Require Schools to Teach Firearm Safety in 7th Grade

 

The purpose of this legislation is to reduce the number of firearm accidents that happen by ensuring everyone knows how

to use firearms safely

 

 

A large number of firearm deaths are accidents, where it's a kid who doesn't know what's happening, and then an accident

occurs. This legislation is to ensure that this doesn't happen because deaths don't occur from safe use; they come from

unsafe use. In 2023, about 39 confirmed accidents happened, but firearm safety is vital to reduce that and ensure there

aren’t barriers in the future where FST is vital. Similar to health, with signed parents' permission, there will be an

opt-out system where students are not required to complete the course, but a makeup course will be required to be

completed no later than the end of 12th grade.

 

This will be incorporated into the curriculum that all students in 7th-grade public schools must learn

Firearm safety shall be defined as meeting the standards laid out by the DNR for firearm safety training

Any student who has previously completed their FST will be exempt

DNR is the department of Natural resources

F.S.T. is Firearm Safety Training

 

 

This bill will receive 50 million dollars in funding every year to ensure sufficient funding for the future from the

DNR, from a 0.4% property tax increase to fund the curriculum.

 

Failure to implement the F.S.T. shall result in the existing penalties set in place by the DOE, including, but not

limited to, withholding funding

 

This bill will take effect before the 2026-2027 school year