LOUDON — The question of whether Loudon County schools
should implement gun safety training for students sparked a
lively discussion at a school board workshop Thursday night.
Loudon County Commissioner Van Shaver raised the issue in a
letter to the school board last week in which he suggested
firearms safety training for students in all grades, perhaps
supervised by the school resource officers.
Board Chairman Scott Newman, a Loudon Police Department
officer, kicked off Thursday's discussion by endorsing the
idea, while at the same time emphasizing that, in his
opinion, such education should really begin in the home
under the supervision of parents.
"I don't want somebody else teaching my kids gun safety," he
said.
Newman said he is concerned that many children have become
desensitized to the improper handling of guns through movies
and video games. He said he wouldn't object to basic safety
training that would inform children what do if they are at a
friends' home and a gun is discovered.
He said it seems more and common that the school system is
forced to take on parenting duties not necessarily connected
with education. He said he has spoken with the Loudon police
chief about possible ways to provide voluntary instruction,
perhaps through the National Rifle Association or a local
gun club.
David Twiggs, a former county commissioner and local leader
of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, spoke before
the board about a program called SMART that his
organizations promotes.
The SMART program is endorsed by the National Parent Teacher
Association and is designed to be implemented by PTAs with
strong emphasis on parent involvement.
Board members Craig Simon and Leroy Tate raised the issue of
liability and questioned whether gun safety training was the
responsibility of schools that are already challenged to
provide instruction with the limited time and resources
available.
Board member Jeremy Buckles agreed that gun safety should
start with the parents but added that he thought it might be
a good idea to offer programs after school that would focus
on core principles of gun safety.
Schools Director Jason Vance said he was concerned about the
potential loss of instructional time. He said the school
system already takes some responsibility for safety issues
outside school, including urging students to wear bicycle
helmets and teaching fire safety.
In an interview before the school board meeting, Loudon
County Sheriff Tim Guider expressed support for education as
a means to reduce firearm accidents. He said he didn't think
school resource officers would be the best way to provide
the instruction because it might take them away from their
primary duties of providing security for the schools.
Board members said conversations on the issue would
continue.