The Utah House of Representatives has approved a significant bill requiring firearm safety education in public schools. The bill now advances to the Senate, where it is expected to provoke an intense debate on the responsibilities of schools and parents. The proponents of the bill contend that teaching gun safety from an early age is critical in preventing accidents. Critics, including Barbara Gentry of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah, argue that the responsibility for firearm safety lies with adults, not children. This measure marks an ongoing debate over how best to balance gun safety education with concerns about the role of schools, parents in safeguarding children from gun violence. In 2024, Governor Spencer Cox signed a law providing funding for tactical training for teachers who wish to carry guns in classrooms, a controversial measure intended to enhance security. Opponents, however, have raised concerns that allowing more firearms in schools could inadvertently increase the risk of accidents. In Utah, the new bill would make firearm safety lessons mandatory, with the option for parents to opt their children out of participation. In Tennessee, Tennessee currently has a law in place that requires firearm safety training in public school, though the decision on which grade to begin instruction is left to local education officials.
