The Tennessee Firearms Association is carefully watching the August 6 Tennessee primaries. Every Tennessean who cares about the Second Amendment, constitutional government, and honest public service should be watching as well.
TFA has worked for more than three decades to restore the Second Amendment to its full force. Some progress has been made, but Tennessee remains far from the goal of fully protecting the right to keep and bear arms.
During the years from 1995 through 2010, Democrats controlled much of Tennessee state government. Even so, Second Amendment supporters achieved several important reforms. Problems in the handgun-permit system were corrected, some gun-free zones were removed, and other firearm laws were improved.
Those victories often required a working agreement among rural Democrats, traditional Southern Democrats, and a small number of Republicans. Those Republicans wanted to become the majority party, and they repeatedly told voters that they would defend constitutional rights if given the opportunity.
Republicans gained control of the General Assembly in 2010. Since then, their majorities have grown, and Tennessee voters have elected two Republican governors who campaigned as supporters of the Second Amendment.
The results have not matched the promises.
As Republican control grew stronger, meaningful Second Amendment reform often became harder rather than easier. Campaign promises that sounded important before an election frequently became inconvenient after officials obtained power.
This history teaches an important lesson. A party label does not prove that a candidate understands the Constitution, intends to keep campaign promises, has the courage to resist powerful special interests, or, in some instances worse, the courage to resist the demands of caucus leadership in the Legislature or a Governor from the same party.
A Party Label Is Not Enough
Tennessee Republicans are not all the same. Some public officials treat constitutional rights as firm limits on government. Others use conservative language during campaigns but place party leadership, corporate interests, political consultants, or personal advancement ahead of constitutional principles. Voters must learn to recognize the difference.
A candidate should not be judged only by speeches, advertisements, mailers, endorsements, or social-media posts. Voters should examine the candidate’s record, contributors, public statements, willingness to participate in probing debates, survey responses (or lack thereof), attendance, votes, and willingness to answer direct questions.
Further, incumbency is not proof of conservative leadership. It only proves that a person has already held office.
Likewise, a well-funded challenger is not automatically a reform candidate. When the same corporate interests, political action committees, consultants, and lobbying groups repeatedly finance candidates, voters should examine what those groups may expect in return. For some groups, the goal is constitutional compliance. For others, perhaps too many, its the “what’s in it for me” game which often comes at a cost of increased taxpayer burdens.
August 6 Is an Opportunity
The August 6 election gives Tennesseans an opportunity to examine candidates carefully and vote according to principles rather than habit. It is an opportunity to support candidates who have demonstrated respect for constitutional rights, personal liberty, limited government, and public accountability.
Some incumbents have earned another term through their records and conduct. Others have not. Indeed, given the state of the 2nd Amendment in Tennessee, most have not.
Many incumbents have no challenger or no effective challenger this year. That does not mean voters are powerless. Changing the membership of a legislative caucus can change its leadership, priorities, committee assignments, and willingness to consider serious constitutional reform. For conservatives, election cycles are not controlled by “your district” it is instead controlled by a statewide 3D chess match where voters must consider caucus composition and party control and not just on whether their individual elected officials are “friendly” or not.
The goal is not simply to replace one officeholder with another. The goal is to build a government in which officials understand that constitutional rights are not favors granted by politicians.
The Work Continues After Election Day
The 2026 election is not only about the offices appearing on this year’s ballot. It is also the starting point for the 2028 election cycle, which will include another presidential election and another round of state legislative races.
Qualified challengers cannot be found, trained, funded, and introduced to voters during the final weeks of a campaign. That work must begin now.
Citizens should start looking for and identifying people who have the character, knowledge, judgment, and courage to serve. Potential candidates must learn the issues, understand the legislative process, build local support, and prepare for the financial and personal demands of a serious campaign.
Organizations must also improve their ability to investigate records, distribute accurate information, recruit volunteers, communicate with voters, and hold elected officials accountable between elections.
Indeed, local party members must become more zealous about who earns and holds the label of being a “bona fide” member. For example, if an elected official has had the opportunity to carry an agenda into law – perhaps closed primaries or runoff requirements – but has failed to demonstrate determination to do so, the party membership may need to evaluate if they in fact have a “bona fide” member or perhaps just a paid corporate placeholder.
Liberty Requires Constant Attention
Constitutional government does not protect itself. It survives only when informed citizens watch public officials, study legislation, demand answers, and participate in elections.
The struggle for the Second Amendment and other constitutional rights does not occur only once every two, four, or six years. It is a continuing responsibility.
Government will always attract some people who seek power, status, money, or influence. The public must identify those who are unfit to serve, oppose abuses of power through lawful means, and replace officials who repeatedly place political interests ahead of constitutional duties.
Election Day is therefore not the end of the work. It is one important part of a much larger effort. On Thursday, August 6, study the candidates and cast an informed and effective ballot. Then remain involved, because the work of restoring constitutional government must continue on August 7 and every day thereafter with the next target date being the August 2028 primaries.
Next Steps
- Make a voting plan. Confirm your polling location and Election Day hours through an official state or county election source, and allow enough time to vote before the polls close.
- Study the full ballot. Review every race, including legislative and party-committee contests that may receive less public attention than the governor’s race. Indeed, when it comes to party enforcement of “bona fide” criteria, these party-committee positions may hold much more authority than most voters realize.
- Examine records rather than labels. Consider votes, public statements, campaign funding, candidate surveys, accessibility, and whether each candidate has kept prior promises. Be particularly suspicious of candidates who receive significant funding from corporations, “big business” and even out-of-state entities that perhaps think that they can purchase “power” through campaign support.
- Help other voters obtain reliable information. Share original records, official documents, candidate responses, and verified facts rather than rumors or unsupported claims.
- Begin preparing for 2028. Identify possible candidates, volunteers, donors, researchers, and community leaders who may help challenge officials who have failed to protect constitutional rights.
- Remain involved after the election. Follow legislation, contact elected officials, attend public meetings, support constitutional litigation, and document whether campaign promises are kept.
August 6 matters, but August 7 matters too. The defense of liberty requires informed voting, constant oversight, and a long-term commitment to constitutional government.
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