08 Nov 2025, 18:54
Teaching Children Safety with Firearms in Schools
- Legislation on firearm safety education has been enacted in three states in the USA.
- Advocates emphasize that children should not be handling firearms.
- Some believe that education can prevent unfortunate incidents involving firearms.
This is reported by NBC News, Asharq Al-Awsat.
In this academic year, students in elementary, middle, and high schools in some states will receive a new safety lesson: what to do if they find a firearm.
Arkansas, Tennessee, and Utah have become the first states to enact laws requiring public schools to teach children aged 5 and older the basics of firearm safety and proper storage practices. Only Utah's law allows students to opt out of the lesson with parental or guardian request.
A similar law in Arizona was vetoed by the Democratic governor, while lawmakers in five other states have banned similar initiatives, placing schools at the center of a broader discussion about addressing gun violence.
In Tennessee, lesson plans may include stickers, games, videos with music, and colorful illustrations of firearms. For example, one lesson may include images of a firearm, made from Lego blocks, and explanations of what a semi-automatic rifle is.
In Berkeley, a kindergarten class in Memphis with 16 students asked how many of them had seen a real firearm. Practically all raised their hands. "This shows how necessary such a lesson is," said Tammy Chapman, a physical education and health teacher who conducts lessons at this school.
Lessons emphasize that children should not be handling firearms. In Tennessee, the law prohibits students from handling real firearms, whereas in Arkansas, parents can choose alternative educational programs that may include live firearms.
Key recommendations for children who encounter a firearm include: stopping, not touching, quickly leaving the area, and informing an adult. These instructions are aligned with recommendations from other organizations, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Some believe that such lessons can spark important conversations about safety at home. "We hope that students will feel comfortable discussing what they learned with their parents," noted Emilie Back, director of communications for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
While gun legislation is a contentious issue in the USA, Republicans have supported these educational laws, emphasizing a neutral approach to responsible firearm ownership.
Some Democrats argue that such initiatives are not effective means of combating violence and stress the need for adult responsibility regarding safe storage of firearms.
Tags: USA/Politics