Safer TN Tracker

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)

This week, Safer TN presented a webinar on suicide prevention. The statistics are shocking: Our state’s rate of suicide by firearm is nearly 50% higher than the national average. Rural residents and military veterans are particularly at risk, and more children and teens are having suicidal ideations.

It is clear that mental health plays an important role in suicide, mass shootings, and some other forms of firearm violence. But it is not an either/or proposition. Easy access to firearms is also a major factor. We need to address both.

During our webinar, we learned Tennessee has a shortage of mental health professionals, especially outside of metropolitan areas, and state policies make it very difficult to keep firearms out of the hands of those who are at risk of self-harm. One of our panelists, Penny Anderson of the veterans’ service nonprofit Operation Stand Down, said delaying access to a firearm for as little as 10 minutes can give the distraught person a chance to reconsider and get help. 

Observations by panelists, who all have frequent firsthand experience with people in crisis, underscore the importance of three policies that Safer TN espouses: secure storage of firearms, temporary transfer of firearms from those at risk of harming themselves or others, and expanded background checks.

The webinar also reminded us of our shared humanity. Panelist Annette Lake, who lost both her son and her father to suicide by firearm within a year, said she has found solace in her friends’ support. Now she is giving back as an advocate for suicide prevention and for fellow survivors. 

Another of our panelists, Judge Eddie Lauderback, spoke of the devastation and social disruption caused by Hurricane Helene in the northeast corner of the state where he lives. The underlying message from both Ms. Lake and Judge Lauderback was clear: We need each other.

That is a core value of Safer TN – that we are in this together for all Tennesseans, regardless of where they live, how they vote, or what they look like. 

I hope you will take the time to watch the video of this enlightening webinar and read more about it in the Policy Update elsewhere in this newsletter. And if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, know that help is available. Call or text 988, then press 0 for 24/7 free and confidential support. Visit preventsuicidetn.org to learn about resources available in your area.

Together, we can make changes in our own lives and in our state policies that will make a difference. Thank you for being part of this effort. 

And please keep our neighbors in East Tennessee and the Carolinas in your thoughts and prayers. Here is a resource to find opportunities to lift up and support communities in need. 

With gratitude,

Claudia Huskey
Executive Director
Voices for a Safer Tennessee

Safer TN in Chattanooga 

On Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Safer TN team traveled to Chattanooga to learn more about the work of Chattanooga’s Office of Community Safety and Gun Violence Prevention, and partner on a presentation to the Missionary Ridge Neighborhood Association on community safety. Led by Chris Sands, Chattanooga’s Gun Violence Prevention Team is doing innovative work in the schools and on the streets with violence interventionists, “chain breakers” with lived experience who can counsel wayward juveniles, and victim service advocates. Read more about their unique approach here.

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Safer TN Advisory Board Members Sen. Bill Frist & Dr. Clay Stauffer Talk Firearm Safety

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, Senator Bill Frist joined Dr. Clay Stauffer at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville where they discussed Senator Frist’s views on government and partisanship in politics, what gives him hope for the future, and why they both believe Voices for a Safer Tennessee is making a real difference in moving the needle on firearm safety. You can watch their discussion here.

Solutions and Takeaways from Safer TN’s Suicide Prevention Webinar: 

To mark the conclusion of National Suicide Prevention Month, a diverse panel of Tennesseans shared their deeply personal stories and expert insights to confront the alarming reality of Tennessee’s rising suicide rate. 

The key takeaways from the discussion included:

• The need for awareness of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline and other mental health resources in Tennessee.
• The vital importance of securely storing firearms in a locked compartment or with a cable or trigger lock to prevent access for those in a mental health crisis. Delaying access by as little as 10 minutes can be the difference in saving a life. 
• Exploring the feasibility of temporary transfer laws or other legal mechanisms to temporarily remove firearms from individuals in crisis.
• Expanding background check requirements for firearm purchases to prevent purchase by those who have been involuntarily committed and are at risk of harming themselves. 
• Encouraging open conversations within families and communities about mental health, firearm safety and suicide prevention.

Click here to watch a recording of the webinar.

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Safer TN’s policy director Erin Rogus appeared on WATE-TV Knoxville to discuss the impact of firearm suicide on Tennesseans, and the policy changes that can make a difference. 

