A. In addition to the voluntary training in the use of bows and firearms prescribed in sections 15-713 and 15-714, any school district or charter school may offer as an elective course a one semester, one credit course in firearm marksmanship that shall be designated as the Arizona gun safety program course.

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 15-714.01

  • Charter school: means a public school established by contract with the state board of education, the state board for charter schools, a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents, a community college district or a group of community college districts pursuant to article 8 of this chapter to provide learning that will improve pupil achievement. See Arizona Laws 15-101
  • Course: means organized subject matter in which instruction is offered within a given period of time and for which credit toward promotion, graduation or certification is usually given. See Arizona Laws 15-101
  • person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association or public or private organization of any kind. See Arizona Laws 15-101
  • School district: means a political subdivision of this state with geographic boundaries organized for the purpose of the administration, support and maintenance of the public schools or an accommodation school. See Arizona Laws 15-101
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Arizona Laws 1-215

B. A pupil shall be deemed to have satisfactorily completed the Arizona gun safety program course by demonstrating that the pupil has the ability to safely discharge a firearm as defined in section 13-3101.

C. The course of instruction prescribed in this section shall be jointly developed by the Arizona game and fish commission, the department of public safety and private firearms organizations and may include materials provided by private youth organizations. At a minimum, the Arizona gun safety program course shall include each of the following:

1. Instruction on the rules of firearm safety.

2. Instruction on the basic operation of firearms.

3. Instruction on the history of firearms and marksmanship.

4. Instruction on the role of firearms in preserving peace and freedom.

5. Instruction on the constitutional roots of the right to keep and bear arms.

6. Instruction on the use of clay targets.

7. Practice time at a shooting range.

8. Actual demonstration by the pupil of competence with a firearm as defined in section 13-3101 by safely discharging the firearm at one or more targets.

D. School districts and charter schools shall arrange for adequate use of shooting range time by pupils in the Arizona gun safety program course at any established shooting range.

E. Pupils who satisfactorily complete the Arizona gun safety program course shall receive a certificate of accomplishment.

F. A person who is currently certified as a firearms safety instructor by the Arizona game and fish department, the national rifle association, a federal, state or local law enforcement agency, a branch of the United States military, a federal agency, the reserve officer training corps, the junior reserve officer training corps or the civilian marksmanship program is qualified to teach the Arizona gun safety program course.

G. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or expand the liability of any person under other provisions of law.