Red State Approves Law Requiring Firearm Safety Courses in Public Schools

The Arkansas state Senate has passed a bill requiring annual firearm safety instruction in public schools. The initiative, set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year, aims to teach students how to handle firearm encounters safely.

Key Facts:

Act 229 (House Bill 1117) mandates firearm safety instruction in Arkansas public schools.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will work with the Department of Education to develop an age-appropriate curriculum.
Training methods may include videos, online courses, and potentially live-fire training.
If live-fire exercises are included, parental consent will be required.
Implementation will begin in the 2025-2026 school year.

The Rest of The Story:

The bill was inspired by community discussions about children encountering unsecured firearms in homes.

State Representative Scott Richardson explained that kids often play in different homes and may come across a gun, raising concerns about how they would react.

To address this, Arkansas will implement firearm safety education in all public schools, using a curriculum designed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Department of Education.

The law provides flexibility in instructional methods, including videos, online courses, or even hands-on firearm safety training in approved off-campus settings.

If live-fire training is included, schools must obtain written parental consent before students can participate.

A state committee will determine the earliest appropriate grade level for instruction.

Arkansas public school students will soon be required to take an age-appropriate firearms safety course.

House Bill 1117, recently signed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, mandates that public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools deliver yearly… pic.twitter.com/UJEn47r8v0

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) March 10, 2025

Commentary:

This law is a step in the right direction.

Firearm safety is a crucial life skill, and teaching children how to respect and properly respond to firearms is common sense.

Schools already teach fire drills, CPR, and other emergency preparedness skills—firearm safety should be no different.

For too long, gun control activists have demonized firearms rather than addressing the real issue: personal responsibility.

A gun is just a tool, and like any tool, it requires education and training to use safely.

Teaching kids firearm safety won’t turn them into criminals; it will make them less likely to panic or make reckless decisions if they encounter a gun.

Critics will argue that firearms don’t belong in schools, but this bill does not arm students—it simply ensures they understand basic gun safety principles.

Proper education can prevent accidental shootings and help children make informed decisions.

States should embrace this approach nationwide.

The Bottom Line:

Arkansas is setting a smart precedent by integrating firearm safety into public education.

Children are safer when they know how to handle dangerous situations properly.

Instead of pushing unrealistic gun control laws, lawmakers should focus on educating young people about firearm safety.

This policy should serve as a model for all 50 states.