Media Advisory

With Election Day right around the corner, I’m reaching out to urge you to vote if you haven’t already. The only way to make our voices heard during any election cycle is through the ballot box. If you’re unhappy with the state’s direction, voting is your chance to push for change. If you support the current trajectory, voting helps reinforce it. As election margins grow tighter, politicians pay close attention to why they’ve lost or gained votes. 

While there is work to do with lawmakers at the State House, at the end of the day, they care about what their local constituents think. Tennessee currently has the lowest voter turnout in the nation. In our August primaries, less than 14% of registered voters turned out to vote – and we had five state legislative races decided by less than 200 votes. We are not just deciding our next president in this election. In this cycle we are electing all 99 State House Members and 16 of our 33 State Senators. The down-ballot races matter more than ever to the future of policy in our state. Of all the ways you can participate in the democratic process, none is more impactful than voting. 

Since the Covenant tragedy, we’ve made strides in advancing firearm safety policies. We hope that after the election, political rhetoric will calm, allowing us to make even more progress both in our local communities and at the capitol. We know there’s still work to do, but we’re committed to making Tennessee a safer place, step by step.

Todd Cruse, Safer TN Board Chair

Looking back: Gun Policy Panel Discussion at Belmont University on October 23

Safer TN was honored to be invited by Belmont University to address the urgent and complex issues surrounding firearm safety policies, Second Amendment rights, and community safety. Our Board Chair, Todd Cruse, emphasized the critical importance of relying on accurate data to guide decision-making around firearm safety policies.

The panel drew a crowd of over 70 attendees including students, community members and lawmakers, and garnered local news coverage. Watch the news piece below.

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Safer TN Men’s Coalition Lunch & Learn on October 22 

Our coalition of concerned fathers, grandfathers, veterans and business leaders gathered at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville to hear Katy Dieckhaus share the story of her daughter, Evelyn, her tragic loss and the reasons she remains hopeful for meaningful change in the future. 

The event served as a space for reflection and a call to action with Safer TN’s Policy Director, Erin Rogus, providing an in-depth overview of the previous legislative session and where the movement is going in 2025.

Early voting is over. Turnout numbers reveal Tennesseans need to show up for Election Day! 

Early voting ended on October 31. The next and final opportunity to vote is just around the corner – Tuesday, November 5. 

The latest data from the Secretary of State indicates Tennessee voter turnout is STILL below 2020 levels. But we can change this!  Find polling locations for Election Day voting here, and use our voter tool to research the candidates on your ballot to make informed choices. As a reminder, all 99 state representatives and 16 of the 33 state senators are up for election.

Early voter turnout by county:

If you are voting by absentee ballot, act now! Your ballot must be mailed, with postage, in time for your county election commission to receive it by the close of polls on Election Day. Remember, ballots can only be returned by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Hand delivery or giving it to a poll worker during early voting or on Election Day isn’t permitted. Please note that the deadline to request an absentee ballot has already passed. Ensure your vote counts by mailing your ballot today or voting in person on Nov. 5!

Join Us Tonight at First Fridays in Columbia!

Experience the heart of community at First Fridays in downtown Columbia from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight! Be one of the first five people to check in at the Safer TN Pop-Up to snag a free Safer TN yard sign (normally $25 with a donation). We’ll also have additional signs, car magnets, and free buttons available! More info and signup here.

#RunForAlyssa

Alyssa Lokits was a cherished family member, friend, runner, and valued member of the community. She held a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University and was part of a large family, with eight siblings and many extended relatives. Tragically, Alyssa was shot and killed during an attempted assault while jogging on the Mill Creek Greenway Trail in Antioch, Tenn., on Oct. 14. Our policy director, along with many who loved her and were affected by her untimely death, took time to run in her honor. 

If you can, we encourage you to #RunForAlyssa this week, or join hundreds of others planning to #RunForAlyssa on Monday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m., in any time zone, any location. Share your participation on social media, and use the hashtag to raise awareness about Alyssa’s story and the need for a safer Tennessee.

Mass Shooting  Leads to Policy Change in Maine

Oct. 25, 2024, marked one year since the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, where 18 people were killed at a local bowling alley and bar. Thirteen others were injured.

In response to the tragedy, the Maine Legislature passed  a package of firearm safety laws, including a near-universal background check system that requires background checks on all advertised private sales. That means people who advertise a gun for sale online, including Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, must initiate a background check before they transfer the firearm. Safer TN supports this smart approach to expanding background checks. 

