Maryville, Tenn. — In the wake of a deadly shooting at Antioch High School, Tennessee lawmakers find themselves sharply divided over how to address gun violence in the state. While some Democratic lawmakers push for stronger measures to hold irresponsible gun owners accountable, Republicans are advocating for constitutional changes to reinforce the state’s commitment to the Second Amendment.
The Antioch High School shooting, which claimed the life of a student, has reignited the debate over gun control in Tennessee. Democrats, led by Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) and Rep. Bo Mitchell (D-Nashville), have introduced legislation aimed at holding gun owners accountable for improperly storing firearms. The proposed bills would make it a Class A misdemeanor for gun owners to recklessly store firearms in a way that allows children under 18 to access them and bring them to school. Additionally, Campbell’s legislation, known as “MaKayla’s Law,” would make it a criminal act if a gun owner fails to properly secure their weapon, leading to a child’s injury or death.
“People have access to guns, and we refuse to look at the real problem,” Campbell said. “This is a public health emergency, and we need to address it with accountability.”
The legislation is named in honor of MaKayla Dyer, an 8-year-old girl who was killed in 2015 by an 11-year-old boy who found an unsecured gun in his father’s home. The bill would also allow people to voluntarily add their names to a no-sell gun list, further restricting access to firearms for individuals who might pose a danger.
Campbell and Mitchell’s bills have garnered support from Democrats, but the road to passing such legislation looks uncertain. Tennessee Republicans, led by figures like Rep. Jeremy Faison, have made it clear that they will not support gun control measures. Faison, the House Republican Caucus Chair, told News 2 that Tennessee will not impose restrictions on gun ownership, emphasizing the state’s commitment to upholding the Second Amendment.
“We’re not going to do that,” Faison said. “We believe in the Second Amendment, and we believe our Constitution was written correctly. We’re not going to take guns from people.”
In a further indication of the Republican resistance to gun regulation, Rep. Jay Reedy (R-Erin) has sponsored a proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would remove the legislature’s ability to regulate firearms. The amendment would delete the phrase giving lawmakers the power to regulate guns for crime prevention and replace it with language that simply affirms citizens’ right to bear arms.
“We are living in the definition of insanity,” Campbell said. “We keep having these tragedies, but we refuse to acknowledge the role that guns play in them.”
Despite widespread concern over gun violence, many Republicans argue that laws targeting firearms would not effectively address the root causes of violence. Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) expressed his skepticism, stating that focusing on specific weapons ignores broader issues related to human behavior.
“It’s not just about a single object. Someone has to pull the trigger,” Garrett said. “Someone has to use a knife, a car, or some other means to hurt someone. It’s not just about the object.”
As the Tennessee General Assembly prepares to convene for its legislative session, it remains unclear whether any meaningful gun safety legislation will gain traction. Lawmakers on both sides are likely to continue clashing over the role of firearms in society, with Democrats calling for more regulation and Republicans doubling down on their defense of the Second Amendment.
For now, Campbell remains hopeful but realistic about the prospects for gun legislation this session, acknowledging the powerful influence of the Tennessee gun lobby and the political challenges ahead.
“I know that in their hearts, a lot of Republicans would like to pass legislation like this,” Campbell said. “But for political reasons—and because of the Tennessee gun lobby’s power—they don’t consider those bills, and it’s just tragic.”
