Arizona Bill Would Require Middle Schools and High Schools to Teach Gun Safety

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The Arizona House of Representatives has been working hard to secure gun rights in Grand Canyon State. The Arizona House of Representatives has passed several bills, including legalizing silencers for guns and allowing parents to bring firearms onto school campuses. Another bill raising eyebrows? HB 2332It will be required that high school and middle schools offer training in how to handle firearms properly. Arizona’s NPR localParents could still opt out. Despite this provision, advocacy groups such as Moms Demand Action or Civic Engagement Beyond Voting continue to speak out Against the measure.

PHOENIX – Arizona’s House of Representatives is continuing to advance a bill requiring public middle and high schools in Arizona to offer training on the proper handling of firearms.

Rep. Selina Bizzell, R-Prescott was the sponsor HB 2332She said that she wants children to learn how to safely handle firearms from experts, to avoid accidental deaths.

Two high school students testified against this bill, as did two other opponents. They fear that the training will reduce school resources and encourage gun culture in public schools.

I can remember when gun clubs were offered in schools. As a symbol of student engagement, my high school yearbook featured photographs of gun clubs. These photos included members with rifles and pictures of them shooting targets. The Bloomberg-funded Moms Demand Action (and groups like them) has made guns less scary and dangerous. Instead of being a tool for self-defense, they are used to teach accuracy, proficiency, safety, and teach precision. Proper knowledge and tools are essential to build trust and confidence, and to be able to recognize danger and not just to cower in fear. Along with the gun-free zones created by organizations such as Moms Demand Action, it is this lack of knowledge that causes shootings and death.

The Arizona Education Association (AEA), is not also on board. This is also the same entity that opposed the former Governor Doug Ducey Sign the Bill for school choice into law. They demand more funding from the government for public schools in order to advance their agenda. Parents should not decide where taxpayer money will go. They also want their children to be activists, not critic thinkers.RedforEd is a movement With a complete page on their website. This is a story for another time.

Arizona Education Association is against the bill. It’s just another unfunded mandate.

“We have too many unfunded mandates that are having a negative impact on our public schools,” Isela Blanc was the legislative liaison for AEA at a House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee meeting held on February 6. The bill was passed by the committee by 8-7 votes, and it was then approved by the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee by a 5-3 vote.

Two high school students also voiced opposition to the first committee hearing. These students claim that the funding will not be sufficient to cover classes they consider essential.

“This gun training would take away resources from our school’s top priority and only responsibility — to educate students in areas that will prepare us to become productive, valuable members of society,” Bridgette Hanson, Gilbert High School freshman, said that her seventh grade newspaper class was cut short due to lack of funding.

It’s amazing that only two witnesses could be found. According to ScholarooArizona has the lowest per pupil spending. They still beat California, which has some of the highest per pupil spending, but the lowest graduation rates. It’s difficult to discern if these students are simply repeating talking points, or if their concerns are legitimate. Moms Demand Action, which is funding and lobbying against the bill, has my money on the latter.

Moms Demand ActionThe bill is also opposed by a non-profit group called SMART, which advocates for stronger gun laws. The group has its own firearms safety program called Be SMART — an acronym for secure, model, ask, recognize and tell. Kelley Ireland, coleader of the program, stated that it is designed to help firearm owners and parents take responsibility for their guns, not children. Be Smart Tucson Ireland has added firearm safety training sessions to schools “could traumatize children.”

Children are traumatized by training sessions. Gun-free zones without active shooters are also possible.

This legislative push is smart. This legislative push is smart. Students won’t be able to watch any video games or movies that glorify the wrong gun culture. Why not counter that with actual knowledge, tools, and resources on how guns should be viewed and handled, and the promotion of the right type of gun culture—the one that encourages skill, safety, and community above thrill-seeking?

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