Loudon County commissioner proposes schools adopt firearms safety instruction
 
Hugh G. Willett knoxnews.com

A Loudon County Commissioner has proposed that the county schools adopt firearms safety training for students, including those in elementary school.

Commissioner Van Shaver, a former school board representative, sent a letter to the Board of Education this week proposing gun safety training be conducted for students in all grades.

"I would like to ask the Loudon County Board of Education to strongly consider offering gun safety courses in all Loudon County schools beginning in the 2016-17 school year," Shaver wrote.
 

As a strong supporter of the second amendment, member of the NRA and holder of a gun permit, Shaver said he has concerns about gun safety. He said everyone should have the opportunity to learn at least the basics of gun safety.

"As Obama would say, if it would save the life of one child, it would all be worth it," he said.

Shaver said he comes to the board of education not as a commissioner but as a parent and grandparent with the safety of all children in mind. Many of these children would never have the opportunity to learn any gun safety anywhere else, he said.

"How often do we hear of shooting accidents, especially among children, that could have been so easily prevented with proper safety education?" he asked.

"Politicians often call for more regulations on law-abiding gun owners which we all know does no good. President Obama says if we could save the life of one child, all his regulations would be worth it."

Kenny Ridings, a Loudon police officer, a former School Resource Officer and hunter safety education trainer, said he's interested in looking into the program. He said he's proposed hunter safety education in the past but the idea hasn't gotten much traction.

"It would be something to look into," he said.

School board member Jeremy Buckles said he is open to exploring firearms safety training and said he will bring it up during the February school workshop held on first Thursday of the month, which is Feb. 4.

Buckles said in the past the Loudon schools offered the hunter safety training needed to get a hunting license as an after-school program. The program was discontinued under a previous school board, he said.

"I believe it's an important part of education. The parents should also take responsibility," he said.

Former Loudon County Commissioner David Twiggs is East Tennessee Group Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. He said he's for teaching children to be smart by avoiding guns and for parents to act responsibly by asking whether there are guns in the homes where their children might visit. He said he wouldn't support any kind of gun training that involves bringing actual guns into schools.

"I trust in God more than guns," he said.

Will Crawford, parent of a Loudon High School student, said he's OK with safety training but has some reservations.

"Well, there are goods and bads. Students with anger disciplinary issues or gang ties can't be allowed. All depends on the class goals/curriculum," he said.

Loudon parent Wendy Baustian said far too many children die from accidental gun violence.

"I am a huge advocate of education and guns are no different. If educating kids on the dangers of firearms save just one life, then I think it is worth considering it, providing the class is conducted similar to the D.A.R.E. program from the perspective of safety and education and done by a licensed professional," she said.

Baustian said she would suggest some guidelines.

"So long as they don't get actual hands-on training, I think educating kids could go a long way. They can tie it into a discussion on gangs or peer pressure but I think it can be worked into the discussions at all levels and reinforce safety," she said.

Shaver said guns are so much a part of the American way of life that it only makes sense to integrate them into the education system.

"Doesn't it make sense that everyone have the best possible understanding and knowledge of the proper use of guns?" he asked.

School Resource Officers currently work in every school, are highly trained with knowledge and background in all aspects of gun safety and could provide basic gun safety training to all children in the school system, said Shaver.

The training would be optional and parents who don't want their children to take the safety course could opt out, he said.

Knox County Schools provide basic firearms safety training to elementary schoolchildren through the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle program. Katy Davis is a licensed teacher working for the Knox County Sheriff's Office. She has been teaching firearms safety to children for 23 years.

Davis said there are guns in almost every home in East Tennessee. Across the country five to 10 children are shot accidentally every day, she said.

"We teach them that if they see a gun to stop, don't touch, run away, tell a grown up," she said.

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1/27/15