NJSJR Joins Common Sense Gun Safety Efforts in Tennessee

Gun safety affects each of us. We may have friends or family who have been impacted by acts of violence resulting from the use of firearms. In Nashville we have seen random shootings and, of course, the mass shooting at Covenant School last spring.

Considering these issues, the Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable (NJSJR) has decided to join Tennesseans United for Gun Safety as well as to support local organized efforts advocating for meaningful gun safety legislation. The local groups include: MOM’s Demand Action, Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows, Rise and Shine, and Voices for a Safer Tennessee.

The NJSJR Steering Committee has met with representatives of these organizations to learn how each is approaching gun safety and how our members can help in their efforts.

The state legislature has returned for its 2024 session. Some of the common-sense issues being raised with our legislators by these groups include:

• A temporary transfer law that would allow law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from an individual who clearly represents an imminent risk of danger.
• A common-sense law that requires firearms to be locked in unaccompanied vehicles and boats (stored and secured within a fully enclosed compartment and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, electronic lock or similar locking device securely affixed to the motor vehicle or boat).
• Background checks for all firearm sales, including onsite at gun shows.

NJSJR urges members of the Jewish community to provide support to these organizations by participating in events locally and at the Capitol, sending emails and making phone calls to legislators, attending vigils and press conferences, and, as always, making donations.

To find out what each of the groups have planned, to join them and to learn how you can participate, go to their websites:

MOMS Demand Action (Tennessee): www.facebook.com/MomsDemandActionTN/

Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows: www.covenantbrightertomorrow.org/

Rise and Shine: www.riseandshinetn.org/

Voices for a Safer Tennessee: https://safertn.org/

As of press time, February events include:

• 7:30 p..m., Tuesday, February 6 - Voices for a Safer Tennessee event at The Temple;
• 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. - Tennesseans United for Gun Safety Advocacy Day at the Tennessee State Capitol.

To receive communications from NJSJR, contact Irwin Venick at irwin.venick@gmail.com.