Tennessee political action committees were required to file disclosures by July 10, 2024, detailing which candidates and entities they are financially supporting. Many gun control groups represent that they and their members support the Second Amendment but that they want “reasonable” gun control laws and/or laws that advance public safety. One of Tennessee’s newest gun control groups was formed after March 27, 2023, and claims that it seeks changes in Tennessee’s gun laws to make Tennessee safer. That entity identifies behind the name “Voices for A Safer Tennessee” and there can be no material doubt that it is a gun control advocate.

Voices for A Safer Tennessee registered a political action committee in 2024 with a single donation of $100,000 from what is likely a similarly named or identical entity that identifies as a 501c4 organization. It registered with the state of Tennessee as the “employer” of 9 registered lobbyists in 2023 and for 8 registered lobbyists in 2024. Seven of the lobbyists are the same in 2023 and 2024. Of all of the lobbyists registered in 2023 and 2024 all but one of them appears to be a professional lobbyist and the “professional” typically represent dozens of other “employers” with significant influence at the Tennessee Legislature. For example, one lobbyist represents employers such as Anheuser-Busch, BellSouth, CoreCivic, Eastman Chemical, Motorola, Norfolk Southern, Oracle America, TN Hospital Association, and TN Performing Arts Center. It is certainly possible that these professional lobbyists are just donating their time, but let’s not jump to conclusions.

On July 9, 2024, Voices for A Safer Tennessee (the political action committee) filed it 2nd Quarter report with the State of Tennessee. It is interesting to note those Legislators to whom Voices for A Safer Tennessee or those Legislators who control their own political action committees. The top 10 donations that Voices for A Safer Tennessee reported distributing funds are:

McPAC                                                  $15,000  (Lt. Gov McNally (R))

CAM PAC                                             $10,000  (Speaker Cameron Sexton (R))

KEYPAC                                               $  5,000  (Sen. (Ken Yeager (R)))

LAMBERTH PAC                                $  5,000  (Rep. William Lamberth (R))

AKBARI PAC                                       $  5,000  (Sen. Raumech Akbari (D))

CAMP PAC                                          $  5,000  (Rep. Karen Camper (D))

Farmer, Andrew                                   $  2,500  (Rep. Andrew Farmer (R))

Freeman, Bob                                      $  2,500  (Rep. Bob Freeman (D))

Gillespie, John                                      $  2,500  (Rep. John Gillespie (R))

White, Mark                                           $  2,500  (Rep. Mark White (R))

One must assume the possibility that of these 10 recipients the 7 Republicans, including the Lt. Governor and the House Speaker, as seen as “valuable” legislators in the eyes of Voices for A Safer Tennessee. But why?

At least most of these Republicans are campaigning as if they are “strong” Second Amendment supporters. If that is true, why did Voices for A Safer Tennessee send them money?

If these Republicans truly are strong Second Amendment supporters, will any of them send the contributions back? Contact them and ask.

Will they say “Thank you but I must decline because my oath is first to the Constitution and to the constitutionally protected rights of the people”? Contact them and ask.

Is it possible that any of them might be telling voters that they are strong Second Amendment supporters but then will to take the money from gun control advocates or, on the other hand, taking money from gun control advocates with no intent to support their agenda?

There is no area where the the core objectives of Voices for A Safer Tennessee can be reconciled with the Second Amendment particularly after the United States Supreme Court defined the limits on government authority under the Second Amendment in its 2022 decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, No. 20-843. In light of Bruen, how is it that any Legislator (or Governor) who campaigns as a Second Amendment protector can accept financial support from a gun control advocate?

Contact them and ask.