Voices for a Safer Tennessee

Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) advocates for firearm safety policies and programs that both protect our communities and respect the Second Amendment.

Safer TN Tracker

Safer TN Tracker | 3.25.26

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This week marks a moment of reflection for our community and our state. March 27 is the anniversary of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, a tragedy that took six lives and profoundly shaped all of us. In its aftermath, a group of parents came together with purpose and determination to build what is now Safer TN. Then, as now, we brought together Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to create safer communities for everyone.

Three years later, our resolve to prevent firearm tragedies has not wavered. With support from Tennesseans across all 95 counties, we’ve grown our impact and influence. As you will see in this update, our team is working hard during this busy legislative season, and there are many opportunities to get involved.

#1 Mapping the Toll: Safer TN & UTK’s Boyd Center Launch First-of-its-Kind Data Tool

Map Showing TN Firearm Fatality Rate fomr 2014-2023

What does firearm violence really cost Tennessee? A new partnership between Safer TN and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville has the answer: $3.6 billion. That’s how much the state lost in 2023 alone in medical expenses, law enforcement response, and lost productivity. 

Our new interactive data dashboard is now live, mapping the economic and human toll of firearm tragedies across all 95 counties. The research highlights a critical shift in the conversation: while firearm homicide is often viewed as an urban challenge, our rural counties face a staggering firearm death rate driven, in large part, by suicides. In fact, the highest firearm death rates are in rural Clay and Pickett Counties.

Whether you live in Memphis, Mountain City, or anywhere in between, this tool allows you to see the specific trends in your own backyard. By using verified data from the TBI and the Tennessee Department of Health, we are providing the foundation for meaningful, nonpartisan conversations about public safety.

Check out the data for your county here: tiny.utk.edu/firearms.

#2 What We’re Tracking: Safer TN Bill Monitoring

TN Capitol Building

We have entered the phase of the legislative session where bill activity is fast-paced and unpredictable. Several bills we are tracking are scheduled for committee hearings this week, while others have already passed or failed. We continue to watch everything very closely with our C4 Board and lobbying team. You can find additional details on these bills on our advocacy website.

If you have specific questions on legislation, please reach out to Jennifer Hellmer at jennifer@safertn.org.

#3 What We’re Tracking: Tennessee Takes Aim at a Critical Safety Gap

This month, a years-long effort to better protect domestic violence survivors in Tennessee reached a meaningful milestone. Advocates have pushed the Tennessee Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council to revise a key document used in cases where abusers are ordered to surrender their firearms.

The concern centers on a loophole in the state’s firearms dispossession affidavit. As written, the form does not require abusers to list the name or address of the person receiving their firearms, leaving an accountability gap that can put victims at risk.

At its March meeting, the council took action, voting to send a letter to judges across Tennessee recommending they update their local forms to include this critical information. While the change is not yet mandatory statewide, it signals growing recognition of the issue at the highest levels.

Some Tennessee counties are already leading the way, with local officials updating their forms as part of broader efforts to strengthen protections for survivors.

Advocates hope the council’s recommendation will accelerate similar changes across the state, closing a dangerous loophole and adding an extra layer of accountability in cases where lives may depend on it.

#4 What We’re Tracking: Spring Safer TN Events

As the weather gets warmer, our team will be out and about at community events all over the state. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, whether it’s volunteering at a Safer TN booth, stopping by to say hello at a festival or attending a fundraiser.

Upcoming community events:

March 26: Rural Health Association of Tennessee, Sevierville
March 29: Spring Fling, Bedford County Fair, Shelbyville
April 4: 6th Annual Banana Pudding Festival, Monterey
April 10: Taylor’s Ruritan Club Annual Rodeo, Cleveland
April 18: Crossville Strawberry Festival
April 19: Farmers on First, Cleveland
April 25-26: Main Street Festival, Franklin
April 25: Tennessee Apple Festival, Murfreesboro
April 25: Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women Baby Fair, Memphis
April 25: Spring Around the Square, Decatur

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Safer TN Tracker | 3.10.26

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Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) is rolling out new tools and initiatives to help you stay informed and engaged during this legislative session.

From a new bill tracker on our website to text message alerts and expanded community outreach, we’re working to make it easier for you to stay connected to our work across Tennessee.

In the coming weeks, we’ll also begin sharing opportunities to volunteer at events across the state. Here’s what we’re tracking right now.

#1 What We’re Tracking: New Bill Tracking Tool on Our Website

From Safer TN Policy Advisor Jennifer Hellmer

We’re excited to launch Safer TN’s new Legislative Spotlight section on our Advocacy website. This tool provides a snapshot of the bills we are tracking and engaging with during the current session.

