And not just a few bucks more. Voices for a Safer Tennessee, which was formed shortly after the Covenant School shootings in Nashville last year, has donated almost four times as much money to Republican lawmakers than their Democratic counterparts. The gifts to GOP legislators has some anti-gun activists howling, but the Republicans who've benefited from the gun control group's largesse have some explaining to do as well.
According to the Tennessean newspaper, Voices for a Safe Tennessee has kicked in $10,000 to House Speaker Cameron Sexton's political action committee, and donated $12,500 to the PAC run by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally; about half of the $42,500 its given to Republicans. Meanwhile, the group has donated a total of $12,500 to five Democratic lawmakers and the Democrat caucus in the statehouse.
While some Democrats and gun control advocates have vocally criticised the group for donating to the very politicians who rejected anti-gun proposals like a "red flag" law, waiting periods, and a ban on so-called assault weapons, Voices for a Safer Tennessee has pointed to the fact that Republicans have a supermajority in the state legislature, and any successful attempt to pass a gun control law is going to have to backing from a significant number of Republicans.
The backlash on Wednesday led Voices for a Safer Tennessee to post a public statement which cited "important progress" made on "meaningfully" reducing gun access from some dangerous individuals, in addition to citing their effort in blocking a proposed bill the would have allowed open carry of long guns in public places.
"Since its inception, Safer TN has clearly communicated and demonstrated its approach of working with the entirety of the Tennessee General Assembly to advance its mission," the group said in a statement on Wednesday. "We thoughtfully navigate the realities of our political landscape, which currently includes a Republican supermajority in both chambers, in our efforts. Funds distributed from Safer TN’s affiliated PAC are consistent with this approach, with contributions being made to members and leaders of both political parties."
... Though Voices appears to be banking on a long-game of pushing GOP leadership to align more closely with public sentiment in Tennessee, gun reform advocates and Democrats on Wednesday scoffed at the notion.
Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, received $1,000 from the Voices PAC in June but called the GOP donations a "kick in the teeth" to people who have fought for safer gun laws since before Covenant. House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, said "lighting their donors’ money on fire would have been more productive."
"Just to be clear- they're funding the problem," Campbell said in a social media statement on Wednesday.
Honestly, I don't fault the gun control group for donating to both Republicans and Democrats. Politically, it's the smart move to make in a state that's as red as Tennessee. If they're going to advance their anti-2A agenda, they'll have to get some allies on the right, and $42,500 is a small bet to make for a group that's raised more than $1 million since it was created a year ago.
These donations aren't a reward for Republicans voting down gun control measures. They're a strategic investment in the future. It's not a coincidence that the House and Senate leadership received the largest donations from Voices for a Safer Tennessee. The group is essentially trying to purchase influence, or at least access, to top Republican lawmakers; we've given you money, now give us your time and attention while we pitch our "gun safety" proposals.
So, while Democrats and some gun control activists are slamming Voices for a Safer Tennessee, gun owners and Second Amendment advocates should be more concerned about what Republican lawmakers are going to do with the money the gun control group has given them.
I've reached out to John Harris, head of the Tennessee Firearms Association, to see if his group will be calling on Sexton, McNally, and other Republican lawmakers to give back the money their PACs have received from the gun control outfit. I've also emailed Lt. Gov McNally and Speaker Sexton, asking if they were aware of the donations to their PACs and if they intend on keeping the funds they've received from Voices for a Safer Tennessee. I'm looking forward to sharing any responses I get in a future post once I've heard back, but I hope Tennessee gun owners will send an email of their own to Sexton and McNally to express their own concerns.
