Volunteers With the Tennessee Chapter of Moms Demand Action Supported Policymakers and Law Enforcement Officials in Their Efforts to Stop Reckless Gun Bills
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Volunteers with the Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today marked the end of the legislative session by applauding the defeat of dangerous gun bills:
HB 2208 and SB 2563, which would have dramatically expanded a law that already makes Tennessee one of a small minority of states that allow teachers and school staff to be armed.
- HB 1833 and SB 1953, a permitless carry bill that would have allowed people to carry loaded handguns in public with no permit or training required.
- HB 2586 and SB 2427, which would have virtually eliminated the penalties associated with being convicted of carrying a loaded handgun in public without a permit in Tennessee – effectively allowing people to carry loaded handguns in public without a permit or gun safety training.
- HB 884 and SB 1341, which would have allowed people to carry loaded handguns almost anywhere in Tennessee, including colleges, schools and sporting events.
- HB 1602 and SB 1955, which would have encouraged legal challenges to even the most common-sense gun violence prevention ordinances at the local level, punishing cities for attempting to prevent local gun violence.
- HB 2485 and SB 2335, which would have forced airports to allow guns and strip them of their ability to make decisions about their own security.
- HB 2484 and SB 2336, which would have interfered with the rights of business owners to prohibit guns from being carried on their private property by making it so that a person who ignored a “no guns allowed” sign at a business would not have committed a crime until they were confronted by an owner or employee and asked to leave.
“We are grateful that our lawmakers listened to concerned Tennesseans – including law enforcement officials – and rejected these dangerous bills,” said Rachel Kromer, a volunteer with the Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “We worked tirelessly to ensure policymakers were educated about the dangers each of these bills posed for our state, which is why we’re thankful for those legislators who helped ensure these reckless policies didn’t become law. In the wake of yet another gun tragedy in our state, we will continue our work to pass common-sense gun laws that have been proven to save lives.”
This legislative session, the Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America supported lawmakers in their successful effort to defeat these bills by:
- Organizing an advocacy day with over 600 Moms Demand Action volunteers and gun violence survivors to educate members of the legislature about the dangerous consequences these proposals could have;
- Maintaining a consistent presence at the capitol and regularly testifying before legislative committees in opposition to bills that would jeopardize public safety;
- Collaborating with people who have seen the devastating impact gun violence has on communities – including medical professionals, law enforcement officials and gun violence survivors – to share their stories with lawmakers.
- Driving thousands of calls and digital messages to lawmakers urging them to stand on the side of public safety and oppose these bills.