LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — In a move to increase firearm safety education among young students, Arkansas public schools will soon be required to provide annual gun safety instruction.
Act 229, signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, mandates that public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools integrate age-appropriate firearm safety education into their curriculum starting with the 2025-2026 school year.
The law, formerly House Bill 1117, was introduced by Rep. Scott Richardson (R-Bentonville) and Sen. Joshua Bryant (R-Rogers). The initiative stems from concerns about children encountering unsecured firearms, particularly in homes where they may not be accustomed to gun safety practices.
“All of our children play together and invade whatever home happens to be the play of the day,” Rep. Richardson explained. “And in that process, they may go into a neighbor’s home and discover an unsecured firearm—how would they react?”
Gun Safety Education for All Ages
Under Act 229, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) will collaborate with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop the firearm safety curriculum. The law provides flexibility in how schools deliver this education, including the use of instructional videos, online resources, and other teaching methods. The focus will be on ensuring students understand what to do if they encounter an unsecured firearm—primarily emphasizing the importance of not touching the firearm and immediately notifying an adult.
“This is going to be really basic—essentially a firearm safety version of ‘Stop, Drop, and Roll,’” said Trey Reid, AGFC’s assistant chief of communications.
Addressing Concerns About Firearm Instruction
While some critics worry that mandatory firearm safety education might involve active gun handling or live-fire exercises, lawmakers have made it clear that the curriculum is strictly safety-focused.
“This does not teach children how to use a firearm in any way,” Richardson reassured the public. “It simply educates them on how to respond appropriately if they find one.”
However, the law allows for optional off-campus firearm safety courses involving live-fire exercises. Schools partnering with organizations for such programs must obtain written parental consent before allowing student participation. Programs like youth shooting sports and hunter education courses, already present in many Arkansas schools, may help fulfill this optional component.
The Bigger Picture
The antigun mob has long held that any education having to do with gun safety is not needed, even if it would “save just one child.” Thankfully, Arkansas lawmakers have overcome this insanity and believe this proactive approach could help prevent tragic accidents. Although their data has been reported to be flawed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to assert that over 1,200 children nationwide died from accidental firearm injuries between 2003 and 2017. Many of these incidents occurred in homes where firearms were stored, loaded, and unlocked.
While responsible firearm owners always secure their weapons, Act 229 aims to provide an additional layer of protection by ensuring children know how to react safely when encountering an unsecured gun. Supporters of the law argue that this type of education is no different from other safety programs already in schools, such as fire drills and anti-drug campaigns.
Implementation Timeline
The AGFC and education officials are expected to finalize the curriculum over the next year. While the law permits early implementation, the full statewide rollout of firearm safety instruction is anticipated for the 2026-2027 school year.
As Arkansas moves forward with this initiative, the state sets an example for firearm safety education in public schools. Whether this measure will be adopted by other states remains to be seen, but Arkansas lawmakers stand firm in their belief that even one prevented tragedy makes this law worth it.
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How long before woke “teachers” “teach” this course as “guns will KILL you”?
This is just step one. Step 2 should be actual mandated firearms training, preferably starting in 7th Grade but no later than 9th. I’ve been saying this for 40 years. It should be nationally mandated and administered… oh, yeah, guess we couldn’t do that if President Chamberlain – err, Trump – gets his way and shuts down the Department of Education.
Would we want Commies telling our kids about ‘Merica??? Thinking not, it’s putting the fox in charge of the hen house. School is for reading, writing, arithmetic…..not values, mores, guns’n’God.
I’m sure a lot of gun owners will take this at face value as a good thing. They should reconsider. Do you really trust government to properly educate your child on anything related to firearms considering government has been violating gun rights for 150+ years? The bill does nothing to mandate the teaching of safe firearm handling or proficiency. It does nothing in regards to teaching the importance of the 2nd amendment. It is basically government wasting untold millions of dollars to develop a curriculum that essentially boils down to, “If you find a gun don’t touch it and tell… Read more »
This is the kind of thing the ATF should be promoting nationwide. The agency could and should do an about-face and work FOR the American People instead of AGAINST them. The ATF could and should be a powerful force promoting Constitutional values and freedom. The ATF probably shouldn’t be teaching firearm classes themselves as much as it should be promoting related safety training by existing groups, and insuring that Socialist values aren’t being introduced. The ATF should only physically step in when firearm safety is NOT being promoted, since armed self-defence is a Constitutional Right. ATF – This is your… Read more »
It’s critical to start teaching gun safety and proficiency at a very young age in our schools.