppose once we get the full scope of filed legislation following the deadline.

Safer TN hosted a legislative briefing and fundraising event in Chattanooga on Wednesday. Thanks to the generous support of those in attendance, we surpassed our goal and raised more than $200,000!

We covered the event, so be sure to watch the video here.

If you are moved to support our work, please consider donating. Your contribution helps us:

Advocate for impactful, evidence-based policies and programs across Tennessee
Empower coalition members to educate their communities on firearm safety awareness
Sponsor educational programs, like our suicide prevention webinar.

DONATE