Tennessee Firearms Association has received a significant number of inquiries from interested voters who want to know where the Tennessee candidates for governor stand on the Second Amendment. However, since TFA is a 501c4, it cannot endorse or oppose candidates under IRS guidelines. However, TFA can survey or interview candidates and share that information. TFA has attempted to do so to be able to provide information to its members and to the public at large.
Of the current candidates in the governor’s race, none of them responded to TFA’s written survey that was sent to candidates for governor and the legislature prior to the primary. John Rose, Month Fritts and a few of the independent candidates did respond. The responses of those who participated are on the TFA’s website:
https://tennesseefirearms.com/2026/06/tfa-2026-candidate-survey-for-tennessee-governor/
Then, prior to the August primary, TFA notified the Republican primary candidates that it was doing recorded interviews based on a fixed set of questions. Only John Rose and Monty Fritts participated. Blackburn did not respond to the invitation. Those interviews are on the TFA’s website. https://tennesseefirearms.com/2026/07/tfa-interviews-republican-gubernatorial-candidates-well-it-tried-to/
Next, TFA invited Blackburn, Green, Hatley and Pinkston to each have an opportunity to speak at TFALAC’s annual event in September 2026. Blackburn did not respond. Green politely declined saying that she had a scheduling conflict. Both Hatley and Pinkston appeared at the event, circulated and talked with attendees and then each of them spoke. Those speeches are on the TFA’s website:
https://tennesseefirearms.com/2026/09/candidates-for-governor-speeches-at-tfalac-2026-annual-event/
Presently, TFA is doing interviews of the candidates for governor. It has invited what appears to be the four leading candidates for governor to do interviews about their respective positions on Second Amendment issues such as the “intent to go armed’ law and the Hughes v. Lee litigation. TFA’s Richard Archie sent the invitations to Marsha Blackburn, Jerri Green, David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston. As of October 12, 2026, both David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston have responded that they would do interviews. As of October 12, 2026, David Hatley has completed his interview. Blackburn and Green did not respond. Hatley’s interview is below.
Tennessee Firearms Association assured the candidates that the video interviews would be the same for each candidate. TFA’s process to keep the interviews consistent was to extend the invitation to each and for each candidate that accepted TFA sent a list of questions in advance of the interview. TFA stated in writing to that only the written questions provided in advance of the interview would be asked and that the candidate would have whatever time they desired to respond.
TFA wants to thank those candidates who participated in its surveys, interviews and speaking opportunities and who were willing to make public and recorded statements to specific questions about the Second Amendment in Tennessee.
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