Nashville, Tennessee – One year after a tragic shooting at The Covenant School that claimed six lives, thousands are expected to gather to honor the victims and advocate for gun violence prevention measures. The community plans to form a four-mile human chain, starting at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, where some victims were taken, and ending at the state Capitol.
The non-profit organization Voices for a Safer Tennessee is leading the event to pay tribute to the victims of the school shooting, which included three 9-year-old children, as well as the numerous lives lost to gun violence in the past year. With gun violence continuing to be a pressing national issue, the event serves as a visible demonstration of support for reform.
In a separate incident earlier this year, a 17-year-old gunman tragically took the life of a sixth-grade student and injured five others in Iowa. The prevalence of shootings at various events, such as birthdays and graduations, has made gun violence the leading cause of death among children in the US.
The Gun Violence Archive reported 83 mass shootings in the country this year alone, defining such incidents as those where four or more individuals are shot, not including the shooter. Following the school shooting, Voices for a Safer Tennessee organized its first annual human chain last year, drawing over 10,000 participants to advocate for sensible gun laws.
Since its inception, the group has been actively lobbying for legislation aimed at improving background checks, promoting secure firearm storage, and enabling the temporary transfer of firearms from individuals deemed to pose an imminent danger. The tragic incident at the private Christian school last March, where a former student carried out a deadly shooting with an assault-style rifle, resonates with many in the community.
The victims, including three young students and several school staff members, were senselessly killed in the attack. The shooter, who was fatally wounded by police, left behind writings detailing the planned assault, sparking a legal battle over their release. The leaked writings have only added to the anguish faced by the victims’ families, underscoring the lasting impact of such tragedies on communities.