Press Release

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.”

Safer TN Launches Billboard Campaign To Help Prevent Accidental Shootings

Tennessee Ranks 3rd in the Nation for Accidental Shootings by Children

Nashville, TN – April 7, 2025 – Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) launched a new billboard campaign Monday to help raise awareness about the dangers of unsecured firearms. With more than 21 accidental shootings reported across Tennessee so far this year, the campaign urges gun owners to secure their firearms when not in use.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that firearms be locked and unloaded when not in use, with ammunition stored separately. The NRA’s recommendation is to “ALWAYS Keep your Gun Unloaded Until Ready To Use.”

“It is crucial that your firearm is stored unloaded and locked away to prevent a tragedy,” said Todd Cruse, Safer TN’s Board Chair. “As a gun owner and a dad, I know how curious children can be. A single moment of access can lead to devastating consequences.”

Additionally, keys and lock combinations should be kept out of reach of children, adolescents, and individuals at an elevated risk of self-harm or harm to others.

In addition to advocating for policies that keep Tennesseans safer, Safer TN has increased its educational activities over the past six months, focusing on how responsible gun owners can exercise  their Second Amendment  rights and also keep their families, friends, and communities safe. 

The campaign will run through June 7. 

Billboard locations:

• I-24 W/S, 0.50 mi north of Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, north facing (Clarksville)
• I-24 N/S, 0.30 mi west of Waldron Road, west facing (Rutherford County traffic)
• I-65 E/S, 0.20 mi south of Due West Ave, north facing (Sumner County traffic)
• Broadway N/S at West End Avenue, east facing (The Nashville Sign)
• Myatt Drive E/S, 0.80 mi south of Gallatin Pike, S/F
• Myatt Drive E/S, 0.80 mi south of Gallatin Pike, N/F
• I-24 N/S, 0.50 mi west of Waldron Rd, E/F
• West End Avenue N/S, at 18th Avenue S., W/F
• I-55 between Goodman  Rd. and Church Rd. (DeSoto County to capture Memphis traffic)

“I have yet to find anything where my kid doesn’t know where it is. They will find it one way or another. Whether that’s the TV remote you’re hiding or a tool in the garage that you don’t want them to play with, they are very craft when it comes to finding things they want to find or stumble across something they’ve never seen before and then being curious about it and exploring it. That is why it is so important we securely store our firearms.”

“If we are serious about reversing these data trends, secure storage is one of the easiest and most logical ways to keep kids from accidentally accessing firearms.”

“If you saw that a child could just easily access a firearm and take a life or ruin a life in any given moment, in a split second. That‘s what I hope people think about and they think to take the next step and securely store their firearm.”

Evelyn’s Ways to Be Kind

November 28, 2024

In January 2023, my 9-year-old daughter Evelyn created a list of ways to spread kindness. Tragically, her mission was cut short when a shooter attacked her Nashville elementary school just two months later.

This holiday season, I invite you to honor Evelyn’s vision by choosing one act from her list—because even small gestures can make a big difference in our world.

How to Participate:

1. Choose one of Evelyn’s acts of kindness to complete with your family, friends, or on your own.
2. Acts of kindness can transform us in ways we didn’t expect. If you feel comfortable, share a video of your act on social media.
3. Tag @voices4safertn on Instagram or Voices for a Safer Tennessee on Facebook, and use #EvelynsKindnessMission to inspire others.

Together, let’s create a ripple of kindness that reaches far and wide.