  • Support: Safer TN’s lobbyists are actively working to help pass these bills.
  • Oppose: Safer TN’s lobbyists are actively working to stop these bills.
  • Monitor: We are reviewing these bills and may move them into “support” or “oppose” as more information becomes available.

So far, there has been limited movement on firearm legislation, as many bills have been deferred or are still awaiting committee hearings. We expect more activity in the coming weeks.

While many proposals relate to community safety, Safer TN remains focused on our key priorities: background checks, temporary transfers, secure firearm storage, and legislation impacting school safety.

We’re working closely with our lobbyists and Board to determine the best strategy for each bill. As a member of our coalition, you play an important role. We’ll continue sharing updates and will reach out if specific legislation would benefit from outreach to lawmakers.

#2 What We’re Tracking: Safer TN Now Has Text Messaging

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In the coming weeks, you may receive a text message from Safer TN. These messages will share updates about events in your area, volunteer opportunities, and other important information related to our work.

We will not send frequent messages, and you can opt out at any time. If you receive a message from an 833 number, it is from us and not a scam.

If you’d like to get started now, you can opt in by filling out this form. We’re excited to start connecting with you in this new way!

#3 What We’re Tracking: Expanding Cable Lock and Hospital-Based Education

Safer TN has partnered with two hospital systems to distribute firearm safety information cards and cable locks to parents of newborns. This effort was recently highlighted in local news coverage in Chattanooga, helping raise awareness about the importance of secure firearm storage for families across Tennessee.

Secure storage is one of the most effective ways to prevent unintentional shootings, youth access to firearms, and firearm theft. Providing parents with simple tools and information helps ensure firearms are stored safely — protecting children and reducing the risk of tragedy.

This effort continues to grow. In the coming months, we expect to expand distribution into additional hospitals, healthcare providers’ offices, and other settings where families can access important firearm safety information. Stay tuned.

#4 What We’re Tracking: More Events Than Ever

Safer TN is on track to participate in more events this year than ever before, especially with the addition of our coalition coordinators in East Tennessee, Southeast Tennessee, and West Tennessee.

This work is critical. We are focused on reaching voters across Tennessee, so that when the time comes, we can mobilize people to contact their lawmakers about firearm safety measures.

You can help. Soon we will begin posting volunteer sign-ups for events across the state.

In the meantime, if you’d like to get involved, please email Katy Dieckhaus, our Community Engagement Coordinator, to let her know you’re interested. You can also reach out directly to your region’s coalition coordinator.

West Tennessee: Lauren Fortenberry
Southeast Tennessee: Emily Holden
East Tennessee: Nycole Gentry

Other upcoming events include:

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Safer TN Tracker | 2.24.26

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Tennessee ranks third in the nation for accidental shootings by children. These are incidents in which a child gains access to a loaded firearm and unintentionally shoots themselves or someone else. Over the past two weeks alone, multiple incidents involving children accessing unsecured guns have made headlines, underscoring the urgent importance of secure storage.

Safer TN will soon launch a section on our website outlining the bills we support, oppose, and are monitoring. Because legislation can change significantly through amendments, we will notify you as soon as the tracker is live and will continue to provide updates as bills evolve. These stories, and more, are what we’re tracking this week.

#1 What We’re Tracking: Legislative Update — Major Firearm Bills Delayed, Amendments Expected

From Safer TN Policy Advisor Jennifer Hellmer

Several bills Safer TN is tracking were scheduled for committee hearings last week; however, most were deferred to a later date. We also reviewed newly drafted amendments and anticipate that additional amendments will be introduced in the coming weeks. Amendments can range from technical corrections to substantial rewrites that significantly alter a bill’s scope and intent.

Of particular note, HB 2064, which received media coverage, was deferred to March 4 in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. The bill proposes multiple changes to existing firearms statutes, including a provision that would allow individuals convicted of stalking and misdemeanor domestic violence offenses to have their firearm rights restored after five years. We anticipate that an amendment may be filed and will continue to closely monitor the bill’s progress.

This week, the House is focused on budget matters, with no additional committee hearings scheduled, allowing members to concentrate on fiscal priorities. The Senate, however, continues to meet in committee. We will share any updates as they become available.

#2 What We’re Tracking:  Shootings Across the State Highlight Tennessee’s Ongoing Challenge

a young girl looks in a drawer

The past two weeks have brought heartbreaking news across Tennessee. From an accidental shooting in East Tennessee that claimed the life of an 8-year-old to a loaded gun found in a Middle Tennessee middle school student’s backpack, one issue connects both incidents: secure storage.

Secure storage means firearms are unloaded, locked, and stored separately from ammunition.