New Tennessee Firearm Death Data 

The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention just released its analysis of the CDC’s recently finalized 2022 data, which provided state-specific firearm death information. 

Key takeaways in Tennessee:

• The overall Tennessee gun death rate increased 33% from 2013 to 2022.  
• Tennessee had the 10th-highest gun death rate in the country in 2022.  
• Firearms were the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17 in 2022.  
• In 2021, there were at least 150 domestic violence-related homicides in Tennessee; 75% were by firearm.

Read all the Tennessee stats here.

Safer TN is Continuing to Grow Statewide! 
We have coalition members in all 95 counties, and now are working on spreading the message further by getting yard signs and car magnets in every county as well. Don’t see your county on the map yet in red? Help us change that by ordering a car magnet or yard sign today. Bonus points for sending us a photo of your swag on your car or in your yard at info@safertn.org. If we use your photo on our social media, we’ll blur out any identifying details like your license plate number.

A growing trend: How Tennessee compares to other states with unintentional child shootings (The Tennessean; subscription)

Alyssa Lokits had a Ph.D, worked in tech, and was a dedicated runner (Runner’s World)

Community reacts to TSU homecoming shooting (Fox 17 Nashville)

Med student allegedly killed by ex-boyfriend after breast cancer charity walk (People)

A Gun Law the NRA Opposes Could Have Saved Its Employee’s Life (The Trace)

As October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, we are focusing on what is – and isn’t – being done to protect victims of domestic violence. Did you know that the leading cause of death for pregnant women is homicide, often involving a firearm? Many mass shooters have had a history of domestic violence, and Tennessee has the nation’s fifth-highest rate of firearm deaths caused by current or former partners.

Each statistic represents a life lost, families shattered, and children left behind. That’s why Voices for a Safer Tennessee advocates for secure storage, temporary firearm transfer requirements, and expanded background checks for firearm purchases to protect those at risk. Right now, those who are convicted of domestic violence or are subject to orders of protection are prohibited from possessing or purchasing firearms, but Tennessee law does not require proof that they relinquished their weapons, and firearms can be purchased through private sales without background checks. With few exceptions, those experiencing mental health crises can also keep their weapons.

We hope this issue motivates you to take to the polls this month. Early voting has begun, and your vote is crucial, so please don’t leave it to chance – make your voting plan now. We urge you to support candidates who support responsible safeguards for people who might harm themselves or someone else. Our voter tool has information about who’s on your ballot. Early voting locations in your county can be found here.

Together, we can help reduce the tragic consequences of domestic homicides in Tennessee.

Sincerely,

Claudia Huskey
Executive Director
Voices for a Safer Tennessee

“You Have the Power Walk” on October 12 
Voices for a Safer TN was honored to participate in this year’s “You Have the Power” Walk at Centennial Park in Nashville. Founded by former First Lady of Tennessee Andrea Conte, “You Have the Power” hosts the walk as a meaningful way to remember Tennessee’s children who tragically lost their lives to violence — many as a result of firearm injuries. This annual event serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for action to prevent such heartbreaking losses and to advocate for safer communities across the state.

Violence Summit in Chattanooga on October 8
Coalition members from Safer TN participated in Chattanooga and Hamilton County’s inaugural Violence Summit. City and county leaders came together and discussed ways to minimize violence among young adults and make their communities safer. Their innovative approaches, including community violence intervention work, are making a difference; gun violence is down 17%, according to the City of Chattanooga.

Safer TN in Columbia on October 4
Our team members had a blast meeting new friends and neighbors at First Fridays in Columbia, and will be back on November 1. Join us!

Green Hills Rotary on October 4 
Safer TN executive director Claudia Huskey and policy director Erin Rogus joined the Green Hills Rotary to present on Safer TN’s work and how policy changes have impacted rates of firearm injury and gun-related crime. 

If you know of a Rotary or other civic organization that would be interested in a discussion on firearm safety, let us know at info@safertn.org.

Our Team is Growing! 

Exciting news! Voices for a Safer Tennessee has expanded our team by adding Jessica Jaglois as our new Director of Communications.

Jessica is an award-winning investigative journalist with nearly two decades of experience reporting for local media outlets, including WKRN in Nashville and Action 5 News in Memphis, and for national news organizations like The New York Times. She has covered many stories related to firearms. She was on scene for the 2018 Waffle House shooting in Nashville, and reported on issues related to the 2021 citywide shooting spree in Memphis. Jessica brings a passion for storytelling and a commitment to advocacy for our organization. Please welcome her, and reach out with any media inquiries! Her email is jessica@safertn.org. She can be reached by phone at 615-613-1624.

