In 2019, Republican state Rep. Debra Moody from Covington, Tennessee, a mother of two young sons, decided to take matters into her own hands and bring attention to the issue of gun violence in her state. She introduced the “Tennessee Gun Safety Act of 2019”, which would have required background checks for all gun purchases with exemptions for direct family transfers and hunting/sport shooting. However, the bill did not receive the necessary support from her Republican colleagues and it failed.
Moody is still advocating for gun safety and reform in the state. She has worked with Moms Demand Action and other gun safety advocacy groups across Tennessee to bring awareness to the issue. She has also worked with local law enforcement and students to encourage her fellow legislators to think more broadly about gun reform. She continues to speak out and is hopeful that her colleagues will eventually choose to prioritize public safety over politics.
