Press Release

June 17, 2024

NASHVILLE – Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) is applauding the statewide effort by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to promote safe storage of firearms by offering free cable locks. The initiative, which is accompanied by a video campaign, was authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly during the August 2023 Special Session.

“Safer TN is grateful for the secure storage of firearms education campaign by Governor Lee and the Tennessee Department of Safety. We encourage gun owners to use the free cable locks provided by the state and to purchase a tax-free gun safe for storage at home or other places, like their vehicles,” said Claudia Huskey, Safer TN executive director. 

“Tennessee ranks #3 in the nation for accidental shootings by children, and firearms are now the #1 cause of death for children ages 1-17.” she said. “We also lead the nation in firearms stolen from vehicles, many of which are later used in crimes.”

Huskey said research shows that secure storage is one of the best ways to prevent firearm deaths and injuries and that it is especially important during summer, when children and teens are not in school, to make sure firearms are locked up and not accessible to those who shouldn’t have them. “Our volunteer-driven group of Tennesseans has advocated tirelessly to advance measures such as these and will continue to support pragmatic ways to better incentivize and remove barriers to the secure storage of firearms,” she said.Free cable locks are available in every county. To find a location near you, check the Safe Store Tennessee website.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 28,2024

Tennesseans link arms in Nashville and participate in satellite community gatherings across the state  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Yesterday approximately 12,000 Tennesseans linked arms from Centennial Park and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt down Broadway to the State Capitol to honor the six victims of The Covenant School shooting and the nearly 1,300 adults and children who lost their lives to preventable firearm tragedies over the last year in our state.  

“Linking Arms for Change” was hosted by Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a nonpartisan statewide coalition formed in the days following The Covenant School tragedy. The group is dedicated to creating healthier, safer communities by reducing preventable firearm tragedies and advocating for pragmatic firearm safety laws.  

“During ‘Linking Arms for Change’, Tennesseans once again showed that they stand with the Covenant community and the loved ones of all victims of preventable firearm tragedies.” said Voices for a Safer Tennessee executive director Claudia Huskey. “On an otherwise somber day of remembrance and grief, this clear demonstration of unity provides hope and healing to our community.”

While families, neighbors, and friends linked arms, a program of inspirational messages and beautiful music was held at Centennial Park. Uplifting songs were shared by Ketch Secor, co-founder and lead singer for the band Old Crow Medicine Show with Americana artist Molly Tuttle, 17-year-old guitar virtuoso Grace Bowers with Judge Sheila Calloway, and Contemporary Christian Music artist Blessing Offor. Faith leaders who offered reflections and prayers included Father Mark Beckman from Saint Henry Catholic Church, Dr. Donovan McAbee from Belmont University, Reverend Cody Balfour from Koinonia Church, Rashed Fakhruddin from Islamic Center of Nashville, and Rabbi Shanna Mackler from The Temple Nashville.  

“The support for this event in Nashville, and satellite gatherings in Middle, East, and West Tennessee, gives us confidence in what we can accomplish if we work together as Tennesseans,” said Todd Cruse, board chair of Voices for a Safer Tennessee. “Now we need everyone to stay involved in the democratic process. Contact your legislators to express support of stronger firearm safety laws, engage your families, neighbors, and friends in conversation about this public health crisis, and vote. We know progress will take time and the small wins we are already seeing will add up to impactful change.”

For more information about Voices for a Safer Tennessee and to watch the recorded livestream of the program, visit safertn.org.  

Photos from the event are available at this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1t6g8ePjob9T-yYW0M13Ogy67AT77JNR5?usp=sharing

About Voices for a Safer Tennessee:  
Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of Tennessee families, faith leaders, business executives and educators, hunters, gunowners, veterans and military families, who are dedicated to prioritizing pragmatic, evidence-based firearm safety laws and promoting responsible firearm ownership. Our mission is to build safer, healthier communities by reducing preventable firearm tragedies across Tennessee. We are founded by, led by, and funded by Tennesseans, committed to Tennessee solutions, with 25,000 coalition members across all 95 counties and growing. Learn more at safertn.org.  

Media Contacts:  
Michelle Augusty, Voices for a Safer Tennessee, (850) 933-7202‬, michelle.augusty@gmail.com 
Kelly Brockman, McNeely Brockman PR, (615) 812-6513, kelly@mcneelybrockmanpr.com   
Mark Drury, Calvert Street Group, (615) 330-7587, mdrury@calvertstreet.com 

Data from Conservative Pollster Demonstrates Desire for Immediate Action

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Nashville, Tenn — Tennessee voters overwhelmingly support common-sense gun policies, according to a poll released today by Fabrizio Lee, a polling firm that has polled for President Trump and other conservatives. Voters expressed strong support for extreme risk protection orders, closing background check loopholes, instituting a 72-hour waiting period before a person can obtain a gun, and requiring safe gun storage measures. Importantly, the poll notes support from Trump voters for these measures is strong, ranging from 63% to 84%.

The poll, consisting of 600 likely Tennessee voters, was commissioned and released by Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a nonpartisan statewide coalition dedicated to prioritizing gun safety and advocating for common-sense gun laws to make communities across Tennessee safer for all of us.
The organization, founded by a group of concerned Tennessee mothers, states on its website, “If you believe our children deserve a safer Tennessee, then we are on the same side.”

Support for the following policies was overwhelming among all likely voters and with key demographics—Trump voters, Republicans, Conservatives, and households with guns:

These reasonable gun safety measures are currently under consideration at the Tennessee legislature. But time is running out in the legislative session; lawmakers have said they are likely to adjourn on Friday.

“In these times of intense political polarization, it is rare to see any issue proposals that receive such high levels of support from voters regardless of political party or ideology,” said David Lee, a partner with Fabrizio Lee. “The six proposals to address gun violence that we tested in this survey were favored by very large majorities of voters from every demographic group, including Republicans and gun owners.”

“As a bipartisan organization we understand how important it is to hear from voices Tennesseans trust. While other polls have been done, we felt it was important to partner with Fabrizio to show the strong support for these measures across the political spectrum,” said Carlie Cruse, a member of Voices for a Safer Tennessee. “The message to legislators couldn’t be clearer: Tennesseans want them to act now to protect our kids.”

The Fabrizio Lee survey is the third recent poll demonstrating Tennessee voters’ strong commitment to finding workable solutions to prevent tragedies such as last month’s Covenant School shooting, which took the lives of three 9-year-old children and three adults. Last week, Jarrad Inc, a healthcare consulting firm, released a poll showing bipartisan support for enacting background checks, extreme risk, and safe storage laws. An Embold Research poll taken at the same time showed similar results, with overwhelming support for the Tennessee legislature and Governor Bill Lee enacting these specific, common-sense measures.

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