AZ Bill OK'd to allow firearms course in schools

[AZTOY]

www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/68791.php


THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX - The Legislature has voted to allow public schools to offer an elective gun safety course that would have to include instruction on how firearms help protect peace and freedom.

The House approved the bill (SB12761), 40-15, on Monday. The Senate approved it unanimously on Feb. 17 and it now goes to Gov. Janet Napolitano.

State law already allows the state Game and Fish Department to provide training in safe handling of guns and bows at schools requesting the training.

However, the bill would allow school districts and charter schools to offer a one-semester course in firearms marksmanship.

Under the bill, the course would have to include instruction on gun safety, the basic operation of firearms, the history of firearms and marksmanship, "the role of firearms in preserving peace and freedom" and the "constitutional roots of the right to keep and bear arms."

Also, students would have to practice shooting at an established range, be instructed on the use of clay targets and demonstrate competence with a .22-caliber rifle.

Rep. Tom Prezelski, D-Tucson, called some of the provisions attempts to politically indoctrinate students.

"I hope we have an opportunity do something that's strictly about gun safety and marksmanship," Prezleski said.


I love AZ

 

[Silver Bullet]

I love AZ

I was just about to post exactly that when I read the thread title and then I saw you said that at the end of your post.

I'm gonna say it anyway: I love Arizona !

 

[armoredman]

DITTO!

 

[mattf7184]

Wow....wish my school or state would allow that!

 

[armoredman]

We have plenty of room, sir!

 

[Henry Bowman]

Rep. Tom Prezelski, D-Tucson, called some of the provisions attempts to politically indoctrinate students.

'Bout time.

 

[Stickjockey]

What's the weather like in Flagstaff?

 

[boofus]

Basic firearms safety should be taught in schools. If they can teach the dangers of keeping a loaded penis, they should be allowed to show proper firearms safety.

 

[AZRickD]

This is something that Alan Korwin of gunlaws.com has been pushing for about two years. He finally got a legislator or three to carry it.

However, while it does set up a rather cool curriculum, it doesn't require that a school have the course. However, the theory goes that if one school has the course, students from other schools can request to sign on.

Here is the text of the bill (and the bill is named SB1271, not SB12761):

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=sB1271&image.x=25&image.y=9

AN ACT

AMENDING TITLE 15, CHAPTER 7, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 15-714.01; RELATING TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-714.01, to read:

15-714.01. Arizona gun safety program course

A. IN ADDITION TO THE VOLUNTARY TRAINING IN THE USE OF BOWS AND FIREARMS PRESCRIBED IN SECTIONS 15-713 AND 15-714, EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL MAY OFFER AS AN ELECTIVE COURSE A ONE-SEMESTER COURSE IN FIREARM MARKSMANSHIP THAT SHALL BE DESIGNATED AS THE ARIZONA GUN SAFETY PROGRAM COURSE.

B. A PUPIL SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED THE ARIZONA GUN SAFETY PROGRAM COURSE BY DEMONSTRATING THAT THE PUPIL HAS THE ABILITY TO SAFELY DISCHARGE A FIREARM.

C. THE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION PRESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE JOINTLY DEVELOPED BY THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH COMMISSION, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND PRIVATE FIREARMS ORGANIZATIONS AND MAY INCLUDE MATERIALS PROVIDED BY PRIVATE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. AT A MINIMUM, THE ARIZONA GUN SAFETY PROGRAM COURSE SHALL INCLUDE:

1. INSTRUCTION ON THE RULES OF GUN SAFETY.

2. INSTRUCTION ON THE BASIC OPERATION OF FIREARMS.

3. INSTRUCTION ON THE HISTORY OF FIREARMS AND MARKSMANSHIP.

4. INSTRUCTION ON THE ROLE OF FIREARMS IN PRESERVING PEACE AND FREEDOM.

5. INSTRUCTION ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROOTS OF THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.

6. INSTRUCTION ON THE USE OF CLAY TARGETS.

7. PRACTICE TIME AT A SHOOTING RANGE.

8. DEMONSTRATION OF COMPETENCE WITH A FIREARM.

D. SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL ARRANGE FOR ADEQUATE USE OF SHOOTING RANGE TIME BY PUPILS IN THE ARIZONA GUN SAFETY PROGRAM COURSE AT ANY ESTABLISHED SHOOTING RANGE.

E. PUPILS WHO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE ARIZONA GUN SAFETY PROGRAM COURSE SHALL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

F. INSTRUCTORS SHALL BE CERTIFIED BY THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT.

G. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT OR EXPAND THE LIABILITY OF ANY PERSON UNDER OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW.

 

[armoredman]

Flagstaff gets snow in the winter, and heat in the summer, pine trees and such, call it like your state, but warmer....plus it's a college town.....

 

[Boss Spearman]

I wish I could move to Az and get a decent job.