Press Release

First-of-its-Kind Tool Maps Economic and Human Toll Across All 95 Counties

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A landmark partnership between Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) and the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Boyd Center), has produced a new interactive dashboard revealing the staggering toll of firearm injuries and deaths in the state. 

The data, recorded by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Department of Health, shows these tragedies cost the state’s economy an estimated $3.6 billion in 2023 alone, up from $2.74 billion in 2017 (the last year in which comparable data is available).The economic impact is driven primarily by the value of lost life, which includes lost wages, but also associated medical costs and law enforcement response to firearm tragedies.

The dashboard provides policymakers and the public with a localized look at firearm-related deaths and injuries across every one of Tennessee’s 95 counties. 

Matt Harris, Ph.D., the Boyd Distinguished Professor of Health Economics at the Boyd Center and co-creator of the dashboard, said that Tennessee is worse than the national average and near the bottom 10 in firearm death rates.

“Tennessee is a terrific state. We are growing in so many areas, but this is an outcome where our state has struggled,” Harris said. The dashboard highlights a sobering trend: firearm deaths in Tennessee increased by approximately 60% over the ten-year study period. In addition, the average rate of firearm deaths in the state’s urban and rural areas was comparable. 

• There were 19.1 deaths per 100,000 residents in the state’s rural counties.
• 20 deaths per 100,000 in the state’s 17 urban counties. 

“Safer TN partnered with the Boyd Center on this initiative because Tennesseans need a way to clearly examine verified data on the impact of firearms in our communities,” said Claudia Huskey, executive director of Safer TN. “We hope the dashboard helps community leaders as they have meaningful conversations about firearm safety because preventable tragedies happen everywhere.”

Key Findings from the Dashboard:

• Total Economic Impact: $3.6 billion in costs related to firearm injuries and deaths in 2023 alone. These costs, which average $510 total per capita for Tennesseans, include value of lost life, hospitalizations, emergency services, and lost productivity. 
• A Growing Gap: Tennessee’s firearm death rates (both homicide and suicide) are trending significantly above the national average, with the disparity widening annually.
• Rural vs. Urban Dynamics: While firearm homicides are more concentrated in large metropolitan areas like Memphis and Nashville, firearm suicides are more prevalent in Tennessee’s rural counties.
• Data Integration: Developed by the Boyd Center, the tool utilizes only verified data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Department of Health.

Explore the Data

The interactive dashboard allows users to explore heat maps, analyze time trends, and perform side-by-side county comparisons.

To explore the data dashboard, visit tiny.utk.edu/firearms.

About Voices for a Safer Tennessee: Safer TN is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with nearly 35,000 supporters in all 95 counties, committed to firearm safety efforts that protect our communities and respect the Second Amendment.

About the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research: Located within the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the Boyd Center conducts independent economic research to inform public policy and business decisions in Tennessee and beyond.

Erlanger plans to distribute approximately 2,600 cable locks and safety cards by the end of 2026.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Erlanger Children’s Hospital, in partnership with Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN), is now providing firearm safety information cards and free cable locks to every parent of babies born at the hospital, helping families make secure storage part of baby-proofing the home.

“With a toddler at home, and then with a newborn who becomes a toddler in the blink of an eye,  we absolutely think secure storage is necessary,” said Chattanooga mom Hallie Haley. “I think it’s one of the crucial parts of babyproofing the house. It’s actually the most important part.”

Pediatric trauma surgeon and Safer TN board member Dr. Dave Bhattacharya said the goal is to make secure storage as routine as using a car seat or installing cabinet locks.

“[Accessing a firearm] may not be an issue right now while your child is in the bassinet,” said Dr. Bhattacharya. “But as they start crawling and walking, there are opportunities for them to be safer.”

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, and Tennessee ranks third in the nation for accidental shootings by children, with victims most often children themselves.

Erlanger plans to distribute approximately 2,600 cable locks and safety cards by the end of 2026.

Voices for a Safer Tennessee partnered with the hospital and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to supply the locks and educational materials. 

About Erlanger Children’s Hospital
Erlanger Children’s Hospital, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, provides comprehensive pediatric care to families across the region and is committed to advancing child health through prevention, education, and clinical excellence.

About Voices for a Safer Tennessee
Safer TN is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with nearly 35,000 supporters in all 95 counties, committed to firearm safety efforts that protect our communities and respect the Second Amendment.

Voices for a Safer Tennessee Launches Two Distinct Entities to Strengthen Firearm Safety Efforts

Nashville, TN — Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN), Tennessee’s nonpartisan nonprofit organization focused on firearm safety, announced today that it has formally expanded its operations into two independent organizations to better serve its mission of saving lives through education, outreach, and advocacy.

• Voices for a Safer Tennessee education arm: Our tax-exempt nonprofit arm will focus on education and outreach through strategic partnerships, events, and presentations. This will expand our ability to raise awareness, share data-driven solutions, and engage communities statewide to reduce preventable firearm tragedies.
• Voices for a Safer Tennessee’s advocacy arm: This arm focuses on advancing policy at the Capitol, building strong relationships with lawmakers, and advocating for reasonable, responsible firearm safety legislation, including through strategic engagement during election cycles.

Each entity will have its own board leadership and operate independently, and will equip us with two strong, coordinated arms to carry our mission forward. Please find the names of each board’s members below.

“By expanding our organization with a dual focus on advocacy and education, we can strengthen our impact on both the public safety and policy levels,” said Claudia Huskey, Safer TN’s Executive Director. “Our nonprofit arm will help educate gun owners and communities across Tennessee, while our advocacy arm can lead strategic policy conversations on Capitol Hill. Together, these two entities will allow us to promote firearm safety more effectively than ever before.”

