Public school students in Arkansas will get the opportunity to learn “age-appropriate” gun safety under a new law signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, scheduled to take effect during the 2025-2026 school year.
Fox News is reporting that under House Bill 1117, now known as Act 229, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will work with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education “to create and approve age-appropriate firearm safety courses.”
A proponent of the new law, Rep. Scott Richardson, said the idea came from discussions with neighbors.
According to KARK News in Little Rock, some parents support the new plan and others don’t. One man thinks it will result in good safety education while another contended that making kids comfortable around guns might lead to more school shootings.
The new law applies to both public schools and open enrollment public charter schools.
“If an off-campus, commission-approved firearm safety course is provided in conjunction with a live-fire exercise or sporting event, the provider of the off-campus, commission-approved firearm safety course and the public school district or open-enrollment public charter school in which the participating student is enrolled shall obtain prior written approval from the participating student’s parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the participating student,” the legislation says.
The new law also explains, “The division shall use the following preferred methods of instruction in determining the curriculum or program of instruction used to educate students on firearm safety: (1) The viewing of a video produced by the commission or a commission-approved source; (2) The review of online resources and materials; and (3)(A) An alternative curriculum, which may include an off-campus, commission-approved firearm safety course. (B)(i) An off-campus, commission-approved firearm safety course may be provided in conjunction with a live-fire exercise or sporting event.”
The legislation was promptly signed by the governor, and now the state has several months to put the plan into effect.
