Arkansas Plans School-Based Gun Safety Course: What To Expect

Arkansas’s Act 229, set to commence in 2025-2026, mandates firearm safety courses in schools, leaving many curious about its implementation.

Quick Takes

House Bill 1117, now Act 229, mandates firearm safety education in Arkansas public and charter schools.
The curriculum, developed with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, integrates multimedia and may feature live-fire training.
Arkansas ranks in the top five states for child gun deaths, influencing the bill’s introduction.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the legislation, aiming to ensure student preparedness and safety.

Legislation Overview

House Bill 1117, now established as Act 229, introduces mandatory firearm safety education for Arkansas public and charter schools, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The law mandates age-appropriate safety courses developed with input from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Department of Education. The educational program will be delivered annually to promote responsible behavior around firearms.

The legislation’s roots trace back to the state’s alarming child gun death rates. Arkansas finds itself among the top five states in child gun deaths, prompting lawmakers to act swiftly. Senator Joshua Bryant and Representative Scott Richardson introduced the bill on January 14, emphasizing the need for proper firearms education to ensure student safety.

Curriculum Details

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will collaborate with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to determine both grade level appropriateness and course content. The curriculum will instruct students on safe firearm handling, storage, school safety, and actions to take upon encountering an unsecured firearm. Potentially, these courses may incorporate multimedia and videos to enhance learning.

With parental consent, students may participate in live-fire demonstrations, likely held off-campus. The bill requires parental or guardian approval for participation in live exercises or sporting events associated with the firearm safety course. This added layer of protection ensures parental involvement.

Challenges and Implications

The successful implementation of Act 229 will rely on effective collaboration between agencies and educators. Moreover, understanding community opinions and addressing any concerns is crucial to garner public support. As stated by Rep. Scott Richardson, “All of our children play together and invade whatever home happens to be the play of the day. And in that process, they may go into a neighbor’s home and discover that unsecured firearm, and how would they react.”

This legislation serves as a potential model for other states dealing with similar challenges. As the program rolls out, other regions may watch and learn from Arkansas’s experience, potentially adapting similar initiatives to safeguard their youth.