Voices for a Safer Tennessee remains committed to a data-driven, nonpartisan approach and looks forward to continued collaboration with communities, policymakers, and supporters across the state.

About Voices for a Safer Tennessee

Voices for a Safer Tennessee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with nearly 30,000 members in all 95 counties. We are committed to advancing firearm safety policies and programs that both protect our communities and respect the Second Amendment.

Media Contact:

Jessica Jaglois
jessica@safertn.org
615-613-1624

Voices for a Safer Tennessee 501(c)(3) Board

• Dori Thornton Waller, Board Chair (Hamilton)
• Nicole Floyd Smith, Vice Chair (Davidson)
• Tim Sinks, Treasurer (Davidson)
• Joey Nelson, Secretary (Davidson)
• Rush Benton (Davidson)
• Dr. Dave Bhattacharya (Hamilton)
• Mary Ellen Brewington (Knox)
• Katy Dieckhaus (Davidson)
• Emily Ezell (Davidson)
• Mike Ragsdale (Knox)
• Clay Richards (Davidson)
• Beverly Robertson (Shelby)

Voices for a Safer Tennessee 501(c)(4) Board

• Todd Cruse, Board Chair (Davidson)
• Tim Sinks, Treasurer (Davidson)
• Lowe Finney, former State Senator (Weakley)
• Katherine Merrill (Davidson)
• Jeremy Nagoshiner (Davidson)
• Lisa Rottmann (Knox)
• Sam Whitson, former State Representative (Williamson)

Voices for a Safer Tennessee Advisory Board

• Michelle Augusty (Davidson)
• Dr. Michael Burcham (Davidson)
• Bill Carpenter (Davidson)
• Carlie Cruse (Davidson)
• Dr. Trey Eubanks (Shelby)
• Sen. Bill Frist, M.D. (Davidson)
• Amy Grant (Davidson)
• Vince Gill (Davidson)
• Beth McCabe-Holman (Knox)
• Milton Johnson (Davidson)
• Ketch Secor (Davidson)
• Teresa Sloyan (Shelby)
• Clay Stauffer (Davidson)
• Dwayne Tucker (Davidson)

Voices for a Safer Tennessee Launches Radio Campaign Promoting Secure Firearm Storage Across Middle Tennessee

Nashville, TN (September 2025) — Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN), a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to advancing firearm safety, has launched a new radio campaign across iHeartRadio stations in Middle Tennessee. The campaign aims to reach rural and suburban audiences with a message emphasizing responsible gun ownership and the life-saving importance of secure firearm storage.

Safer TN prioritized this outreach because most firearm deaths in Tennessee are suicides. The state’s firearm suicide rate is 50% higher than the national average, and rural residents die by suicide at a rate 1.2 times higher than those living in metropolitan areas.

Tennessee also ranks third in the nation for accidental shootings involving children—most often preschool- or high school-aged victims. These tragedies affect families statewide and are frequently preventable through secure storage practices.

The ad features a Tennessee father and grandfather sharing his personal perspective:

_{“In my family, we take safety seriously. We teach our kids how to be safe around firearms and lock them up when they’re not in use. But every year in Tennessee, guns fall into the wrong hands, including children’s hands, because they weren’t secured in a home or vehicle. It’s also why I’m a member of Voices for a Safer Tennessee—a group focused on responsible gun ownership and safer communities. Join us today at SaferTN.org. That’s SaferTN.org.”}

The campaign underscores the vital role secure firearm storage plays in preventing suicides, accidents, and injuries—especially among children—and reinforces Safer TN’s commitment to being a trusted resource and partner for families and gun owners across Tennessee.

Secure storage isn’t just a best practice—it can save lives,” said Tim Sinks, Safer TN Treasurer. “Our mission is to provide families with the tools and encouragement they need to take practical steps that protect loved ones and strengthen communities.

Voices for a Safer Tennessee Celebrates Key Milestones Following Legislative Session

Nashville, TN (April 2025) — Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) is proud to reflect on a powerful 90-day sprint through the 2025 legislative session, marked by widespread public engagement, strategic partnerships, and important policy wins that move the needle toward a safer Tennessee.

Over the past three months, Safer TN has achieved several key milestones:

• Delivered public safety presentations at nearly 15 civic clubs across Tennessee.
• Launched a statewide billboard campaign promoting the life-saving message of secure firearm storage.
• Surpassed $2 million raised over two years, demonstrating the breadth of support for firearm safety and fueling continued advocacy and outreach efforts.

In addition to our education and outreach, Safer TN continued our work at the state Capitol. We helped stop several dangerous bills that would have increased public risk or weakened safety in places like schools, hospitals, and houses of worship. This outcome reflects the growing bipartisan support for safety measures and increased accountability for those who threaten or commit acts of firearm violence.

Safer TN also worked with with several law enforcement agencies to advocate for:

• Banning Glock switches, which convert handguns into fully automatic weapons
• Prohibiting felons from possessing ammunition
• Stronger sentencing for drive-by shooting convictions
• Criminalizing threats of mass violence

“We are grateful to Leader William Lamberth, Speaker Cameron Sexton, Governor Lee’s administration, and members of the Tennessee General Assembly for their leadership in advancing this critical legislation, which passed with strong support from both Democrats and Republicans,” said Safer TN Board Chair Todd Cruse. “These are meaningful victories for public safety and important progress toward preventing firearm tragedies in our communities.

“We’re proud of the momentum we’ve built and ready to keep fighting for a safer, stronger Tennessee.”