New Digital Ads Launching As Part of Effort in Tennessee to Advocate for an Extreme Risk Law, which Could Have Prevented the March Shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund announced a new $100,000 ad buy in Tennessee for the special session on public safety in August. The ads will focus on driving constituent contact to state lawmakers during the upcoming special session in support of an Extreme Risk law to protect Tennesseeans from gun violence and urge lawmakers to take action. The ads will run across digital platforms across the state.
To see the display ads click HERE and to see the video click HERE.
“Following the shooting at the Covenant School, Tennesseans from all walks of life called for common-sense gun safety laws,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Parents, students, faith leaders and community safety advocates will be there every step of the way during the upcoming special session to fight for an Extreme Risk law – a life-saving measure that could have prevented the tragedy at the Covenant School. It’s long past time Tennessee lawmakers prioritize the safety of our kids over party politics and power grabs.”
“This special session lawmakers cannot afford to look away as our communities continue to be torn apart by the gun violence crisis,” said Leeann Hewlett, a volunteer with the Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Lawmakers must come together to take comprehensive action to protect Tennessee families from the vicious cycle of gun violence. Passing an Extreme Risk law could save lives and we are ready to get to work with our leaders to make it happen.”
In March, three adults and three children were shot and killed at the Covenant School in Nashville by a shooter who showed warning signs but had access to the firearms used to kill six people. Extreme Risk laws are foundational gun safety laws that empower loved ones or law enforcement to seek intervention via a civil order to temporarily prevent someone from accessing firearms if they display warning signs, a policy that could have potentially prevented the shooting in Nashville.
Following the shooting at the Covenant School, the Tennessee chapters of Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, called on lawmakers to act on gun safety, repeatedly showing up at the statehouse, holding rallies, and making their voices heard. In response, Governor Lee called for a special session to address public safety, where he voiced his support for an expansion of the state’s order of protection laws.
Tennessee currently has the 12th highest rate of gun deaths in the United States and some of the weakest gun laws in the country. An Extreme Risk law may have prevented the shooting at the Covenant School and saved six lives. Twenty-one states — including states like Indiana and Florida — have already passed an Extreme Risk law. Guns are the number one killer of children and teens in the U.S. and in Tennessee.
