Park City Schools to teach firearm safety lesson under new Utah law

Photo: TownLift // Rayne Moynahan

PARK CITY, Utah — This fall, students in grades three through five at Park City elementary schools will participate in a 20-minute classroom session focused on teaching basic firearm safety, following Utah’s newly enacted HB 104. The lesson will be facilitated by a school counselor and the school resource officer and is part of the state’s mandate for public schools to provide firearm safety instruction.

Background and Legislative Context

Enacted in March 2025, HB 104 requires local education agencies (LEAs) to offer developmentally appropriate firearm safety instruction to:

• Every elementary student (kindergarten through grade 6) once a year.
• Each middle and high school student at least once while enrolled in those schools.

The statute emphasizes the safe handling and storage of firearms, reinforcing the idea that firearms are not to be treated as toys. It instructs students to “stop, leave, and tell an adult” if they encounter a firearm.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Rex Shipp (R-Cedar City), passed with bipartisan support after several years of debate over how, and whether,  firearm safety should be taught in schools. Supporters described it as a preventive public-safety measure, while opponents questioned adding more mandates to school schedules. According to the Deseret News, the legislation was shaped in collaboration with the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Shooting Sports Council to ensure lessons were “neutral, nonpolitical, and focused solely on safety.

Parents must be notified in advance, and schools must provide an alternative activity for students who choose to opt out of the session.

Local Implementation

In the Park City School District, the 20-minute lesson will include:

• A short (2-minute) video featuring McGruff the Crime Dog titled “Molly’s Mischief.”
• A whole-class follow-up worksheet that prompts students to reflect on what to do if they encounter a firearm, identify trusted adults, and work through true/false statements such as “If you find a gun, you must tell an adult right away.”
• A classroom question box where students can submit anonymous questions.

The lesson will be delivered jointly by the school counselor and the school resource officer. Families are invited to attend, and students must opt in by submitting a permission slip. Students who do not opt in will be assigned to complete an unrelated activity during that time.

Why Now, and What’s at Stake

Supporters of the law argue that, given the prevalence of firearm ownership in Utah households, children should receive brief but clear instruction on how to respond if they ever find themselves in a risky situation. A bill summary indicates that while Utah previously offered optional firearm-safety lessons, HB 104 makes them mandatory.

Critics caution that schools already face crowded curricula and suggest that firearm safety may be better addressed by parents and guardians rather than being incorporated into the school day.

“This new legislation offers an opportunity to reinforce a clear and consistent safety message — students who encounter a firearm should stop, leave the area immediately, and notify a trusted adult,” said Superintendent Lyndsay Huntsman. “We appreciate the partnership of families, counselors, and School Resource Officers (SROs) in ensuring this message is reinforced across both school and home environments.”

What the Students Will Learn

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify safe storage and handling practices for firearms.
• Recognize the importance of telling a trusted adult if they see a firearm improperly stored.
• Recall the four-step rule: “Stop, Don’t Touch It, Get Away, and Tell an Adult.”
• Use the classroom question box to ask any anonymous questions.

Looking Ahead

The school plans to revisit this topic at least once a year for each elementary class, in accordance with the law. As students transition to middle and high school, the curriculum is expected to expand to cover responsible use and storage in more depth. The state’s new standards require that the instruction be developmentally appropriate.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend or review materials sent home to facilitate ongoing conversations at home.