Early in 2022 a bill was introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature to allow high schools to offer a firearm safety course to their students.

Sponsored by state Representative Treig Pronschinske (R-Mondovi), the bill would have required the state superintendent to develop a course that teaches students about how to handle, load, unload, carry, and transport firearms.

School boards could decide not to offer the course, but they would be required to pass a resolution making that choice. The course would be offered as an elective.

“Critics of the bill have said that we should not educate kids on firearms because it could be dangerous,” said Pronschinske. “This is ridiculous. We educate youth on drugs and sex. We certainly don’t want kids to try heroin or to have unintended pregnancies. Education is key to safety and is almost in every aspect of life.”

Pronschinske said that the class would use replica guns, not real guns, and that instructors would be required to demonstrate proof of training in firearm safety.”

“The next thing I’m going to hear is that we have to offer farm safety and have tractors be driven around in a course at school to make sure farmers are safe,” said Democratic Rep. Dave Considine.  “Educating our youth in the safe handling, storage, use of firearms, and historic right to bear arms is necessary for the cultivation of the proper culture and respect for firearms,” Wisconsin Gun Owners said in a statement.

The bill was approved by the state Assembly but died in the state Senate due to parliamentary procedure. Had the bill passed the state Senate it passed the Senate it surely would have been vetoed by Governor Tony Evers.

Today’s read is from  Lindsay Karp, a freelance writer with a background in speech-language pathology. She writes about parenting, life with multiple sclerosis and also hopes to become a published children’s book author. Here’s an excerpt:

On Jan. 6, a 6-year-old in Newport News brought a gun to school and shot his teacher, intentionally, leaving her with life threatening injuries. The teacher’s lawyer indicated that in the hours prior to this event, school leaders were warned three times that the child may have a gun.

Administrators failed to follow up, and the student shot his teacher in the chest that afternoon. This incident rerouted my thoughts on mandatory gun safety education in schools – I’m no longer opposed to it.

Read the entire column here.