FIREARM EDUCATION REQUIRED IN ARKANSAS SCHOOLS

On March 4, 2025, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, R-Ark., signed a law requiring public schools to teach firearm safety. The 2025-2026 school year is when the law comes into effect.

ABOUT HB1117

Arkansas HB1117, “Concerning the administration of instruction on firearm safety in public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools,” was introduced in January by R. Scott Richardson, R-13. Governor Sanders signed HB1117 into law earlier this year and it will come into effect this school year. The purpose of the law is to: “Protect Arkansas children from the accidental discharge of firearms by providing age-appropriate firearm education and instruction.”

The law requires firearm safety education be taught to public school students. The legislature recognized a potential gap in firearm safety education as applied to youths from different backgrounds. The law would introduce firearm safety concepts to public school students in an apolitical way and in age-appropriate stages. Firearm education inclusion via the public school system could both demystify firearms as well as expose those unfamiliar with guns in an unbiased manner.

In short, negative stereotypes are not likely to persist when our junior citizens are properly educated. Undoubtedly, this will lead to more educated civic involvement as our youth transition into adults.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are in charge of approving the courses. The criteria the Commission is tasked to look at includes the earliest age at which “incidents of injury involving firearms are reported” and when “children are susceptible to harm from unsecured firearms that they are able to gain access to.”

These are important concepts that will help keep your kids safe. Many of the children of Foundation members might already know what to do if they find an unsecured firearm, that does not mean their playmates do. This holistic approach of giving universal education, all children will benefit from what they learn — and by extension, that’ll keep your kids safe.

Negligent events with firearms occur from those who don’t know how to handle firearms or wish to ignore the rules. This educational initiative will cut back on unintended event root causes by giving kids the proper information on what to do if they find a firearm.

THE TOPICS

The law specifies that the topics are to be approached from a neutral standpoint.

Information that’s required in the curriculum shall consist of what a child should do if they find an unsecured firearm. The law specifically highlights that the program should stress the importance of:

• Avoiding injury if the student finds an unsecured firearm;
• Never touching a firearm if the student finds an unsecured firearm; and
• Immediately notifying an adult of the location of the unsecured firearm

The law states that the preferred methods of instruction include video, online resources and materials, or an alternative program. The alternative program will consist of an off-campus firearm safety course which may include live-fire exercises and/or sporting events. The Commission will produce or approve of all materials used.

A TWO-WAY STREET

Firearm safety should not be a polarizing or political topic when it comes to youth. As we know, there are going to be very pro, anit, and undecided persons on any given topic. Firearms are no different. Firearm safety being taught in the school system opens the doors for those “kitchen-table” moments when children recount what they’ve learned in school with their families over a meal.

This dynamic can create an important two-way street. Children of firearm owners who are educated on the topic will have what they’ve learned reinforced by their education. Children of non-gun-owning families could potentially bring the important topics of firearm safety into their households, hopefully fostering positive conversations on the topic with otherwise disinterested family members.

Educational elements that children pick up at school can produce productive dialogs within families. Having firearm safety added into that mix will increase engagement on the topic of firearms in the home. This will better empower the next generation of gun owners across the state.

INCEPTION AND INTRODUCTION

Representative Richardson said during a February 6 House Education Committee meeting that he got the idea to introduce the measure from conversations with other parents. He observed that children playing within neighborhoods tend to group up at one home during play and the adults would gather as well. He said that “firearms became a conversation point” during one of the gatherings.

Richardson observed that because individuals living in any given subdivision have diverse backgrounds, there’s potential that a child who’s never been introduced to firearms could come across an unsecured firearm in another home. The representative says that he’s confident that his children would know what to do if they found a firearm, but that’s not the case with all children.

It was stressed during the committee meeting that the educational program would be free of particular branding. “This is not a political issue — to attempt to sway our students one direction or the other,” Richardson said. “This is simply an opportunity for our state agencies to provide a safety, education, training [program].”

The bill was co-sponsored by representatives Andrews, Duffield, Perry, and Rye.

A MEASURE THAT SHOULD BE REPLICATED

Arkansas Act 229 is a commonsense approach to safeguarding youth. Firearm ownership is not for everyone, that does not mean that vital education for the children of non-gun owners shouldn’t occur. Representative Richardson, his cosponsors, and Governor Sanders should all be saluted for making this law a reality.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For those who are interested in youth firearm education, look for some in-person training in your area or consider getting a copy of “Children’s Firearms & Safety Fundamentals.”