Voices for a Safer Tennessee

Voices for a Safer Tennessee is 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.

Livestream

Voices for a Safer Tennessee will stream events here when available.

Previous Livestreams

Williamson County Community Conversation (Brentwood United Methodist Church)

The Impact of Firearms on our Community Full Video (Otter Creek Church)

April 2, 2024 – 6:00pm

Firearms are the number one cause of death for children in Tennessee. We are in an undeniable public health crisis. Voices for a Safer Tennessee, Our Voices Aligned, and Otter Creek Church are hosting a panel discussion on the impact of firearms in our community and how recent changes in our state laws have contributed to the current crisis. We will also discuss what pragmatic firearm safety policy is possible to change our current trajectory, and share opportunities for community engagement.

The Impact of Firearms on our Community Reel (Otter Creek Church)

Hamilton County Community Conversation (First-Centenary United Methodist Church)

April 4, 2024 – 4:30pm

Panelists: Dr. Dave Bhattacharya: Chair of Pediatric Trauma Surgery, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger Lucy White: Counselor, UT Health Science Center Erin Rogus: Policy Director, Voices for a Safer TN

Moderator: Cornelia Nicholson: Anchor and Reporter, News 3

Firearms are the number one cause of death for children in Tennessee. First-Centenary United Methodist Church and Voices for a Safer Tennessee are hosting a community conversation on pragmatic firearm safety policy that is proven to save lives.

Safer TN Linking Arms for Change 2024 Live Event Full Video

March 27, 2024 5:00 – 5:30pm

Safer TN Linking Arms for Change 2024 Reel

Addressing a Public Health Crisis – The Impact of Firearms on our Community Full Video

February 15, 2024

Guns are the number one cause of death for children in Tennessee. We are in an undeniable public health crisis. Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) presented a conversation around the impact of firearms in our community and how recent changes in our state laws have contributed to the current crisis. We also discussed what pragmatic firearm safety policy is possible to change our current trajectory.

Moderated by Dr. Alex Jahangir, watch here a panep with Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway, Safer TN Policy Director Erin Rogus, and NYT bestselling author and pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Jay Wellons. Tennessee has reached an important moment to address how we got here and what we can do locally to make an impact.

Together, we will wear red and link arms to honor the six beautiful victims and incredible surviving families of the Covenant School shooting, and the hundreds of Tennessee lives lost to preventable firearm tragedies over the last year. Thousands will form a chain of 13,000 people from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt through Centennial Park and up Charlotte Avenue to our state capitol.

Addressing a Public Health Crisis – The Impact of Firearms on our Community Reel

Safer TN Community Conversation: On Faith and Firearms Full Video

February 6, 2024

Voices for a Safer Tennessee hosted an important Community Conversation on Faith and Firearms Tuesday on February 6 at The Temple – Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Nashville, TN.  We were joined by former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, The Temple’s Rabbi Shana Mackler, trauma surgeon Dr. Allan Peetz, and Safer TN’s Erin Rogus, with discussion moderated by the Nashville Banner’s Steve Cavendish. 

Safer TN Community Conversation: On Faith and Firearms Reel

Community Conversation In Shelby County (Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis) Full Video

January 23, 2024

Voices for a Safer Tennessee hosted a conversation at Church of the Holy Communion moderated by Eric Barnes of The Daily Memphian and will feature Bill Gibbons, President of the Shelby Co. Crime Commission, Beverly Robertson former CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber, Erin Rogus, Policy Director for Safer TN.

“And I would find out: what can we agree on?…Let’s start with that as a foundation.”

-Memphis Panelist Beverly Robertson, Former President & CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber.

Community Conversation In Shelby County (Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis) Highlight Reel

Chattanooga Community Conversation at Church of the Good Shepherd in Lookout Mountain

November 8, 2023

A community conversation on firearm safety was hosted by our friends from Neighbors for Gun Violence Prevention with featured speakers from the Safer TN Board, Katy Dieckhaus, Todd Cruse, and Dori Thronton Waller. This non-partisan event was introduced by Natalie Jackson of Neighbors for Gun Violence Prevention.

Voices for a Safer Tennessee Legislative Briefing

August 21, 2023

This event offered detailed insights into the progress and outcomes of specific laws and regulations that Voices for a Safer Tennessee had actively supported and promoted. Attendees received a comprehensive overview of the advocacy strategies employed and an exploration of the impact of these efforts on community safety and policy development. This briefing was a vital opportunity for members and supporters to stay informed about the organization’s legislative achievements.

Faith, Firearms, and Safer Communities at St. Henry Catholic Church in Nashville

August 20, 2023

A peaceful and civil dialogue with Father Mark Beckman. pastor at St. Henry Catholic Church; the Honorable Torry Johnson, former District Attorney General for Davidson County; Erin Rogus, Senior Policy Advisor to the office of former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist; Dr. Allan Peetz, surgical faculty in the Division of Acute Surgery at Vanderbilt. This non-partisan event was moderated by Steve Cavendish, President of Nashville Public Media.

Faith, Firearms, and Safety in Middle Tennessee at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia

July 26, 2023

A public forum to discuss how policies that promote responsible firearm ownership can improve community safety across Tennessee. This discussion included panelists the Rev. Russ Adcox, lead paster at Maury Hills Church; Dr. CW Ball, Family Physician and Former Medical Director at Maury Regional Hospital; and Todd Cruse, Chairman and Treasurer, Voices for a Safer Tennessee. This non-partisan event was moderated by the Rev. Trent Oglivie, CEO and Executive Director of Columbia Housing and Redevelopment Corporation.

After Covenant: Faith, Guns, & Protecting Tennesseans at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville

May 22, 2023

A public forum with former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Vanderbilt trauma surgeon Dr. Alex Jahangir, and our senior minister, Rev. Dr. Clay Stauffer. This non-partisan event was moderated by News Channel 5’s Ben Hall.