As summer winds down, Safer TN is tracking key developments impacting safety across Tennessee. This month, we’re highlighting two newly signed firearm safety laws and sharing new resources to help families talk about and securely store firearms.
At the same time, alarming trends continue: gun thefts are rising in Nashville, and new research places Tennessee in the nation’s growing “suicide belt,” highlighting the urgent need for rural mental health investment. Read on for more.
#1 What We’re Tracking: Firearm safety laws signed by Governor Lee
On July 1, Governor Bill Lee signed several new public safety laws, including some we closely tracked at Safer TN: a ban on Glock switches, stricter penalties for road rage shootings, and a new law criminalizing credible threats of mass violence.
Glock switches are small devices that turn handguns into illegal machine guns capable of firing up to 1,000 rounds per minute. The new law—championed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Speaker Jack Johnson—elevates possession to a Class C felony. Earlier this year, we met with Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp, who shared the devastating impact of these devices in her community. The law also strengthens penalties for drive-by shootings, including road rage incidents. This is especially urgent after a recent case in which two people were arrested for killing a 22-year-old on I-24. Data also shows that Tennessee ranks among the top three states for armed road rage incidents.
Another new law broadens Tennessee’s criminal code to address credible threats of mass violence. Sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth and Sen. Jack Johnson, it raises penalties for those with prior convictions and requires threats to meet a standard of credibility, determined by law enforcement. It also includes protections against online doxxing.
This law builds on last year’s legislation criminalizing threats against schools by expanding the scope to include places of worship, government offices, and live events. It introduces a clearer standard of intent and credibility, increases penalties, and expands where charges can be applied.
Both laws represent meaningful progress in making Tennessee communities safer, and we’re proud to have supported their passage.
#2 What We’re Tracking: New firearm safety resources available!
Safer TN has added two important new pages to our website focused on firearm safety: one on how to talk about guns with children and other adults, and another on how to securely store firearms. These resources are designed to help families approach these conversations with confidence, clarity, and care.
Talking to children about firearms doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Just like conversations about fire safety or stranger danger, it’s about being clear, consistent, and age-appropriate. We also provide practical tips for starting safety conversations with other parents before playdates. These discussions that may feel uncomfortable in the moment but are essential for protecting children.
Our other resource, focused on secure storage, outlines best practices for safely securing guns in the home and in vehicles, drawing on guidance from firearms and medical experts. These steps can help prevent accidental injuries. Both pages were thoughtfully compiled by Safer TN staff, with support from our interns, and are designed to encourage responsible gun ownership and open, safety-focused dialogue.
#3 What We’re Tracking: Guns stolen from Nashville belong to owners both in and out of Davidson County
Recent news reports reveal that more than 500 guns have been stolen in Nashville so far this year, averaging nearly three per day. In response, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake announced a new community dashboard that allows residents to track where gun thefts are happening across Davidson County. “I encourage our residents to use this information to see where thefts are occurring and as a constant reminder to safeguard guns and belongings,” Chief Drake told WSMV.
The dashboard shows most guns are stolen from vehicles, followed by buildings and then individuals. According to Metro Nashville Police, most guns reported stolen are nearly evenly split between owners who live inside Davidson County and those who live outside the county limits.
Numbers shared with Safer TN show that 48.4% of the guns stolen so far this year are from Davidson County owners and 49.1% are from out of county residents. That means whether gun owners are from Nashville or not, they are being targeted equally and are equally not securing their firearms.
As of mid-July, MNPD reports 541 guns have been stolen from vehicles alone in 2025—an 18% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
#4 What We’re Tracking: Tennessee now part of expanding national “Suicide Belt”
#4 What We’re Tracking: Tennessee now part of expanding national “Suicide Belt”
New research from East Tennessee State University has identified Tennessee as part of the growing national “suicide belt”, a region of the country with disproportionately high suicide rates that stretches from West Virginia to Nevada. While this term has appeared in studies since at least 2008, researchers say the belt is expanding, and Tennessee’s inclusion is driven largely by challenges in rural communities.
Researchers cited several key risk factors contributing to higher suicide rates in these areas, including limited access to mental health care, stigma around seeking help, poverty, isolation, and lack of transportation. Certain professions, such as agricultural work, are also linked to increased risk. Alarmingly, 91 of Tennessee’s 95 counties are designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as having a shortage of mental health professionals. Only Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, and Sumner counties are not.
“We found out the Western states have a very high suicide rate, but we didn’t expect Tennessee to fall into the suicide belt,” Dr. Qian Huang, a professor at ETSU’s Center for Rural Health and Research, told News 2. “But considering Tennessee has a lot of rural areas, we could narrow that down.”
Dr. Aaron Brinen, assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt, emphasized to News 2 the importance of investing in mental health as both an economic and moral imperative: “Effective interventions cost so little and help people get back to the life they want. When individuals recover, they return to work, come off Medicaid or Medicare, and reclaim their lives. It’s one of the most cost-effective things a state can do.”