New Gun Safety Education Introduced in Schools Across Multiple States

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — This school year, students in elementary, middle, and high schools in some states will receive new lessons on safety: what to do if they find a firearm.

Arkansas, Tennessee, and Utah are the first states to enact laws requiring public schools to teach children as young as five the basics of gun safety, including how to properly store guns at home. Utah's law is unique in allowing students to opt-out of the lessons upon request by parents or guardians.

A similar law was vetoed in Arizona, and lawmakers in at least five other states have proposed similar measures, placing schools at the center of ongoing debates concerning gun violence.

Some of the instructional methods in Tennessee may include games, quizzes, and videos featuring colorful firearm illustrations, even a Lego-style gun and explanations of what a muzzleloader is.

At Berclair Elementary in Memphis, a class was taken where nearly all fifth graders indicated they had seen a real gun, demonstrating the necessity of such educational programs, according to health instructor Tammie Chapman.

“While there is some controversy around guns, there doesn’t always have to be,” said Emily Buck, director of public relations for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which crafted the curriculum with the state Department of Education. “Education and foundational knowledge can be beneficial long-term.”

Core Safety Steps: Stop, Don’t Touch

The lessons draw from existing hunting safety programs but with key distinctions. Unlike hands-on hunting courses that include firearm handling, these classroom lessons emphasize that children should not touch a gun. Tennessee's legislation prohibits the actual use of firearms, while Arkansas allows parents to choose alternative classes that could involve practical safety courses.

The fundamental takeaway is a series of steps for children: Stop, don’t touch, leave quickly, and tell an adult, a message echoed by organizations like the National Rifle Association using animated characters and videos.

Berclair Elementary's creative approach included a relay race game where students identified gun images to report to adults, reinforced by a catchy jingle.

According to Buck, awareness that children may encounter unsecured guns in homes necessitates that they know what to do if they find one.

“We hope that students will carry this knowledge home to their parents, encouraging them to consider safer storage methods,” she explained.

A Neutral Educational Approach

Gun legislation remains a highly polarized issue nationally, with Democratic states typically pushing for stricter regulations while Republican-controlled legislatures resist such measures. The educational initiatives in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Utah were supported primarily by Republican lawmakers. The new laws stipulate that curricula should maintain neutrality on gun-related topics, such as ownership.

Voices for a Safer Tennessee, established by parents after the Covenant School shooting, expressed support for the legislation, endorsing gun ownership while seeking regulatory reforms like enhanced background checks.

The lessons are an attempt to instigate crucial conversations within families, as noted by Jessica Jaglois from the organization: “It could prevent firearm tragedies, acknowledging that a moment of access can lead to a lifetime of consequences.”

Recent statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that firearms are now the leading cause of death among children and teens. Arkansas and Tennessee report firearm death rates among this demographic exceeding the national average. However, some gun control advocates argue that focusing on education within schools may not effectively address the root issues of firearm accessibility.

“Teaching kids about guns in schools won’t prevent parents from neglecting to secure firearms safely,” stated Meg Beauregard from Everytown for Gun Safety. “If genuine concern for student safety existed, there would be accountability measures established for adults.”

As schools adapt these lessons, districts will have flexibility in determining how to implement the curriculum, whether through provided resources or alternative instructional designs. In Arkansas, these lessons may be integrated into routine safety training, alongside fire drills and tornado preparedness.

Berclair Principal Clint Davis highlighted the historical nature of children getting injured from firearm accidents, stating, “It’s not simply a contemporary issue. It’s always been present. We are now adequately responding to the demand for this training in schools.”

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Sainz reported from Memphis. Contributions came from Associated Press writers Jonathan Mattise in Nashville and Kasturi Pananjady in Philadelphia.