For Immediate Release 1-27-25

For more information contact:

Rachel Casey, Executive Director

816-682-2356 / [email protected]

TENNESSEE SCHOOL SHOOTING: ANOTHER PREVENTABLE GUN TRAGEDY  

 The January 22 school shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, TN that claimed the life of Jocelyn Escalante, reinforces the urgent need for legislative reforms to reduce gun violence, according to Rachel Casey, Executive Director of the local nonprofit Grandparents for Gun Safety.

“Security cameras, school resource officers, even an AI weapons detection system all failed to stop the student shooter,” Ms. Casey said. “What’s needed are legislators with backbones willing to enact stronger gun laws that include:

  • Secure Gun Storage Laws: Require firearms to be stored securely.
  • Child Access Prevention (CAP) Laws: Strengthen laws that hold adults accountable for negligent storage of firearms.
  • Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs): Empower families and law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a risk to themselves or others.
  • Enhanced Background Checks: Ensure comprehensive background checks for all gun sales, including private transactions.

Overall, the strength of Tennessee’s gun laws received an F on the scorecard compiled annually by the nonprofit Giffords Law Center, and it ranks 32nd among the 50 states for its gun laws’ strength. On the same scorecard evaluating states’ gun laws, Missouri ranked 48th and Kansas 42nd. Gifford’s’ studies illustrate that states with strong gun laws have fewer gun violence deaths.

“We must keep advocating for change,” Ms. Casey said. “It’s absolutely unconscionable that children and their teachers are not safe in their schools.”

Recognizing that gun violence is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-17, the fundamental mission of Grandparents for Gun Safety is keeping children safe at home, at school and in the community. Since its founding in 2013, the local nonprofit has worked for common ground gun reform and secure storage requirements at the local, state, and national levels. Lock It For Love, its signature safety education program, has distributed 7,763 free high-quality gun locks to date at hundreds of community events throughout the metro.