School Firearm Education Bill Draws Debate At Capitol Hearing

Legislation that would let Wisconsin public schools offer gun safety courses for credit received an Assembly hearing Thursday.

Lawmakers proposing the bill say it will improve gun safety and provide an activity for high school students who are not interested in traditional sports. Critics question whether it should be part of the school curriculum.

Under the proposal, the state Department of Public Instruction and the state Department of Natural Resources would develop a for-credit course focusing on the safety, history and science of guns. It would not require schools to offer the course and no live ammunition would be used.

But during a public hearing before the Assembly Education Committee, Verona Democratic state Rep. Sondy Pope asked the bill’s author if anything stopped students from bringing in ammo, prompting a testy exchange with Franklin Republican Rep. Ken Skowronski:

Pope: What prevents that in your bill?

Skowronski: Well, representative, what prevents them now to walk into schools with that? Could you answer that?

Pope: It’s against the law, but the gun isn’t provided in the building.

Lawmakers skeptical of the bill say current state law allows schools to give students experience with guns, but usually as an extracurricular activity, not a for-credit course. Supporters of the bill say students may not have time if they work or play sports after school.

“If you have it as an extracurricular, some students might not have time to learn (about guns),” Alicia Meyer, a Roncalli High School junior and member of the school trap shooting club, told lawmakers. “I know a friend of mine, she works all the time. I work two jobs. I don’t know if I would have time to have this as an extracurricular.”

“Allowing someone to understand the mechanics of firearms may give them an opportunity for an activity they’re interested in, to a person who may not fit as a football player or a soccer player or in the music program,” testified Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc, a co-author of the bill.

Some who attended the hearing said they didn’t understand the purpose of the bill and questioned who benefited from it.

“We know that there are fewer hunters, but this legislation won’t fix hunting.This won’t make guns safer. This is a marketing tool,” said Jim Nosal, whose 24-year-old daughter, Caroline, was shot to death in February outside a Madison grocery store.

“I’ve hunted. I like the outdoors. I like to fish, hunt. I’m all for it. But there is such a thing as accountability and responsibility,” Nosal continued. “And quite honestly, teaching a bunch of high school kids about guns doesn’t seem to follow any of those. Stuff like this is learned at home.”

The Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, the Madison school district and the League of Women Voters all have registered in opposition. The Safari Club and Wisconsin FORCE, a group of gun and firing range owners, have registered in support.