The Voter Registration Deadline is October 7

All 99 state representatives and 16 of the 33 state senators will be elected Nov. 5. These are the people who will set the course of our firearm laws in the next General Assembly. To vote in the Nov. 5 election, you must register to vote (or confirm that your registration is current) by this Monday, Oct. 7. Make sure all your eligible friends and family members are registered, too, and take advantage of our voter tool to research the candidates on your ballot.

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Come See Us in Columbia on October 4

Our coalition members will be at First Fridays in Columbia on the evening of Friday, Oct. 4. Stop by our table to say hello and pick up some swag!

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Violence Summit in Chattanooga on October 8

Chattanooga and Hamilton County agencies and schools are teaming up to present “One Community, One Mission,” a summit on violence in the community, from 9 a.m.-noon on Oct. 8 at Brainerd Crossroads-BX. Register here.

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October 23 – Save the Date! 

On Wednesday, October 23, at 6 p.m., Safer TN Board Chair Todd Cruse and Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director John Harris will be sitting down for a spirited discussion on firearm safety and the Second Amendment, moderated by Belmont University Professor Vaughn May. The discussion is open to the community and will be held in Belmont University’s Janet Ayers Academic Center, Room 1034 (1st Floor) in Nashville. Parking is available in the garage under the Center. Registration link coming soon!

Tennessee has a firearm suicide rate that’s nearly 50% higher than the national average (Sycamore Institute).

Opinion: Parents, secure firearms to prevent tragedy. Gun violence is No. 1 killer of kids (The Tennessean, op-ed by Mark Proctor, retired captain of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security)

“[T]here are preventive solutions we can implement that have been proven to save lives. It’s part of what the [Tennessee Highway Patrol] academy ingrained in us as state troopers. The first thing I did when I walked in my front door after work – even before I hugged my kids and asked them about their day – was to secure my firearm in my gun safe, making sure to store my ammunition separately. We know these simple secure storage behaviors are effective in reducing firearm injury and death.”

Podcast: Jeffrey Steele’s Monday Night in America – Safer TN Board Members Todd Cruse and Katy Dieckhaus talk firearm safety and share stories about Katy’s little girl Evelyn, a Covenant student who lost her life (starting at 26 minutes in).

Tennessee Homeland Security investigated 125 school threats in one week (WKRN)

‘One pistol clip can change the balance of power’: Congress is wholly unprepared for a mass casualty event (Politico) 

How the Supreme Court Broadened the Second Amendment (The Trace)

Once again, a Tennessee child has died in an accidental shooting after finding a loaded gun in an attic. Phillip’e Woodard was 8 years old and full of promise. He was the third child in Nashville killed in an accidental shooting so far this year, and one of at least a dozen in our state. Tennessee has one of the highest rates in the U.S. of accidental firearm deaths among children, and the incidence has been rising.

Children are curious. They climb up to see what’s on the closet shelf and in the medicine cabinet. No matter how well parents think they have hidden Christmas or birthday presents, children will persist until they find them. And all too often, they find loaded, unsecured firearms, with tragic consequences.

Secure storage is one of the simplest and most effective ways we can reduce accidental deaths and suicides. And now it’s easier than ever to secure your firearms: The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has made free gun locks available in every county, and the state does not charge sales tax on gun safes.

Organizations and local governments are stepping up to help. For instance, the Chapel Hill Police Department in Marshall County gives out free gun safety kits. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville and Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga  are partnering with the Department of Safety to distribute free gun locks. The number of participating locations is growing.

We are heartbroken by the loss of another young life, but we are not helpless. We are more determined than ever to do what we can to make a difference through legislation, education, advocacy and voting. Please register to vote (or confirm that your registration is current) by Oct. 7 and research the candidates so you can cast an informed vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Thank you for being with us.

With gratitude,

Claudia Huskey
Executive Director
Voices for a Safer Tennessee

Back to School Bash
More than 400 adults and kids gathered last Sunday for an afternoon of fun and fundraising at the inaugural Safer TN Back to School Bash in Nashville. Headliner Ketch Secor, frontman for Old Crow Medicine Show, gave a musical performance and a reading of his children’s book, Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away.

Covering the State Virtually
If you live in one of the counties listed here, you might see video ads for Safer TN pop up on your social media feed. Our goal is simple: to bring awareness of the issues to more Tennesseans and grow our coalition in new areas. Take a look and let us know what you think! 

