“Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.”
–Peggy Noonan, presidential speechwriter and American author
Early voting has begun in the primary election, including Tennessee’s first legislative elections since the the formation of Voices for a Safer Tennessee. In addition to other races and ballot issues, we will be electing the people who establish firearm policies in our state.
In many districts, the primary will determine who ultimately holds the office; therefore, we urge you to vote in both the primary and the November general election. Tennessee was #51 in voter turnout in the 2022 elections. We can and must do better. As the Volunteer State, we have a long history of stepping up for our civic duty. These elections are a perfect opportunity to stand up for a safer Tennessee.
To help you navigate the process, the Safer TN team has developed a personalized, easy-to-use tool based on publicly available information that enables you to (1) find out who will be on your ballot; (2) search the candidates’ websites or contact them to find out where they stand on firearm safety; and (3) find out how, where and when you can vote – early in person, by absentee ballot, or on Election Day.
By using our voices AND our votes, together we are working toward safer and healthier communities across Tennessee.
Sincerely,
Claudia Huskey
Executive Director
Voices for a Safer Tennessee
Safer TN in the Community
Safer TN supporters are spreading our message across the state at local festivals, parades, weekend sports, and other community events. We recently attended events in Chattanooga, Dickson, Lebanon, Murfreesboro, Nashville and Sewanee!
Coming up, Safer TN will attend Murfreesboro Saturday Market (July 20 and 27) and Columbia First Fridays (August 2). Click here for more info and join us!
Do 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.
Use the New Safer TN Candidate Search Tool today!
Tennessee has the LOWEST voter turnout in the nation – meaning the elected officials who are making vital decisions about our firearm safety laws are elected by only a small fraction of Tennesseans.
Tennesseans will elect state and federal lawmakers this year, with a primary August 1 and the general election November 5. Early voting started Friday, July 12th, and runs through Saturday, July 27th. Information about polling hours and locations are available at GoVoteTN.gov.
Now, Safer TN is making it easier for you to look up who is on the ballot in your region. Check out the New Safer TN Election Tool to help you contact and learn about the candidates on your local ballot and make your voting plan. It’s as easy as 1-2-3. Click here to get started.
Understanding Dynamics of the Tennessee General Assembly
A new episode of the podcast “Pod Bless Nashville” interviews Nashville Public Radio’s Meribah Knight, who spent a year embedded in the Tennessee State House learning the dynamics at play in the General Assembly, and the challenges to advancing firearm safety legislation in the wake of the Covenant tragedy. Safer TN’s work is highlighted in the discussion. Definitely worth a listen for anyone wanting a better understanding of how and why laws get passed in our state. Find it here on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
- NPR’s Meribah Knight: “The moment that you talk about compromise and marginal and incremental change, it makes people so angry. … And I remember talking to Senator Briggs, and he said it really well, he said, ‘This isn’t a battle for Republican or Democrat. This is a battle for the middle of each party.’ And I think he’s right.”
The Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence in America highlights the disproportionate impact of firearm injury and death on American children compared to kids in other OECD nations. Looking at 29 high income countries in 2015, more than 9 in 10 children (ages 0‑14) who died from firearm‑related injuries lived in the United States.
According to the Advisory, 2019 data showed that the rate of firearm mortality among children and adolescents (ages 1‑19) in the U.S. was more than 5 times the rate of firearm mortality among the same age group in Canada, about 18 times the rate in Sweden, and more than 22 times the rate in Australia.
Podcast: Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor and policy adviser Erin Rogus discus firearms safety (The Tennessean)
We’ve Been Called To Act On The #1 Killer Of America’s Children – It’s Time For Our Nation To Answer The Call (Forbes) Safer TN advisory board member Senator Bill Frist reflects on the decision in United States v. Rahimi and the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on firearm violence in America, which make clear we have the tools to address our firearm injury epidemic.
Tennessee reps irked by state’s failure on gun safe storage campaign (TN Lookout)
‘It’s just a recipe for disaster’ | Here is what’s being done to combat the surge of Glock switches across the country (ABC 24 – Memphis)
After gun violence declared a national public emergency, community advocates urge local and state leaders to act (WBIR-TV Knoxville)
Group continues push to curb gun violence in Tennessee (ABC 24 – Memphis)