A far-left gun control activist announced earlier this week that she will run against Tennessee House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) in the state’s 45h House District.
“I’m a mom, former teacher, and gun violence prevention advocate who is ready to fight for our kids. Join the movement today,” said Alison Beale Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, imploring followers to visit her website to donate to her campaign.
I’m a mom, former teacher, and gun violence prevention advocate who is ready to fight for our kids.
Join the movement today. Donate and sign up to get involved at https://t.co/PLBqcsMdmW
Let’s move forward together. #AlisonBforTN pic.twitter.com/UIjktwMj6P
— Alison Beale (@AlisonBforTN) November 1, 2023
“I never set out to be a politician. I’m just a person who genuinely cares about Tennessee kids and families. And like any mom, I’m doing what I need to do,” Beale’s campaign website says.
Beale (pictured above, right) said she has worked for years with the Akilah Dasilva Foundation, founded after Dasilva was shot and killed at a Waffle House in Antioch in 2018, which says its mission is to “prevent gun violence and other forms of violence and victimization, through education and awareness by creating a culture of engaged youth and adults committed to identifying, intervening, and getting help for individuals who might be at risk of hurting themselves or others…”
Beale cites The Covenant School shooting in Nashville as part of the reason for her running for office.
The mass shooting, which Audrey Elizabeth Hale, who was transgender, committed in March, resulted in the deaths of six people, including three children. Hale left behind a manifesto that has yet to be released to the public despite ongoing federal lawsuits filed by the parent company of The Tennessee Star and other news outlets.
“It’s a critical time in Tennessee, and Tennesseans are demanding change. But change can’t happen when those in power are unmoved by tragedies in our community such as the Waffle House and Covenant mass shootings,” her website said. “If kids getting killed at school won’t prompt our elected officials to take meaningful action, nothing will.”
Specifically, Beale said on X that she wants to implement “storage laws, background checks on all gun sales, red flag laws, magazine capacity limits, permit/training requirements, waiting periods, and an assault weapons ban.”
Her platform, though largely based on gun control, also mentions education.
“My experience as an educator has instilled in me the importance of a holistic educational system. Our schools should focus not only on academic excellence but also on the well-being of our students and teachers,” according to Beale’s website. “I am a fierce advocate for educational equality and believe that every child deserves a high-quality and equitably-funded education regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, or zip code. By investing in education, we’re investing in the future of Tennessee.”
Garrett (pictured above, right), whose 45th House District is located northeast of Nashville, ran unopposed during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles.
The last time he was challenged was in 2018 when he won nearly 70 percent of the vote in a general election against Democrat Hana Ali.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X / Twitter.
Photo “Johnny Garrett” by Johnny Garrett. Photo “Alison Beale” by Alison Beale.Â
