With Election Day right around the corner, I’m reaching out to urge you to vote if you haven’t already. The only way to make our voices heard during any election cycle is through the ballot box. If you’re unhappy with the state’s direction, voting is your chance to push for change. If you support the current trajectory, voting helps reinforce it. As election margins grow tighter, politicians pay close attention to why they’ve lost or gained votes.
While there is work to do with lawmakers at the State House, at the end of the day, they care about what their local constituents think. Tennessee currently has the lowest voter turnout in the nation. In our August primaries, less than 14% of registered voters turned out to vote – and we had five state legislative races decided by less than 200 votes. We are not just deciding our next president in this election. In this cycle we are electing all 99 State House Members and 16 of our 33 State Senators. The down-ballot races matter more than ever to the future of policy in our state. Of all the ways you can participate in the democratic process, none is more impactful than voting.
Since the Covenant tragedy, we’ve made strides in advancing firearm safety policies. We hope that after the election, political rhetoric will calm, allowing us to make even more progress both in our local communities and at the capitol. We know there’s still work to do, but we’re committed to making Tennessee a safer place, step by step.
Todd Cruse, Safer TN Board Chair
Looking back: Gun Policy Panel Discussion at Belmont University on October 23
Safer TN was honored to be invited by Belmont University to address the urgent and complex issues surrounding firearm safety policies, Second Amendment rights, and community safety. Our Board Chair, Todd Cruse, emphasized the critical importance of relying on accurate data to guide decision-making around firearm safety policies.
The panel drew a crowd of over 70 attendees including students, community members and lawmakers, and garnered local news coverage. Watch the news piece below.
Safer TN Men’s Coalition Lunch & Learn on October 22
Our coalition of concerned fathers, grandfathers, veterans and business leaders gathered at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville to hear Katy Dieckhaus share the story of her daughter, Evelyn, her tragic loss and the reasons she remains hopeful for meaningful change in the future.
The event served as a space for reflection and a call to action with Safer TN’s Policy Director, Erin Rogus, providing an in-depth overview of the previous legislative session and where the movement is going in 2025.
Early voting is over. Turnout numbers reveal Tennesseans need to show up for Election Day!
Early voting ended on October 31. The next and final opportunity to vote is just around the corner – Tuesday, November 5.
The latest data from the Secretary of State indicates Tennessee voter turnout is STILL below 2020 levels. But we can change this! Find polling locations for Election Day voting here, and use our voter tool to research the candidates on your ballot to make informed choices. As a reminder, all 99 state representatives and 16 of the 33 state senators are up for election.
Early voter turnout by county:
If you are voting by absentee ballot, act now! Your ballot must be mailed, with postage, in time for your county election commission to receive it by the close of polls on Election Day. Remember, ballots can only be returned by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Hand delivery or giving it to a poll worker during early voting or on Election Day isn’t permitted. Please note that the deadline to request an absentee ballot has already passed. Ensure your vote counts by mailing your ballot today or voting in person on Nov. 5!
Join Us Tonight at First Fridays in Columbia!
Experience the heart of community at First Fridays in downtown Columbia from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight! Be one of the first five people to check in at the Safer TN Pop-Up to snag a free Safer TN yard sign (normally $25 with a donation). We’ll also have additional signs, car magnets, and free buttons available! More info and signup here.
#RunForAlyssa
Alyssa Lokits was a cherished family member, friend, runner, and valued member of the community. She held a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University and was part of a large family, with eight siblings and many extended relatives. Tragically, Alyssa was shot and killed during an attempted assault while jogging on the Mill Creek Greenway Trail in Antioch, Tenn., on Oct. 14. Our policy director, along with many who loved her and were affected by her untimely death, took time to run in her honor.
If you can, we encourage you to #RunForAlyssa this week, or join hundreds of others planning to #RunForAlyssa on Monday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m., in any time zone, any location. Share your participation on social media, and use the hashtag to raise awareness about Alyssa’s story and the need for a safer Tennessee.
Mass Shooting Leads to Policy Change in Maine
Oct. 25, 2024, marked one year since the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, where 18 people were killed at a local bowling alley and bar. Thirteen others were injured.
In response to the tragedy, the Maine Legislature passed a package of firearm safety laws, including a near-universal background check system that requires background checks on all advertised private sales. That means people who advertise a gun for sale online, including Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, must initiate a background check before they transfer the firearm. Safer TN supports this smart approach to expanding background checks.
New Tennessee Firearm Death Data
The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention just released its analysis of the CDC’s recently finalized 2022 data, which provided state-specific firearm death information.
Key takeaways in Tennessee:
- The overall Tennessee gun death rate increased 33% from 2013 to 2022.
- Tennessee had the 10th-highest gun death rate in the country in 2022.
- Firearms were the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17 in 2022.
- In 2021, there were at least 150 domestic violence-related homicides in Tennessee; 75% were by firearm.
Read all the Tennessee stats here.
Safer TN is Continuing to Grow Statewide!
We have coalition members in all 95 counties, and now are working on spreading the message further by getting yard signs and car magnets in every county as well. Don’t see your county on the map yet in red? Help us change that by ordering a car magnet or yard sign today. Bonus points for sending us a photo of your swag on your car or in your yard at info@safertn.org. If we use your photo on our social media, we’ll blur out any identifying details like your license plate number.
A growing trend: How Tennessee compares to other states with unintentional child shootings (The Tennessean; subscription)
Alyssa Lokits had a Ph.D, worked in tech, and was a dedicated runner (Runner’s World)
Community reacts to TSU homecoming shooting (Fox 17 Nashville)
Med student allegedly killed by ex-boyfriend after breast cancer charity walk (People)
A Gun Law the NRA Opposes Could Have Saved Its Employee’s Life (The Trace)