I am sick about today’s news out of Nashville, Tennessee. A mass shooting at Covenant School, a pre-school - 6th grade Presbyterian school. So far, three children dead. Three adults dead. And the shooter dead.
Those three babies had breakfast this morning, drank their cereal milk from the bowl, grabbed their backpack and went to school. And now they’re gone.
At least one reader of this newsletter attended Covenant School. They reached out and said they’re in college now, but went there as a child. And it’s still their family’s home church. They want to go home. They wrote that they’re “reading over your failure state games essay and just trying to ground myself.” I’m just….undone. I want to hug them. I’ve asked how we can help, as a community.
THIS is last year's Christmas card from Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican who represents the district that Covenant School is in in Nashville. #tnleg pic.twitter.com/IpkLzZs5m5
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 27, 2023
Gun laws in Tennessee:
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) March 27, 2023
NO state permit required to purchase
NO firearm registration
NO owner license required
NO permit required for concealed carry
NO permit required for open carry
NO background checks for private sales
And the state can preempt local laws.
Failure State Games
A content warning. This was supposed to be a fun little essay about a girl gaming in the era of the Blueberry Apple iMac. I made cute little graphics and everything. But as I was finalizing the edit, I got a text from my daughter. There’d been a school shooting. And she wasn’t allowed to go outside. I am writing this while she is still in her school, waiting for the all clear from Denver police. And so now, an essay that originally ended with a laugh now ends with a lot of violence. It is where I am. It is where we are.
At least one reader of this newsletter attended Covenant School. They reached out and said they’re in college now, but went there as a child. And it’s still their family’s home church. They want to go home. They wrote that they’re “reading over your failure state games essay and just trying to ground myself.” I’m just….undone. I want to hug them. I’ve asked how we can help as a community.
I know that this newsletter has a lot of readers in Nashville and the surrounding area. I also know that news like this hits everyone, no matter where they are. But especially the parents reading here who have kids in American schools.
I want you to know that we’re here. I am here. Please use today’s community thread to:
- Express fear, sorrow, rage, hope, or any other feeling
- Share your grief in the form of stories, hopes, conversations with one another
- Let us know what action you are taking to help end gun violence
- Share resources:
- Do you work for a gun safety advocacy group? What do you need?
- Do you donate to an org that is really doing good work in the space? Share the link.
- What reading recommendations do you have for people who want to learn more about gun violence in America?
- What sites, books, podcasts do you recommend to people trying to help family members and friend understand how gun safety laws can help?
- Who is good on gun safety laws in your state? Who is not? Who do we need to help you vote out?
Please do not
- Attack one another
- Use unsafe or graphic language
- Share what is shared here. This is just our little weeping corner.