Franklin	Madison
Rutherford	Knox
Sumner	Montgomery
Blount	Hamilton
Shelby	Putnam

Safer TN on the Road
Todd Cruse, Safer TN’s Board Chair, spoke to a full house at the Mt. Juliet Rotary this week, sharing the alarming facts about firearm tragedies in Tennessee and describing Safer TN’s policy priorities.

Tuesday, September 24 at 6 p.m.: The Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is holding a webinar on Youth Firearm Suicide Prevention Advocacy. Learn more and register here.

On Wednesday, October 2nd, Safer TN is convening a webinar on “Preventing Suicide in Tennessee: A Conversation on Mental Health and Firearm Safety.”

We’ll hear from leaders across the state representing mental health providers, veterans, the judicial system, and those personally impacted by suicide by firearm. Registration info coming soon! 

Working towards a centralized court system
This past session, the TN General Assembly enacted legislation to require the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to create a centralized system for case management, electronic case filing, data reporting, electronic payment methods, and other capabilities, for all Tennessee Clerks of Court to integrate or use. 

The Tennessee Judiciary is divided into 32 judicial districts spanning across 95 counties with 300 courts. Currently, each district and county has varying degrees of autonomy, and each district and county clerk can generally choose their own case management system. This gives judges, clerks and local governments more control over the management of their specific courts, but it can lead to inconsistent practices and data entry across the state. Inconsistencies with data entry and incompatible systems have been a contributing factor to the now half-million record backlog in our state background check system, TICS. Creating a centralized system is a vital step towards strengthening our state’s background check system so that records don’t fall through the cracks. 

The AOC has begun this process, partnering with a contractor to design a plan for implementation, who is reviewing existing systems and then will begin soliciting feedback from stakeholders. The AOC is due to report to the legislature on progress on January 31, 2025. 

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Two out of three suicide deaths in Tennessee are attributable to suicide by firearm.  And Tennessee has a firearm suicide rate that’s nearly 50% higher than the national average.

Child’s accidental shooting death marks third in Nashville for 2024 (WSMV) – A deadly shooting on North Second Street Saturday night added to a troubling statistic in the state of Tennessee. The Metro Nashville Police Department said 8-year-old Phillip’e Woodard was playing with a gun inside a family member’s East Nashville home when it accidentally went off.

Woodard’s death marks the third accidental shooting of a child in Nashville this year. “That’s an unacceptable statistic,” Claudia Huskey, Executive Director of Voices for a Safer Tennessee, said. …

The organization held an event Sunday at Fat Bottom Brewing, where they spoke with parents as school gets back into session. They reminded parents to check before bringing kids to other homes to ensure gun storage is being practiced if the homeowner is also a gun owner.

“First thing that gun owners can do is securely store their firearms,” Huskey said. “So, that means it’s in a locked compartment that only the gun owner can access.”

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What if it happened here? How Tennessee’s laws on guns and minors compare with Georgia’s (Nashville Banner)

Tennessee child mortality rates rise 12%, firearm injuries a leading cause (Fox 17 Nashville)

The new school year is barely underway, but already a community in a neighboring state has been devastated by a fatal school shooting. Two 14-year-olds and two teachers died in the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga. Nine others were wounded.

While we are still learning more about what motivated the 14-year-old shooter, we know that he obtained the rifle used in the attack from his father, as a holiday gift, even after the shooter had been previously investigated in connection with anonymous online threats. (The father was arrested late Thursday on multiple charges related to the shootings.)

Sadly, we know the majority of school shooters use firearms accessed in the home. Responsible firearm ownership means making sure firearms are secured in gun safes, in locked gun cabinets, or with a cable lock or with another device that renders them inaccessible to children or anyone else other than the lawful owner, and separate from ammunition. 

There is a strong relationship between suicidality and the perpetration of mass shootings, with early reports indicating that the Georgia shooter struggled with his mental health. Of all mass shooters in The Violence Project database, 30% were suicidal prior to the shooting. An additional 39% were suicidal during the shooting. Those numbers were significantly higher for younger shooters, with K-12 students who engaged in mass shootings were found to be suicidal in 92% of instances and college/university students who engaged in mass shooting suicidal 100% of the time.

During the month of September, which has been designated as National Suicide Prevention Month, Safer TN will be providing information and programming on suicide prevention. It may surprise you to learn that most firearm deaths in our state are suicides. As detailed in the Policy section of this week’s newsletter, keeping firearms out of the hands of people in crisis is a major focus of Safer TN’s efforts. By doing so, we may help save not just one life at a time, but the lives of many others.

