Lawmakers in Utah gave a green light to a measure that would add gun safety to students’ curriculum in the Beehive State. 

House Bill 104 passed the Utah House last week in an easy 59-10 roll call, largely along party lines. The Republican-backed proposal would require the State Board of Education to establish age-appropriate standards for firearm safety instructions in schools. These standards would then become integrated into the curriculum, making it easy for students to learn about safe gun practices. 

"By requiring schools to provide these instructions, we are helping equip and prepare our children to better handle dangerous situations," said bill sponsor, state Rep. Rex P. Shipp (R). 

Under the bill in its current form, schools should hold such firearm safety classes at least three times while a student is attending elementary school, twice in middle school, and at least once in high school. Students can be opted out of the classes by parents and the age-appropriate courses are required to be politically neutral.

The bill now heads to the GOP-controlled Utah Senate for further review. If approved and signed by Gov. Spencer Cox (R), the July effective date means that students could see the instruction as soon as the 2025-26 school year. 

Banner image: Basic range safety rules. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)