Stay engaged! Contact form below!
April 2, 2023
Neighbors:
I said this during the rally yesterday and I’ll say it again: Today is a new day in Tennessee.
An unspeakably tragic event brought us together, but I hope you feel heartened, as I do, that so many of us in Williamson County and beyond are outraged over the killings last week. The nightmare of school shootings must end, and it’s on us to ensure that it does. We can’t wait for Superman. He’s not coming. We’ve got to step up.
Media coverage wasn’t the point of yesterday — legislative action is — but The Tennessean, Scripps News, and the Tennessee Holler all covered the rally, so let’s hope their reporting will get the word out and put pressure on our lawmakers to act. By one count, as many as 400 people were at the Franklin Square yesterday. Four hundred! That’s a huge contingent for Williamson County.
This is our moment. We can bring change. But we’ve got to move fast. Below, I’ve outlined what we — what YOU, YES YOU! — need to do this week.
(FAIR WARNING: THIS UPDATE WILL LOOK LONG AS HELL AT A GLANCE, BUT IT’S MOSTLY EMAIL ADDRESSES AND FORM LETTERS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER. DON'T FREAK!)
MONDAY:
STUDENTS DEMAND ACTION MARCH & RALLY
Members of Students Demand Action from across the Nashville area are walking out and demanding change and action from our lawmakers.
What to do:
(1) Support the students in your life or show up in person. Details here.
April 3, 11:00 AM
Tennessee State Capitol
600 Dr Martin L King Jr Blvd
Nashville, TN 37243
(2) Email Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Governor McNally and tell them:
Hello. I live in_____. I support the students marching today. We need red-flag laws in this state. State courts should have the authority to temporarily remove firearms from people when there’s evidence that they may present a danger to themselves and others. Such laws help de-escalate emergency situations and are proven to reduce gun violence. We need such measures in Tennessee.
Copy/paste and blind copy into an email:
speaker.cameron.sexton@capitol.tn.gov; lt.gov.randy.mcnally@capitol.tn.gov
TUESDAY:
A VOTE TO LOWER PERMITLESS CARRY TO 18
The Tennessee Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee is voting on whether to advance a bill that would lower the age of permitless concealed carry from 21 to 18 and allow people with a permit to carry rifles and other longarms in public. Truly bonkers stuff, folks.
What to do:
(1) Write the lawmakers listed below and tell them:
Hello. I live in_____. I oppose SB 1503. Now is not the time to relax gun laws or lower the age of permitless carry. We need stronger protections for families, educators, and students in Tennessee. This is your chance to do something that truly benefits the people of this state. Seize the opportunity.
Copy/paste and blind copy into an email:
sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov; sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov; sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov
(2) Show up on Tuesday morning for the committee hearing.
08:30 AM
Cordell Hull Building
Senate Hearing Room I
I WILL BE THERE FOR THIS.
Here’s the agenda. Video should be here.
ALSO TUESDAY:
TWO HEARINGS ON SAFE-STORAGE LAWS
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee is meeting at 10:30 AM, and the Senate Judiciary Committee is meeting at 1 PM. They’ll be considering a bill (HB1233/SB1029) about safely storing firearms in vehicles. The Senate committee will also consider SB1325, which would allow educators to carry firearms on school grounds with 40 hours of training a year.
What to do:
(1) Write the lawmakers listed below and tell them:
I live in _____. I encourage you to vote in favor of the bill that would require gun owners to securely store their weapons in cars or boats, and also require prompt reporting of stolen or lost firearms. The majority of stolen guns are found at crime scenes. This is unacceptable. This bill would curb the number of stolen guns on the street.
House Reps. Copy/paste and blind copy:
rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.scotty.campbell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov; rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov
Senators. Copy/paste and blind copy:
sen.brian.kelsey@capitol.tn.gov; sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov; sen.janice.bowling@capitol.tn.gov; sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.gov; sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.gov; sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov; sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov; sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov; sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
(2) Show up
Moms Demand Action, a great nonprofit, will be in the House Hearing Room II to testify in favor of HB 1233, a bill promoting the secure storage of firearms in cars. Wear a red shirt to show support. Details here.
April 4, 10:30 AM
Cordell Hull Office Building
425 Rep John Lewis Way
Nashville, TN 37203
A FINAL WORD ABOUT COMMON-SENSE TENNESSEE
I’m not a professional organizer. I’m just a boring dad with a full-time job and two young daughters. I’ll start using an email-management platform, like Mailchimp, next time so you can unsubscribe (though please don’t!) and so that you can forward my emails to friends to subscribe. But I’m writing to you now from my personal email address. Please reach out to me; please tell me what we should do; please send tips. I’ll primarily use this newsletter to communicate and coordinate events in Williamson County and in surrounding communities. I would encourage you all to get involved with Moms Demand Action if you want to engage further. I’m mostly a lurker, but I’ll try to post updates on my Twitter, too.