Ness-Backed Bill to Allow Gun Safety Courses in Schools Passes House

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. – Schools would have the option to provide firearm safety education to students under legislation that state Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-Crystal Lake, recently supported.

“For young people who hunt or live in households with firearm owners, it is extremely important that they are educated on critical firearm safety measures,” said Ness. “By allowing for comprehensive, fact-based firearm safety courses in our schools, we are allowing for young people to be better informed with the tools and knowledge that could potentially save someone from a dangerous situation.”

Ness supported House Bill 3173 which would allow school districts to begin offering firearm safety courses to students as part of their daytime or after-school curriculum. The measure does not require students to enroll in such courses, nor does it mandate the implementation of them, rather, it changes state law so that schools may offer classes about gun safety to students if they wish. Actual firearms would not be permitted to be used in the courses. While individuals younger than 18-years-old cannot legally own firearms in Illinois, they may use guns for recreational purposes such as hunting. This bill has received overwhelming bipartisan support.

“We have a lot of work to do to address the ever-growing rise in firearm related deaths in our communities,” said Ness. “This piece of legislation will serve as an effective way to ensure that young people have the critical information to keep themselves and others safe by implementing the firearm safety education in the school setting where they are already learning other life skills. I am pleased to have supported this important measure.”