It’s also important to remember that when your child goes to a friend’s house — or when your child is babysitting — it’s okay to ask whether firearms are present and how they are stored. These conversations can feel uncomfortable, but they save lives.

We have tools and conversation guides on our website to help you start that discussion. You can find those resources here.

#3 What We’re Tracking: Did You Know? Rural Residents Are More Vulnerable to Firearm Death

Suicide Geography Map

Rural Tennesseans are more likely to die by firearm than residents in metro areas. While cities may experience a higher total number of shootings, the rate of firearm death — meaning the statistical likelihood of dying by firearm — is higher in rural communities.

This disparity is largely driven by higher rates of firearm suicide and more limited access to immediate trauma care and medical infrastructure. In Tennessee, rural residents die by suicide at a rate 1.2 times higher than those living in metro areas, with East Tennessee experiencing the highest rates in the state.

Understanding where risk is highest helps us focus prevention efforts where they are most urgently needed. In fact, the Tennessee Department of Health has recommended that state agencies and local organizations partner with Safer TN because of our nonpartisan, safety-focused approach to firearm education and prevention.

#4 What We’re Tracking: New On Our Event List: Old Crow Medicine Show

Safer TN has just secured a table at the Old Crow Medicine Show concert at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville on March 20. 

We’ll be there with firearm safety resources and free cable locks. We’re grateful to Safer TN Advisory Board Member Ketch Secor for the invitation and are excited to connect with East Tennesseans at this iconic venue.

Other upcoming events include:

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Safer TN Tracker | 2.9.26

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We hope your family is recovering from Winter Storm Fern. While much of the state was spared from widespread outages, some residents in Middle Tennessee are still without power. We are thinking of those continuing to deal with debris, downed lines, and the storm’s aftermath.

Lawmakers returned to the state Capitol last week. In this Tracker, we cover their return, introduce a new team member, and share a few upcoming ways to get involved with our organization.

Thank you to the nearly 300 supporters who completed our communications survey! Based on your feedback, The Tracker will arrive Tuesday mornings starting with the February 23 issue.

#1 What We’re Tracking: The Bill Filing Deadline Has Passed. Now What?

From Safer TN Policy Advisor Jennifer Hellmer

The legislature returned last week and the bill filing deadline has now passed. Our policy team is actively reviewing all legislation connected to Safer TN’s priorities. We look forward to sharing a list of bills we’re tracking in the coming weeks, along with a dedicated section on our website where you can follow legislative developments.

Something to note: our review list will likely evolve throughout the session. Bills are often amended in ways that can significantly change their impact on community safety. Among the topics we’re reviewing: property owners’ rights related to firearms, secure storage policies, and proposed changes to Tennessee’s firearm permitting laws.

The General Assembly operates on a two-year cycle, with sessions beginning in January and typically running through April or May. We are now in year two of the 114th General Assembly. Some bills are carryovers from 2025, while many others are newly introduced.

#2 What We’re Tracking: Meet Lauren – Our New Voice for West Tennessee

Lauren Fortenberry
Lauren Fortenberry

We are thrilled to introduce Safer TN’s newest team member, West Coalition Coordinator Lauren Fortenberry!

A Trenton native, Lauren understands the heartbeat of West Tennessee. She grew up in a family of outdoorsmen and agricultural leaders, giving her a unique, grounded perspective on our mission to promote firearm safety.

Lauren joins us from the nonprofit sector, where she managed membership, led community engagement, and coordinated events for the Mississippi Poultry Association. Throughout her career, she has focused on building bridges and expanding educational opportunities.

“I am excited to draw from my Tennessee roots and nonprofit experience to advocate, educate, and help build safer communities in West Tennessee,” says Lauren.

Lauren will focus on strengthening community partnerships and ensuring our resources reach every corner of the region. A Mississippi State alumna, she lives in her hometown of Trenton with her husband, their son Louie, and their two Scottish Terriers, Emma and Angus. Please join us in welcoming her to the Safer TN family!

#3 What We’re Tracking: On the Road, Plus Volunteer Opportunities!

Even through winter weather, Safer TN has continued to travel across the state to share resources and connect with communities about firearm safety. Last week, we attended the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association Conference.

Connecting with law enforcement is essential to our work. Sheriffs and deputies are on the front lines and bring valuable insight into safe firearm use, secure storage, and community education. Many expressed interest in continuing to partner with us on efforts to prevent firearm tragedies and improve public communication around safety. We also want to congratulate the winner of our gun safe drawing, Robertson County Sheriff Mike Van Dyke.

