In a move that should be common sense but somehow remains controversial in today’s political climate, the Utah State House has overwhelmingly voted (59-10) to require public schools to teach children about firearm safety, starting as early as kindergarten. The Republican-controlled chamber now sends the bill to the state Senate, despite the predictable outcry from anti-Second Amendment groups who believe that educating kids on one of the most deeply rooted American liberties is somehow “burdensome” or “unnecessary.” Yes, they actually said that.
The bill, which passed on Valentine’s Day, proposes mandatory firearm safety instruction for elementary-aged students, ensuring kids know how to respond if they ever encounter a gun. The instruction would involve age-appropriate videos, a live instructor, and demonstrations on safe firearm handling and storage. These lessons would occur at least three times between kindergarten and sixth grade, providing basic but critical knowledge that could save lives. If that sounds “intrusive” or “excessive” to anyone, they might want to reevaluate their priorities.
Republican Representative Rex Shipp of Cedar City, Utah, sponsored the bill with a straightforward goal—preventing tragedies. The idea is simple: kids who understand what to do when they come across a firearm are less likely to make dangerous mistakes.
“A lot of times when they don’t have any firearms in their homes or don’t do any hunting and shooting, then these kids are not taught what to do when they come in contact with a firearm,” Shipp explained.
And he’s absolutely right. In households where firearms are a regular part of life, kids grow up learning how to handle them responsibly. But for children who don’t have that exposure, ignorance is not bliss—it’s a risk. Pretending guns don’t exist doesn’t make them disappear.
Utah already allows firearm safety education in schools, but since most teachers haven’t been integrating these lessons into their curriculum, this bill makes it mandatory. That means every child will receive at least some basic firearm safety training, unless their parents opt them out. Yes, parents can choose to keep their children ignorant on this topic, which raises a separate question about who exactly you let your kids hang out with—but that’s another discussion.
If the bill passes the Senate and is signed into law, Utah would join Tennessee, which already requires annual firearm safety training in public schools. Tennessee’s program ensures students learn essential safety rules, without live ammunition or operational firearms in the classroom. Education officials decide which grades receive the training, ensuring it aligns with students’ developmental levels.
Meanwhile, as Utah Republicans move forward with a rational approach to firearm safety, anti-Second Amendment activists are trying to have it both ways. On the one hand, they claim they want responsible gun ownership and safe storage. On the other, they’re opposing a bill that does exactly that—teaching kids to be responsible and safe around firearms. Their hypocrisy is astonishing, but not surprising.
Barbara Gentry of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah was among the first to jump in with a tone-deaf response, seemingly unconcerned with preventing the very gun-related accidents that I’m sure she has used in the past to push anti-Second Amendment rhetoric.
“Guns and gun safety are the responsibility of the adult gun owner, not school children… We support schools sending home materials to parents outlining the importance of safe storage in keeping our families and schools safe from gun violence,” Gentry said, somehow managing to contradict herself in a single statement.
So, according to Gentry, gun safety should be an adult responsibility—but kids shouldn’t be taught what to do when they come across a firearm? Instead, schools should just send home pamphlets, as if a piece of paper is going to stop a five-year-old from picking up a gun out of curiosity. That’s the kind of logic you get from these anti-gun activists.
Then there’s Jaden Christensen, a volunteer with Utah’s chapter of Moms Demand Action, who simply repeated the same misguided sentiment.
“The burden should always be on adults,” said Christensen.
Well, sure. And the burden of teaching kids not to touch a hot stove should be on adults too, but that doesn’t mean we don’t teach children to recognize danger. Kids don’t magically become responsible just because we wish them to be. They need guidance. They need education. They need facts—not some feel-good talking points from activists whose primary goal is disarming law-abiding citizens, not protecting kids.
Here’s the reality that the anti-gun lobby refuses to acknowledge: guns exist. They’re not going away, and no amount of virtue-signaling or restrictive laws will change that. So, the logical approach is education. Teaching kids firearm safety isn’t “promoting guns.” It’s promoting responsibility. It’s about ensuring that if a child ever comes across a firearm, they know exactly what to do—don’t touch it, don’t play with it, and immediately find an adult.
The good news? Most Americans live in the real world, not the fantasy land where anti-gun activists reside. We understand the importance of firearm safety. We respect the Founders’ vision and the fundamental right to self-preservation. And we know that knowledge is the key to safety, not fear-mongering.
Utah lawmakers are doing the right thing by prioritizing real-world education over political hysteria. If all goes well, this bill will pass the Senate, get signed into law, and take effect in the next school year. And when it does, Utah’s children will be safer and smarter—despite the best efforts of the anti-Second Amendment crowd to keep them in the dark.
