The Arkansas state Senate has passed a bill mandating age-appropriate gun safety instruction for public school students, set to begin in the 2025-2026 academic year. Known as Act 229 or House Bill 1117, this legislation empowers the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission to collaborate with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education in creating these courses, aiming to ensure that children can safely navigate situations involving firearms in their surroundings.
This new requirement comes in response to concerns from parents about children encountering unsecured firearms in homes and neighborhoods. With methods ranging from videos to potential live-fire exercises, the bill emphasizes parental consent for any off-campus safety training, reflecting a careful approach to teaching firearm safety in community contexts. As key discussions unfold about the earliest grade for introducing this training, many are eager to see how it will take shape in Arkansas classrooms.
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