AZ: Senate Bill 1424 looks to provide Firearms Safety Instruction in all Grades

Arizona Senate Bill 1424 has passed the Senate 17 -2, and has passed in the House Education Committee and the House Rules Committee. The bill creates a requirement for school districts and charter schools to provide age-appropriate firearm safety awareness training in all grades kindergarten – 12 grade.

The instruction is to be objective, and not promote firearms ownership or any political position. The instruction is to be limited to accident prevention and personal safety awareness. It is to include guidance on safe firearms storage in homes and vehicles. The instruction is to give guidance on what to do if a firearm is encountered, to include not touching the firearm and to notify an adult.  Inside the bill there is a long list of restrictions about six things which may not be included in the instruction:

 3. NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

(a) A LIVE FIREARM.
(b) AMMUNITION OR SIMULATED AMMUNITION.
(c) A DEMONSTRATION THAT INVOLVES HANDLING, OPERATING, LOADING, UNLOADING OR FIRING A FIREARM.
(d) INSTRUCTION THAT IS INTENDED TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN THE USE OF FIREARMS.
(e) A MORAL JUDGMENT REGARDING LAWFUL FIREARM POSSESSION.
(f) AN INQUIRY, SURVEY OR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER A STUDENT, STUDENT’S PARENT OR MEMBER OF THE STUDENT’S HOUSEHOLD OWNS, POSSESSES OR MAY POSSESS A FIREARM OR ABOUT THE FIREARMS STORAGE PRACTICES OF A STUDENT, STUDENT’S PARENT OR MEMBER OF THE STUDENT’S HOUSEHOLD.

The Arizona Citizens Defense League (AZCDL) (this correspondent is a member),  supports the legislation.  This correspondent did not find a formal statement of opposition against the bill. An advocate for gun storage legislation made the argument the legislature should pass a bill requiring safe storage of guns instead.  The bill is considered a partisan bill, supported mostly by Republicans, according to Legiscan.  Fatal firearms accidents have declined by over 94% since 1933. The number of firearms per person has increased about 3X during that period. On average, about 61 children die each year in firearms accidents. About 168 children die each year in accidents involving glass tabletops. About as many children die from accidents involving 5 gallon buckets as die in fatal firearms accidents.  More children are killed in accidents involving bicycles than are killed in accidents involving firearms. Firearms are one of many hazards children encounter while they grow up.

Analysis: The bill is likely to pass the Arizona legislature, which is narrowly controlled by Republicans. Republicans have a 17 to 13 advantage in the Senate and a 31 to 29 advantage in the House. SB 1424 might avoid Governor Hobbs (D) veto, but it seems unlikely. Governor Katie Hobbs has earned a reputation for the number of vetoes she has given. Governor Hobbs is facing serious re-election challenges. She might sign SB 1424 to claim she is not against rights protected by the Second Amendment.

SB 1424 severely restricts what may be taught to students. This may be necessary to obtain passage in a legislature with a very small majority of Republicans. 

The bill is a step toward more comprehensive knowledge about firearms safety. It makes  students more aware of firearms. It has the advantage of not being overtly against the ownership or use of firearms. As “age appropriate” instruction about firearms safety, later grade levels might be able to include information about the legal status of firearms in Arizona. It is difficult for people to obey the law if they do not know what the law is. Firearms are one of many potentially hazardous items children encounter while they grow up. 

It is far better to gun proof the child than to attempt to create a gun free environment.

 ©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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