Bill would allow Oregon schools to offer a gun safety class to first-graders

Oregon first graders could attend gun safety classes at their schools under legislation pushed this year and expected to return next session. 

While the bill outlining this program had solid support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, it's unlikely to advance beyond it's initial public hearing after a deadline for committee work sessions recently expired.

Regardless, supporters were encouraged with its progress and promise to return.

If passed, Senate Bill 801 would have enabled school districts and public charter schools to offer an annual, 30-minute firearm safety and accident prevention class to first-grade students.  

The curriculum would need to include three key things: the proper steps a child should take upon encountering an unsecured firearm; the differences between video game violence and real-life violence; and the dangers of confusing toy guns and real guns.

"Whether you agree with firearm ownership or not, don't think for a second that your kids can't come into contact somewhere else," said Derek LeBlanc, president of the Kids S.A.F.E. Foundation and lead writer of the bill.

"We talk about helmets, stranger danger, the D.A.R.E. program, water safety, anti-bullying," he said. "There's more that needs to be done when it comes to education with firearms."

At no time could real firearms or live ammunition be used during the class, according to the bill. Additionally, schools would be required to provide written or electronic notice of the class to parents and guardians at least seven days in advance so they can opt out. 

Classes would be taught by a teacher, administrator, law enforcement officer or first
responder, unless a proposed amendment passes specifying only a law enforcement officer certified in firearm instruction can teach the class. 

Another amendment may be considered, lowering the length of class time from 30 minutes to 15.

The base bill has bipartisan and bicameral support, which may be because of specific language in the bill that requires the class to be nonpolitical, saying they "may not encourage or discourage possession or ownership of firearms."

Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield, Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio, and Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, are the three chief sponsors. The bill had its first public hearing before the Senate Committee on Education at the end of March. 

Parents in support of the bill

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, gun-related violence is the third leading cause of death for kids aged 1 to 17, beat only by car crashes in terms of injury-related deaths.

Of the 1,300 gun-related deaths of children in the United States every year, about 6%, or 78 deaths, are unintentional. An additional 6,000 children are wounded by guns annually. 

The latest national data show 74 children ages 14 years and younger died of an accidental discharge of firearms in 2016. That number jumps to 195 when you include 15- to 24-year-olds.

However, deaths from unintentional firearm injury or accidental discharge are not common in Oregon, according to Oregon Health Authority data.

From 2015 to 2017, there were two children under 18 years old who died from unintentional firearm injury, with no deaths in 2017.  

Dozens of people gave testimony on the bill, many of whom are concerned what could happen if a child comes across a gun and doesn't know what to do. 

"Allowing the opportunity for education classes in schools would help kids understand the importance of not touching firearms and getting an adult," wrote parent Maria Sandusky in her testimony, "especially when they may not get that education at home."

For parent and gun-owner Robert Beam, it's about protecting his daughter who, at 3 years old, already goes to the shooting range with him and his wife.

"I am the father of a little girl, she is the light of my life," he wrote in his testimony. "I keep my firearms secure and out of her reach at all times, but that does not mean she will never find herself in a situation were there is a firearm and I am not present, since I'm not the only adult in her life with a firearm and human error does exist."

Beam is advocating for the bill so children like his daughter have "the best chance if ... ever caught in the worst case scenario."

"SB 801 will undoubtedly save lives if you give it the chance to," he wrote. "Please help to protect the children of our amazing state threw knowledge."

Push-back on bill's effectiveness, role 

Though many are in favor of the bill, the League of Women Voters is among critics who argue the bill won't accomplish its intended goals.

While the league supports educational initiatives and the fact that schools and parents have a number of opt-out options, leaders said they don't think a 30-minute class will sway a child's natural curiosity.

Additionally, they feel the onus should be on the adult gun owners to store weapons responsibly and away from children.

Instead, the league suggested lawmakers support existing campaigns that remind parents and caregivers guns in the home represent a real danger to children, including the ASK and Be Smart campaigns. 

"The League strongly supports evidence-based solutions, holding adults accountable for the health of our children, and the wise use of education dollars," league representatives wrote in their collective testimony. "We urge a no vote on SB 801."

Why teach first graders about guns?

LeBlanc, the Kids S.A.F.E. Foundation president, said there are hunter safety programs around the country, but nothing like what they do and what this bill would provide. 

"This is truly groundbreaking and the country is watching," he said. 

LeBlanc started his foundation about five years ago when he realized most children would touch an unknown firearm if they ever came across it.

He's created a curriculum that is now copyrighted and used when he teaches in schools. But LeBlanc wants to reach all the kids of Oregon.

"The whole point is to show value to parents (who may) have a fear of firearms, who don't own firearms … kids could be exposed somewhere else," he said. "That's why it's important to educate children on what to do when they do come across a gun."

LeBlanc said the bill is geared toward first graders because elementary-aged children are the most vulnerable. From ages 2 to 7, they engage in what's known as "magical thinking." 

"They don't have enough life experience of maturity, so they're getting information from their environments — YouTube, video games, violent TV and movies, their friends," he said.

"If they don't have the proper knowledge, they could have an accident," he said. "That's what we're trying to prevent."

Of the children who take the classes his organization provides, LeBlanc said about 42 percent live in homes without firearms. 

Additionally, he said they are trying to get the curriculum available in multiple languages, since, statistically, kids of Latin descent have the highest instances of accidents with a firearm "because there's zero education for them."

LeBlanc and the sponsors of the bill are still working on how the bill would be implemented. His curriculum would be available to schools at no cost, but delivering that to educators still needs to be planned. 

"We're in the middle. I have one organization on one side, another on the other and they're yelling at each other. Then there's us," he said. "I'm trying to get everyone to listen and pay attention to what we're trying to do and that's save kids.

"Whether you like guns or don't like guns, that means nothing to us," he said. "It comes down to (whether) your kids have the proper education (so) if they're ever put in an unsafe situation, they can make the right move."

Since the bill isn't expected to pass this session, LeBlanc said they'll be back.

"We've started a debate and a dialogue," he said. "I guarantee if we can make it work here, we can make it work anywhere in the country."

The bill does not have another meeting scheduled past the initial hearing it had in March. Nonetheless, they came a lot further than LeBlanc anticipated.

"Our mantra is 'Zero firearm accidents is the only acceptable goal,' " he said. "Hopefully we can go forward and keep helping more kids."

For more information, go to https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/ or https://kidssafefoundation.org/. 

Contact reporter Natalie Pate at npate@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6745 or follow her on Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist.

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