We, the youth of Tennessee, deserve to be safe.
Why does it matter?
Gun violence is the number one cause of death for children and teenagers in our state, more than car accidents and cancer. Tennessee has the 12th highest rate of gun deaths in the United States. Nationwide, the gun death rate among children and teens has increased by 46 percent from 2019 to 2021.
What we're asking:
As youth in the state of Tennessee, we advocate for the special session on public safety to be held on August 21, 2023 at the State Legislature. Alongside our local chapters of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Voices for a Safer Tennessee, we implore our elected leaders to take the following steps to secure the welfare of youth in Tennessee:
-
Allow authorities to temporarily remove guns from those who pose a risk to themselves or others by implementing Extreme Risk Laws (ERPO).
A 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that “extreme risk laws may provide exactly the type of urgent and individualized intervention that could prevent future mass shootings.” Enforcing these laws will enable the prevention of tragedy before it occurs.
-
Keep guns away from dangerous people by requiring background checks on all purchases and closing the background check loophole.
The lack of background checks conducted on those buying from unlicensed sellers prevents EVERY gun owner from being checked for issues that may legally preclude them from owning a gun. Studies show that gun violence decreases with universal background checks.
-
Stop firearms from falling into the wrong hands by requiring gun owners to provide safe storage and report lost and stolen guns.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that providing safe storage reduced unintentional injury by 85 percent.
-
Prohibit the Sale of High-Capacity Magazines
High-Capacity Magazines have led to nearly ten times as many total casualties in mass shootings.
-
Repeal permitless carry laws
A study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that states that loosened restrictions saw a 24 percent increase in gun violence.
These actions are not the only legislative changes needed to address gun violence. However, they are a critical first step in responding to the gun violence crisis. In addition to these actions, we urge the Legislature to invest in mental health resources in our schools and make our state safer by supporting quality education for every child.
PROTECT OUR YOUTH: SIGN THIS PETITION TODAY TO DEMAND ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE
Let us know below if you are signing as an individual or on behalf of an organization/ faith-based congregation/ etc.
Sources
- https://maps.everytownresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Every-State-Fact-Sheet-2.0-042720-Tennessee.pdf
- https://www.bradyunited.org/fact-sheets/what-are-extreme-risk-laws
- https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/background-checks/violent-crime.html
- https://news.vumc.org/2023/04/12/poll-finds-most-most-tennessee-parents-agree-on-evidence-based-safe-firearm-storage/
- https://www.everytown.org/solutions/prohibit-high-capacity-magazines/#:~:text=Firearms%20equipped%20with%20high%2Dcapacity,safety%20and%20
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/study-finds-significant-increase-in-firearm-assaults-in-states-that-relaxed-conceal-carry-permit-restrictions
- https://everystat.org/#Tennessee
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/26/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/#:~:text=On%20a%20per%20capita%20basis,rising%20sharply%20during%20the%20pandemic