Children as young as five in Tennessee will begin taking gun safety classes this academic year under a new law that makes the state the first in the US to require such training in public schools.
The measure, passed by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2024, took effect this week as schools reopened following the summer break. It requires students from kindergarten through high school to complete age-appropriate firearms education every year.
Guidelines issued by the state education department outline the expectations for younger children. Pupils aged five to eight, for example, should be able to distinguish between real and toy guns, identify the parts of a firearm such as the trigger, barrel and muzzle, and “demonstrate a responsible attitude regarding firearms.”
The guidelines stop short of prescribing how the curriculum should be taught or how long the classes should last. They do, however, prohibit the use of live ammunition or functioning firearms in lessons and instruct educators to remain “viewpoint neutral on political topics.” Schools will be allowed to invite police officers, public health experts, or other specialists to assist in delivering the material.
Supporters of the program argue that early education in gun safety is a necessary response to America’s persistent problem of gun violence, particularly school shootings. With more firearms than people in the US and guns now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents, advocates say teaching safety skills could help save lives.
“Tennessee is leading the way in addressing the reality that our children are growing up in a country saturated with firearms,” said one backer of the legislation. “We cannot afford to ignore this.”
Since Tennessee enacted its law, Utah and Arkansas have also passed similar measures, signaling that more states may follow.
Still, questions remain about the practical application of the courses. The state’s guidance does not provide standardized lesson plans or detailed resources, leaving individual school districts to determine how the classes should be taught. Critics have warned that the lack of clarity could lead to inconsistent approaches or place additional burdens on teachers already stretched thin.
The debate comes against a backdrop of ongoing gun tragedies. Just last week, a heavily armed attacker opened fire at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, killing two children and wounding 14 others. Three adults were also injured in the assault, underscoring the urgency of the gun violence crisis.
The United States has the highest firearm fatality rate among developed nations, and efforts to curb access to guns remain politically divisive. Tennessee’s move represents a different approach, focusing on education rather than restrictions.
For now, the state’s five-year-olds will be among the first in the nation to learn firearm safety in the classroom, marking a controversial but significant shift in how schools respond to America’s gun epidemic.
