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Arkansas, Tennessee, and Utah are the first US states to mandate gun safety education in public schools, with lessons for children as young as five. The new laws require teaching students about gun safety and proper storage, though only Utah's legislation includes an opt-out provision for parents. The curriculum, often adapted from existing hunting safety courses, emphasise a core message for children: 'Stop, don't touch, leave quickly, tell an adult' if they find a firearm. Supported by Republicans and some non-partisan groups aiming to prevent tragedies, the legislation faces criticism from gun control advocates who argue it shifts responsibility from adults to children. The initiative follows a 2022 report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which identified firearms as the leading cause of death among children and teenagers.
