Iowa school districts to roll out mandatory firearm courses next year

Two school districts in Iowa will reportedly introduce mandatory classes about firearm safety into school curriculum starting next year.
Students enrolled in both the 7th and 8th grade at schools in the North Butler and Clarksville districts will be required to take part in a mandatory hunter safety course taught by the Butler County Conservation Board, Radio Iowa reported on Thursday.
The course will reportedly be implemented into the students’ PE curriculum.
{mosads}High school students interested in learning about firearm safety will also reportedly have the option to participate in a voluntary class.
North Butler Superintendent Joel Foster told the local outlet that the classes are geared towards teaching students how to “use weapons responsibly, how to respect them, understand it’s not a video game and those sort of things, that maybe we’ll cut down on our chances of having a severe incident.”
Foster also added that although he understands not all students are interested in hunting, the goal is to teach students lessons they can use in unexpected situations.
“If my 12-year-old girl is out babysitting a 3-year-old and the 3-year-old walks out of mom and dad’s bedroom with a handgun or a shotgun, she needs to know how to handle that,” Foster said.
Parents can reportedly sign a form opting their child out of the class if they oppose having their child participating. There also will not reportedly be operable firearms or live ammunition present during the course.
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