Upcoming events include:

#4 What We’re Tracking: Did You Know? — Tennessee By The Numbers

Tennessee tops several lists no state wants to appear on, including:

  • There have been more than 100 mass shootings in the state over the past five years — roughly one every other week.
  • Tennessee leads the nation in firearms stolen from vehicles.
  • We rank third in the U.S. for unintentional shootings by children, and most victims are themselves children.
  • Tennessee is in the top 10 nationwide for firearm homicides.
  • Our firearm suicide rate is 50% higher than the U.S. average, with rural Tennesseans most impacted. Our veteran suicide rate is 34% higher than the national average.

What helps reduce risk?

Secure storage. More than half of firearms in homes with children are not stored securely. Research shows most children know where firearms are kept, and many school shootings involving minors involve guns taken from relatives’ or friends’ homes. Encouraging secure storage is one of the most effective ways to prevent accidental shootings, theft, and suicide. Read more on our Resources page here.

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Safer TN Tracker | 1.26.26

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We hope you and your loved ones are safe and warm as Winter Storm Fern continues to impact our state. The storm has proven deadly in some areas, so please continue to follow guidance from local officials and news outlets on how to stay safe.

As many businesses and school systems have closed for the beginning of the week, the 114th General Assembly is also delayed. That’s just one of the developments we’re tracking right now.

We also want to hear from you! Our one-minute communications survey closes at midnight tonight. Please share your feedback to help shape our updates, and we’ll send you a free bumper sticker as a thank you.

1-What We’re Tracking:  Winter Weather, the Capitol, and a Staff Update

Safer TN Policy Advisor Jennifer Hellmer

Jennifer is an attorney and Tennessee native with years of experience in criminal defense and corporate law. Following her firsthand experience near The Covenant School on March 27, 2023, and driven by her commitment to community safety, she helped found our organization and has supported our policy work since the beginning. As Policy Advisor, she will now help lead our legislative strategy.

We will soon share an easy way to track bills, get legislative updates, and learn how you can take action in your community, so stay tuned.

2-What We’re Tracking: A Delivery to the State Legislature

Last week, a dedicated group of Safer TN volunteers visited the Cordell Hull Office Building to deliver our annual report and “welcome” cookies to Tennessee legislators and staff.

These professionals took time out of their workday to participate in this outreach. The goal was simple: to demonstrate that we want to work together on firearm safety. Safer TN’s values — collaborative, purpose-driven, and respectful — helped guide this approach.

You can read our 2025 annual report, which is now available on our website. It highlights what we accomplished together last year and outlines our priorities for the year ahead. We look forward to working with lawmakers on policies that reduce preventable firearm tragedies while respecting constitutional rights. We appreciate the legislators and staff who took the time to meet with our volunteers.

3-What We’re Tracking:  One year since the Antioch shooting

On Thursday, January 22, 2025, a troubled teenager gained access to an unsecured firearm and brought it into the Antioch High School cafeteria. After the gun wasn’t detected by the school’s weapons detection system, the student opened fire, killing his 16-year-old classmate, Josselin Corea Escalante, then turned the gun on himself. We later learned more about Josselin, and the violence she and her family had fled in their native Guatemala, only for her life to be taken while at school. Shortly thereafter, Safer TN helped organize a Valentine-making event to help bring a little light to those who were traumatized by this devastating event.

In the year since, details have emerged about the shooter and the firearm. But one news piece, reported by WSMV, points out that there has been a school-related firearm incident every month since the Antioch High School shooting. Nearly each of these incidents could have been prevented through secure storage. 

Secure storage — in a home or vehicle — is the easiest way to stop unauthorized access. It’s why we give away cable locks and gun safes: we want people to know there are secure storage options that keep unintended users safe, while also providing easy access for the firearm owner.

You can find resources about how to talk to others about secure storage on our website at this link. With these cold winter months and more people staying inside, these resources can help prevent tragic accidents.

4-What We’re Tracking: Tales from the Road From Coalition
Coordinator Nycole Gentry

Spending time in communities across East Tennessee has reminded me how personal conversations about firearms can be. I grew up in Mississippi, where my family hunted, so firearms were familiar to me.

When we show up to events to talk about firearm safety, people bring their own experiences, assumptions, and sometimes a sense of defensiveness with them.

At a recent event, a man approached our table unsure and guarded about what we were there to do. As we talked, I shared that Voices for a Safer Tennessee is a nonpartisan organization focused on education and preventing firearm tragedies, not politics or taking sides. Almost immediately, his posture changed. He shared that he appreciated knowing our work was not about labels or agendas, but about keeping families and communities safe.

Moments like this stay with me. They are reminders that this work begins with listening and meeting people where they are, and that these small, human interactions are why showing up in our communities is always worth it.

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