Heather Grant

I am writing to oppose HB 1830, which would mandate firearm safety education in all New Hampshire public schools. At its core, this bill shifts responsibility away from the adults who own and purchase firearms and places it onto children. Firearm safety is — and must remain — the responsibility of adults, not students. New Hampshire has long valued personal responsibility, and this bill undermines that principle by treating children as the primary line of defense against unsafe gun storage and unsafe adult behavior. If the Legislature is serious about reducing accidental shootings, the most effective and direct approach is simple: Require safety training for all gun purchasers, just as we require training for activities far less dangerous than owning a firearm. Adults who choose to own guns should be the ones held accountable for understanding safe handling and secure storage. HB 1830 also explicitly references the Eddie Eagle program, which is developed and promoted by the NRA. Embedding a branded curriculum from a political advocacy organization into public schools raises serious concerns about neutrality, appropriateness, and the influence of outside groups on our education system. Public schools should not be required to adopt materials tied to any lobbying organization, especially on an issue as sensitive and politically charged as firearms. Finally, this bill adds yet another unfunded mandate to schools already stretched thin. Educators are not asking for this. Families are not asking for this. And children should not be tasked with compensating for gaps in adult responsibility. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the committee to vote “Inexpedient to Legislate” on HB 1830. Thank you for your consideration.