December 2 is Giving Tuesday, and Safer TN is working to reach 500 donors in one day to support our education, advocacy, and outreach efforts across Tennessee. The first 100 donors will receive a Safer TN-branded AirTag keychain, and donors who give $500 or more will also receive a Safer TN YETI tumbler. Click here to donate early.
In this Tracker, you’ll find what your donations make possible, including our new firearm safety resource page, an update on a road rage incident that turned violent, and more.
1-What We’re Tracking: One Example of What Your Donation Makes Possible
After losing her daughter, Evelyn, in The Covenant School shooting in 2023, Katy Dieckhaus found solace and purpose in Safer TN’s mission. She started as a volunteer, became a board member, and is now stepping into a new chapter of impact.
Katy has resigned from our Board of Directors and officially joined our staff as Community Engagement Coordinator. She will represent Safer TN at community events, support and grow our volunteer network, and help connect communities across Tennessee to our work. Katy’s journey is a powerful reminder of how love and loss can drive meaningful change.
Another staff change comes as Erin Rogus steps back from her role as Policy Director to serve as a Middle Tennessee Board Member. Erin has been instrumental in advancing our work at the Capitol over the past two years, but balancing her work with Safer TN, her full-time position with Advisory Board Member Sen. Bill Frist, and caring for three young children proved challenging. We’re grateful she will continue contributing in a volunteer capacity.
Safer TN is also continuing to expand our team, thanks to the generous support of Tennesseans committed to safer communities. We are seeking a Director of Advancement and a West Tennessee Coalition Coordinator. Know someone who might be a great fit? Share these opportunities and encourage them to apply!
2-What We’re Tracking: Road Rage Involving Firearms Persists in Our State
A Middle Tennessee driver was shot at on Interstate 24 in Rutherford County just two weeks ago. The suspect remains at large, and anyone with information or dash-cam footage is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office.
FOX17 reports that since last year, Rutherford County has seen 2,713 aggressive driving or road rage incidents. Any of these encounters can turn deadly when firearms are involved.
The shooting has renewed concern among local families, including Katy Dieckhaus. Two years before losing her daughter in The Covenant School shooting, Katy emailed state representatives after a road rage incident that a witness compared to the “Wild West.” She has shared excerpts below.
[Road rage shootings have] been in our news too frequently in the past few months. I want to continue to raise my sweet girls in this state. People are stressed, depressed, and angry about many things now more than ever.
I do not know if you all have children, but do you really want to teach them to fight towards others this way? This is where we are heading and it breaks my heart. Please truly think about the safety of all.”
Katy Dieckhaus
Community Engagement Coordinator3-What We’re Tracking: Secure Storage Saves Lives During Hunting Season
Deer hunting season opened on November 22, and as many families across Tennessee enjoy this tradition, it’s an important time to talk about secure firearm storage. Research shows that access to unsecured firearms increases the risk of injury and suicide among children and teens.
Tennessee ranks third in the nation for unintentional shootings by children, and a state report released earlier this year shows that firearm suicides have surged among youth.
Safer TN has a new resource page dedicated to firearm safety, including how to have conversations with your children and other adults, how to securely store your firearm, and other safety resources that can help reduce the risk of accidents, unauthorized access, and tragedy.
4-What We’re Tracking: Update: DOJ Weighs In on Supreme Court Firearm Case
The Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court to strike down a Hawaii law that bans firearms on private property open to the public without the owner’s permission (Wolford v. Lopez).
The DOJ brief argues that the law unlawfully blocks people with concealed-carry permits from carrying firearms onto most private property of this kind.
A decision in this case could reshape laws beyond Hawaii. Tennessee, however, already leaves the decision to property owners, and past efforts to limit their authority have failed, so this ruling is unlikely to change state law.
5-What We’re Tracking: Justice System Gap Leaves Domestic Violence Victims Vulnerable
A new investigation by ProPublica and WPLN reveals a potentially deadly flaw in Tennessee’s probation system that puts domestic violence victims at risk. The reporting centers on the killing of a young mother who repeatedly begged for help while her ex-boyfriend, who was legally barred from having a firearm and under probation supervision, remained free.
The investigation found that when a probation violation warrant is issued in Tennessee, in-person supervision stops until the person is arrested, creating a dangerous gap that can last for months. At least six mothers were killed during this lapse in oversight. More broadly, reporters found that about one in four domestic violence homicide victims in Tennessee’s largest cities were killed by someone who was legally prohibited from having a firearm.
