Franklin’s representative in the state Assembly, Ken Skowronski is getting lots of attention for his proposal to put gun safety classes in schools.

Please, no knee jerk reactions. There’s more to it than that.

Skowronski announced it on June 1, but the slow-moving news media just caught on a few weeks ago, so you can imagine.

Guns in schools?

OH

MY

GOD!

Skowronski’s new release of June 1 that seemed to elude (not surprisingly) for some time those clever media watchdogs:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                               June 1, 2017

For More Information Please Contact:

Rep. Ken Skowronski                                                                                    608-266-8590

Rep.skowronski@legis.wisconsin.gov

Rep. Skowronski Introduces Firearm Education Bill

MADISON… Today, Representative Ken Skowronski (R-Franklin) introduced the Firearm Education Bill. This bill asks the Department of Public Instruction to develop a firearm education course for Wisconsin high school students.

“More and more students are get involved in clay target and action shooting clubs and associations while in school, it’s important to ensure that these students become more responsible in understanding firearm safety and mechanics.” Rep. Skowronski said.

The bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to work with organizations to develop a curriculum focused on firearm mechanics and firearm safety. The class would be completely optional for students, and no school would be required to implement the class. Classes would be taught by trained professionals certified by recognized organizations and no live ammunition would be allowed in the classroom.

“I hope that parents and students who are interested in becoming more responsible and comfortable around firearms would urge their school districts and school boards to support firearm education classes.  Wisconsin is nationally known for successful preps shooting sports. I hope this bill will give interested students the knowledge in gun safety and become more involved in clay target and action shooting clubs.” Skowronski continued.

Currently, the Scholastic Clay Target Program has over 3,500 athletes representing 115 teams in the state of Wisconsin alone. These athletes range from fifth grade through college.

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Here’s an analysis of Skowronski’s bill by the Legislative Reference Bureau:

This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to jointly develop a curriculum for a comprehensive firearm education course to be offered as an elective to high school pupils. The bill requires the state superintendent to jointly develop the curriculum with the Department of Natural Resources, a law enforcement agency, or an organization that specializes in firearms safety or that certifies firearms instructors.

The curriculum must be prepared before the first school year that begins after the bill is passed. Under current law, a school year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. The bill does not require a school district to offer the course, but if a school district does offer such a course, the course must be taught or supervised by an individual who demonstrates proof of training in firearms safety. The bill prohibits the presence  or use of live ammunition in such a course.

Today on WTMJ Radio, Scaffidi and Bilstad did a segment on Skowronski’s bill that I support.

Listen here. Just hit the play button and scroll to the 18:35 mark to hear the discussion. It continues until 32:54. Yep, that’s all. Less than 15 minutes on this important topic.

Check out the first caller. Speaking from experience, she’s a talk show host’s dream. Her argument with few (no) facts to back her up only inspires more callers to correctly refute her.

FINAL NOTE:

Interesting that Franklin’s representative in the state Senate, Dave Craig, who wants folks in Wisconsin to be able to carry a weapon anywhere and anyhow they want without any training whatsoever has chosen not to co-sponsor Skowronski’s gun safety bill.