Jessica has already hit the ground running, and was in Memphis on Tuesday where she sat down with Action News 5 to discuss Safer TN’s mission and her new role.  Watch here.

Early voting has started! 

Early voting in Tennessee is underway, and will run through October 31.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. All 99 state representatives and 16 of the 33 state senators are up for election. Find polling locations for early voting and election day voting here, and take advantage of our voter tool to research the candidates on your ballot.

If you or a loved one lives in one of the six Tennessee counties impacted by Hurricane Helene, the TN Secretary of State has issued special voting information for these counties. 

Gun Policy Panel Discussion at Belmont University on October 23

Belmont University is hosting Voices for a Safer Tennessee and the Tennessee Firearms Association for a spirited discussion on firearm policy, the 2nd Amendment, and community safety. Register here and join us at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, in Nashville!

Join us November 1 at First Fridays in Columbia! 

Our coalition members will be at First Fridays in Columbia on the evening of Friday, November 1. Stop by our table to say hello and pick up some swag! More info and sign up here.

Domestic Violence and Firearms

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Under federal law, those subject to domestic violence restraining orders or who are convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms and ammunition. However, Tennessee law does not require background checks on private gun sales, meaning those with domestic violence convictions can still easily access firearms. 

According to a 2023 analysis of court records by WPLN and ProPublica, “at least 75 people [have been] killed in domestic violence shootings in Nashville since 2007, when the police switched to a searchable record system. Of those, at least 29 victims — nearly 40% — were shot by people who were legally barred from having a gun.”

We know access to a firearm greatly increases the risk of homicide in a domestic violence situation:

• The presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.  

• And intimate partner violence-related firearm homicides have risen dramatically: from 2014 to 2020 they increased 58%.

• Homicide is the leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum women. 81% of these homicides involved a gun, and the majority of them occurred at home. Black women are five times more likely to die by firearm during pregnancy and postpartum than white women. 

• States with weaker firearm safety laws have a higher number of firearm-related intimate partner homicides. Between 2018 and 2022, Tennessee had the fifth-highest incidence of firearm-related intimate partner homicides in the nation. 

Scott County in Tennessee has been doing some impressive work to take the lead in addressing domestic violence. Read about their innovative approach here. 

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If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), texting “START” to 88788, or chatting online at thehotline.org. Trained advocates are available 24/7 to provide free confidential support to people anywhere in the U.S.  
The Statewide Sexual Assault Hotline is another resource:1-866-811-7473. Additional ways to get help in Tennessee are available here. 

New White House Executive Order on Firearm Safety

Marking one year since the establishment of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the Biden Administration issued a series of executive actions to reduce firearm injury and gun violence. These include directing federal agencies to improve school-based active shooter drills and combat the emerging threats of unserialized, 3D-printed firearms known as “ghost guns.” The Administration also provided additional funding for community violence intervention programs, and clarified Medicaid reimbursement for firearm safety programs. Read the Fact Sheet on the executive actions here. 

In Case You Missed It … 

Read our press release on our Suicide Prevention Webinar, with key takeaways from the discussion that can help save lives. You can view a replay of the webinar here.  

Link Between Domestic Violence and Mass Shootings 

A recent study exploring the role of domestic violence in mass shootings in the U.S. found that 59.1% of mass shootings between 2014 and 2019 were domestic violence-related and in 68.2% of mass shootings, the perpetrator either killed at least one partner or family member or had a history of domestic violence (DV).

Voices for a Safer Tennessee on Action News 5 Digital Desk (Action News 5 Memphis)

After Covenant, Tennessee Elections Will Gauge Possibility of Gun Control (Nashville Banner) On Tuesday, [Safer TN] board chair Todd Cruse told the Banner that the organization aims to push the same platform in the upcoming session. “While it is too early to predict specific outcomes for the upcoming session, we are confident that by building on the incremental progress we’ve achieved, we can continue to make meaningful strides toward safer communities,” Cruse said.

Grandmother charged after accidental shooting death of 8-year-old (WSMV)

‘North Nashville is on fire’: Mothers, activists plea for help after mass shooting (Tennessean)

In 2019, Congress Finally Funded Gun Violence Research. Here’s How It’s Changed the Field (The Trace)