Arizona SB 1424 Would Bring Gun Safety Training To Schools

If we want firearms safety to improve across the U.S., one way to do so is by emphasizing training at young ages—and Arizona’s state legislators are now looking at making gun safety part of the public school curriculum. Arizona SB 1424 is currently working its way through the House, and if it comes to pass, it might save lives.

Back to school @ TFB:

• Arkansas Requiring Schools To Teach Firearms Safety
• About 1,400 Buried WW2 Firearms Found at a Japanese Elementary School
• Utah High School Students Could Receive Firearms Safety Training
• Firearms School KR Training Launches Virtual Preparedness Conference

Teaching gun safety

In the U.S., firearms ownership does not necessarily come with mandatory training in safety, as it does in other countries. While 2A hard-liners would oppose any such training being a requirement for firearms ownership, a general improvement in firearms safety and reduction in accidents, particularly among younger shooters, would be desirable. So, some shooting enthusiasts have proposed that firearms safety training be mandatory in school, with no strings attached with regard to ownership.

Arkansas made firearms safety classes mandatory for students in 2025. In some ways, Arkansas’ path is a better option for everyone. Schoolkids are taught gun safety to prevent accidents that could occur if they somehow end up with unsupervised access to firearms. Children who might otherwise never be properly exposed to safe gun handling can now learn from qualified instructors. And young people who might otherwise never see firearms in a positive or safe light can be shown how to safely deal with guns.

Other states have talked about similar firearms safety classes in school, and Arizona’s state senate has introduced SB 1424, which is aimed at a similar idea.

Safety at school

Arizona’s SB 1424 would require every public and charter school in Arizona to give its students a short, age-appropriate lesson on firearms safety. This lesson would be an annual thing, from kindergarten through Grade 12, and would focus on safety and accident prevention; in other words, it’s not teaching kids how to shoot guns, and there are no real or fake guns used in the class. The lessons are focused on ideas like teaching kids not to touch firearms if they find one, stressing the importance of safe storage, and other ways of preventing accidents.