**New Gun Safety Lessons Teach Children What to Do if They Find a Firearm**

*By [Author Name]*
*NASHVILLE, Tenn.* — This school year, public schools in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Utah are introducing a new safety lesson for students ranging from elementary to high school: what to do if they find a firearm.

These three states are the first to enact laws requiring gun safety education for children as young as five, covering the basics of firearm safety and proper gun storage in the home. Notably, Utah’s law provides an option for parents or guardians to opt their children out of the lessons.

While a similar bill in Arizona was vetoed by its Democratic governor, lawmakers in at least five other states have proposed similar legislation. These initiatives place public schools at the center of another nationwide debate on gun violence.

### Engaging and Age-Appropriate Lessons

In Tennessee, the lesson plans are designed to be engaging for young students. They include stickers, games, quizzes, and videos complete with music and colorful illustrations of firearms—such as a gun made from Lego-style bricks and explanations of historical firearms like muzzleloaders.

The reality is that many children in the U.S. grow up around firearms. At Berclair Elementary School in Memphis, 16 fifth graders were asked how many had seen a real gun—almost all raised their hands.

“This shows how much a class like this is needed,” said Tammie Chapman, a health and physical education instructor who leads the lessons at the school. Emily Buck, director of public relations for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which collaborated with the state Department of Education on the curriculum, added, “While there is some controversy around guns, there doesn’t always have to be. Having some education and foundational knowledge really can be beneficial in the long run.”

### Core Safety Message: Stop, Don’t Touch, Leave Quickly, Tell an Adult

The lessons largely adapt materials from state hunting safety courses but differ in key ways. Unlike hunter safety courses, which include hands-on guidance on handling and firing guns safely, these classroom lessons emphasize that children should never touch a firearm.

In Tennessee, the legislation explicitly prohibits the use of actual firearms in lessons. Arkansas’s law, however, allows parents to opt into alternative curriculums, such as off-campus firearm safety courses that may include live guns.

The main takeaway taught to students is a four-step response if they ever find a gun:
1. **Stop.**
2. **Don’t touch the firearm.**
3. **Leave the area quickly.**
4. **Tell an adult immediately.**

This guidance aligns with instructions from other organizations, including the National Rifle Association, which provides animated characters, videos, and coloring pages.

At Berclair Elementary, teachers designed a relay-race game to keep students engaged. In the gym, children ran to buckets containing various pictures; those who found a gun image practiced reporting it to an adult. A catchy jingle reinforced the safety steps.

Buck noted that in some homes, adults may unintentionally create unsafe situations by leaving firearms unsecured in unusual spots, like shelves or under mattresses. “We hope students will take what they learn back home and encourage parents to adjust their storage methods,” she said.

### Maintaining Neutrality in a Partisan Debate

Gun legislation remains a deeply partisan issue in the United States. Democratic-led states tend to enact stricter gun laws, while Republican-controlled legislatures often resist them.

Interestingly, the education bills in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Utah were sponsored and supported by Republicans. The legislation requires that the curriculum maintain neutral viewpoints on topics such as gun ownership.

Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a nonpartisan nonprofit founded by parents after The Covenant School shooting in Nashville, supported the legislation. The organization backs responsible gun ownership and policies like expanded background checks.

Jessica Jaglois, director of communications for the group, highlighted the importance of the lessons: “It could possibly prevent a firearm tragedy because we know that a moment of access can lead to a lifetime of tragedy.”

### The Urgency Is Clear

In 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found firearms were the leading cause of death among children and teens. Arkansas and Tennessee have firearm death rates among youth that exceed the national average, according to an Associated Press analysis.

### Critics Call for Broader Solutions

However, some Democrats and gun control advocates argue that teaching children about firearms during school is not the right solution.

“Using the school day to teach kids about guns won’t stop adults from leaving their firearms unsecured or keeping deadly weapons out of dangerous hands,” said Meg Beauregard, policy counsel fellow at Everytown for Gun Safety. “If lawmakers were serious about protecting students, they’d pass laws that hold adults accountable, such as secure storage — not put the burden on kids to keep themselves safe.”

### Implementation in Schools

States have given school districts discretion in how to teach the lessons. Schools can use the provided lesson plans or develop their own as long as they comply with the laws. They also decide which staff members will lead the lessons or whether to invite police officers to discuss gun safety.

In Arkansas, lessons might be incorporated into annual safety training sessions, such as fire or tornado drills. Spencer Griffith, deputy director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said, “We hope they interject this in a way that helps prevent accidents without adding political focus or fear—that’s just not the place for that.”

Clint Davis, principal of Berclair Elementary, reflected on the issue’s persistence. “The problem of children getting hurt in firearm accidents is not new,” he said. “It’s always been there. We are just now responding to the need to provide this sort of training in schools.”

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**Tags:** gun safety, firearm education, school safety, Tennessee, Arkansas, Utah, children safety, gun violence prevention

**Categories:** Education, Public Safety, Legislation
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/across_america/some-states-now-require-public-schools-to-teach-kids-about-gun-safety/article_dcc595f6-3c2c-4255-b589-a5f0ea3a7800.html