As Safer TN’s Katy Dieckhaus, who lost her precious daughter Evelyn last year in the Covenant School shooting, says so eloquently, our hearts are with our neighbors in Georgia. Our resolve is stronger than ever.

Sincerely,

Claudia Huskey
Executive Director
Voices for a Safer Tennessee

Tennessee Voices on Suicide Prevention

What many don’t realize is the majority of firearm deaths – both statewide and nationally – are the result of firearm suicides.  

Tennesseans have shared their stories on how they and their loved ones have been affected: 

• Annette Lake with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network joined Safer TN’s Katy Dieckhaus and Erin Rogus on the Carlos Whitaker Podcast where she shared her heartbreaking story of losing both her father and her son to suicide by firearm. 
  
• Faith leaders Rev. Clay Stauffer and Rabbi Shana Mackler share their experience in this past Tennessean op-ed.

Suicide by Firearm Data & What Policies Make a Difference

Tennessee has a suicide rate nearly 20% higher than the national 2022 rate. In our state, firearms are by far the most prevalent means of suicide, accounting for more than double the number of suicides from all other methods combined. 

Rural Tennesseans are disproportionately impacted: According to an analysis by the Tennessee Department of Health, the data shows that individuals living in rural regions die by suicide at a rate 1.5 times higher than those living in metro regions. 

In Tennessee, a shocking 91% of firearm deaths for those aged 65+ are suicides. Another startling figure: 78% of white male firearm deaths are also suicides. 

While the majority of firearm deaths for children 14 and under in Tennessee are attributable to homicides, 35% of these child deaths are suicides (2018-2021), according to an analysis by the Sycamore Institute. 

Nationwide, the rate of firearm-related suicide has increased dramatically over the past decade, particularly among our youth.

Policies that make a difference: 

• Temporary transfer laws – which establish a court-ordered process to temporarily remove access to firearms for those who pose a credible threat to themselves or others – have been enacted in 21 states. In Connecticut and Indiana, where the laws have been on the books the longest, they’ve seen a firearm suicide rate reduction of 14% and 8%, respectively. 

• Secure storage requirements that include child access prevention laws have been shown in multiple studies to reduce total suicides among young people. Such laws vary by state and can include imposing penalties if (1) a child could access the firearm, (2) a child did access a firearm, and/or (3) a child accessed and used a firearm. 

From the Tennessee Department of Health: If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, know that help is available. Call or text 988, then press 0 for 24/7, free, and confidential support. Visit preventsuicidetn.com to learn about resources available in your area.

Come See Us in Columbia on September 6

Our coalition members will be at First Fridays in Columbia on the evening of Sept. 6. Stop by our table to say hello and pick up some swag! Click here to join us.

Join Us September 15 at the Safer TN Back to School Bash!

You and your family are invited to Safer TN’s first Back to School Bash featuring special musical guest Ketch Secor from Old Crow Medicine Show. Enjoy an afternoon of food, refreshments, kid-friendly games and activities at this inaugural event aimed at promoting safety as we head back to school. Get ready to be inspired and empowered to make a difference in your community. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with people who share your commitment to firearm safety. More information and tickets here.

If you have an upcoming event where you’d like to see a Safer TN presence, share the event details and we’ll reach out to you to discuss next steps. 

Join the Safer TN Team 

Voices for a Safer Tennessee is growing!  We are seeking an experienced communications professional to serve as our Director of Communications, leading key aspects of the organization’s communications strategy in an effort to reduce preventable firearm deaths and injuries in Tennessee. 

Click here to learn more about the position and apply. 

And please share with any friends or colleagues who might be interested in joining us in this passion-driven, meaningful work.

Firearm Suicides Reached a Record High in 2023

While firearm homicides declined nationwide in 2023, gun suicides rose to a record high of 27,300. That represents a 29 percent increase from a decade earlier, when 21,175 people died from gun suicide. Firearm suicides now account for 58% of all gun deaths. (Source: The Trace)

Tennessee children continue to be harmed by gun violence. When will enough be enough? (Tennessean op-ed by healthcare leader John Bumpus)

• “Recently, I sat next to a physician who the night before had performed surgery on a 4-year-old who accidentally shot himself with a loaded gun in his home; a 13-year-old was fatally shot with a gun stolen from someone’s car in a park where my young children played frequently; and a young woman who had just graduated high school in my community was killed by a peer who found a high power weapon that was not safely secured in a home and assumed it wasn’t loaded when he shot it. These awful tragedies – and many others that did not make the news – are indicative of what the data shows in Tennessee: that our children are dying from firearm-related events more than any other reason, and that firearm tragedies continue to trend in the wrong direction.”

