A new law in Arkansas, Act 229, mandates that public schools and open enrollment public charter schools provide age-appropriate firearm safety education.
This initiative, led by Rep. R. Scott Richardson, arose from community discussions about children’s exposure to firearms, particularly unsecured ones in homes they visit. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) and the state’s Department of Education will collaborate to develop the safety curriculum.
With extensive experience in firearm safety through its recreational shooting and hunter education programs, the AGFC is well-equipped to contribute to this effort.
Trey Reid from the AGFC noted that while the state has a long history of mandatory hunter education, the new curriculum will be more straightforward, akin to basic safety procedures like “Stop, drop and roll.”
“We’ve had hunter education in Arkansas for, oh, 45 years, probably now it has been mandatory. It’s mandatory for anybody born after 1968 you have to have it in order to get a hunting license,” Reid said.
The focus of the education will be on ensuring children recognize firearms as potentially dangerous and understand the importance of notifying an adult if they encounter an unsecured firearm, rather than on how to use them.
The program is slated to begin in the 2025-26 school year, aiming to equip children with essential knowledge to safely navigate situations involving firearms.
