Tennessee Enacts First-in-the-Nation Law Requiring Drug Transparency in Mass Shooter Autopsies—AbleChild and Reform Advocates Hail Victory Over Secrecy
Nashville, TN — April 12, 2025
In a historic bipartisan victory for public safety and medical transparency, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed HB 1349/SB 1146 into law, mandating toxicology screenings and mental health record analysis for deceased mass shooters. This sweeping legislation—hailed by child advocacy nonprofit AbleChild and co-drafter Amy Miller, former director of RFK Jr.’s Reform Pharma initiative—marks a seismic shift in how states investigate the role of psychotropic drugs in acts of mass violence.
A New Standard for Investigating Mass Violence
The law applies to cases in which four or more people are killed in a single incident. It mandates:
- Full toxicology screenings for psychotropic substances in deceased shooters
- Consultations with mental health providers who treated the perpetrator
- Research by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center into drug interactions found in autopsies
- Public release of drug data upon request, with redacted personal identifiers
The law’s passage represents the first state-level policy to explicitly examine the connection between psychiatric pharmaceuticals and public acts of violence, placing Tennessee at the forefront of a burgeoning national reckoning.
AbleChild’s 25-Year Crusade Breaks Through
Founded in 2000, AbleChild has spent decades advocating for informed consent and the right to refuse psychiatric drugs—particularly for children in foster care and schools. The organization’s campaign for transparency around mass shooters’ mental health history has long been stonewalled by HIPAA privacy protections, which critics say shield Big Pharma and behavioral health providers from accountability.
“This isn’t just about Tennessee—it’s a model for the nation,” said Sheila Matthews, co-founder of AbleChild. “Families have a right to know whether these violent tragedies are being fueled by dangerous, mind-altering prescriptions.”
Resistance from the Establishment
Opponents of the bill raised concerns about privacy and potential stigmatization of mental health patients.
- Rep. James Carter (D-Memphis) argued the law distracts from gun control efforts.
- Sen. Lisa Monroe (D-Nashville) called it “a violation of a murderer’s rights in death.”
Despite resistance, the bill passed with strong bipartisan margins—76-20 in the House and 27-5 in the Senate—reflecting growing public concern over the side effects of untested psychotropic drug combinations.
Potential Domino Effect Nationwide
With Tennessee now blazing a trail, other states are following suit. Legislators in Wyoming, Arizona, and Florida are drafting similar proposals modeled after HB 1349/SB 1146. This may spell trouble for pharmaceutical giants, who now face the possibility of public post-mortem disclosure of drug data tied to violent events.
“This is about more than one law,” said Amy Miller, co-author of the bill. “This is about breaking the silence on how mind-altering drugs may contribute to unspeakable violence. Ignoring this link helps no one—except the companies making billions off these prescriptions.”
A Reckoning for Pharma and Behavioral Health
The law threatens to pierce the shield of HIPAA, a federal law often cited to block inquiries into a shooter’s mental health records. Tennessee’s new framework affirms public safety interests can override posthumous privacy, setting a precedent for federal reform.
“This legislation ends the era of willful blindness,” said Matthews. “HIPAA was never intended to protect industries at the cost of innocent lives. There are public safety exceptions, and we intend to make sure they are used.”
Call to Action: National Petition and Donations Open
AbleChild has launched a nationwide petition urging Congress to hold federal hearings on psychotropic drugs and mass violence. The group is also calling for donations to fund legal, lobbying, and outreach efforts.
“Your support can ensure no family endures what so many already have,” said Matthews. “Let’s build a world where every child’s mind is protected—not exploited for profit.”
Media Contact:
AbleChild
Email: info@ablechild.org
Website: www.ablechild.org
Take Action Today:
✔ Sign the Petition for Federal Hearings
💡 Donate Now—Support Transparency & Reform
“The truth belongs to the living. And no industry should be allowed to hide behind bureaucracy when innocent lives are lost.” – Sheila Matthews, AbleChild