Tennessee must continue to make lowering the crime rate a priority now and into the future (Commercial Appeal)

Convicted felon arrested after shooting 2 in downtown Nashville, police say (WSMV)

Georgia school-shooting suspect struggled with mental health, aunt says (Washington Post)

Less than 14% of registered voters in Tennessee turned out for the primary Aug. 1. Although the November presidential election is expected to draw far heavier turnout, many voters give little thought to state and local contests or skip them altogether. 

Those of us who care deeply about firearm safety have an opportunity in November to make an impact on the makeup of the next General Assembly. The time to start is now. Register to vote or make sure your registration is current by the Oct. 7 deadline, and make sure every eligible voter in your circle does the same. 

Before you vote, do your homework to determine where the candidates stand on firearm safety. We have updated our voter tool to provide you with information about who is on your ballot and how and where to vote. 

We urge you to contact the candidates and ask them where they stand on firearm safety issues such as secure storage requirements, temporary transfer laws and expanding background checks. Put a Safer TN magnet on your car to show where you stand. Let’s put the candidates on notice that most Tennesseans, including their own constituents, favor measures to make our communities safer.

Change is a long journey. Thank you for walking with us.

Sincerely,

Claudia Huskey
Executive Director
Voices for a Safer Tennessee

Come See Us in Columbia on September 6

Our coalition members will be at First Fridays in Columbia on the evening of Sept. 6. Stop by our table to say hello and pick up some swag! Want to volunteer? Click here to join us.

Join Us September 15 at the Safer TN Back to School Bash!

You and your family are invited to Safer TN’s first Back to School Bash featuring special musical guest Ketch Secor from Old Crow Medicine Show. Enjoy an afternoon of food, refreshments, kid-friendly games and activities at this inaugural event aimed at promoting safety as we head back to school. Get ready to be inspired and empowered to make a difference in your community. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with people who share your commitment to firearm safety. More information and tickets here.

If you have an upcoming event where you’d like to see a Safer TN presence, share the event details and we’ll reach out to you to discuss next steps.

NEW: Safer TN Candidate Search Tool for General Election 

After the great response to our primary candidate search tool that allowed Tennessee voters to look up who is on their ballot, we’ve updated the tool with general election candidate information. Find out who will be on the ballot in your district in November, and easily access their websites and contact information where you can encourage them to prioritize firearm safety in their policy platforms. 

Learn More About Jillian’s Law on August 27 The Lawyers’ Association for Women Marion Griffin Chapter is presenting a panel discussion Aug. 27 on Jillian’s Law, the measure enacted this year that prohibits criminal defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial from purchasing or possessing firearms and requires that they be committed to an appropriate treatment facility if they pose a threat to themselves or others. CLE credits are available for attorneys who attend. More info and tickets here.

Secure Storage Webinar on August 28
Everytown for Gun Safety is holding a webinar on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m.  CT about how you can promote secure firearm storage, which evidence shows can reduce child gun deaths and suicides. Learn more and register here.

Safer TN car magnets are being spotted across the state! Show your support for Safer TN with a car magnet. Request one (or multiple!) here. 

The latest data from the CDC on firearm deaths, 2023 provisional data published in July, shows deaths have dropped in the U.S., except among children – which saw an increase from 2,542 firearm deaths in 2022 to 2,581 in 2023. 

Regional firearm death rates also varied considerably. The South had the highest number of firearm deaths (22,654) and the highest firearm death rate (17.4 per 100,000), according to the CDC data. (Source: The Trace)

Tennessee children continue to be harmed by gun violence. When will enough be enough? (The Tennessean) 

Tennessee law to let teachers carry guns in schools caused a ruckus, but has drawn little interest (Chalkbeat)

In Rural Tennessee, Domestic Violence Victims Face Barriers to Getting Justice. One County Has Transformed Its Approach. (ProPublica)

Metro Nashville Public Health Department offering free gun locks at all clinics (WKRN)

Gun Deaths Fell in 2023 — Except Among Kids (The Trace)