Is NRA Curriculum Coming to Iowa Schools?
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On a recent morning, as I entered our Pella studio, I was greeted by Dave, a close friend and coworker, who wasted no time in asking me a question.
"What are your thoughts on the gun legislation being considered at the Statehouse?" he inquired, or something along those lines.
Like many of you, I have become desensitized by the countless mass shootings in America and frustrated by the fact that NRA-influenced Republicans refuse to support gun control measures that the majority of Americans desire. It is disheartening to see Republican lawmakers across the nation working tirelessly to expand access to firearms, even in places like schools. As of April 11, there have already been 145 mass shootings this year alone. Shockingly, gun-related deaths now surpass fatalities from violent car accidents as the leading cause of death for American children aged 1 to 18.
Though I can’t recall the exact response I gave to Dave, I likely muttered that I didn’t possess sufficient knowledge on the topic. He asked why.
"Republicans want guns in schools, and they also want to introduce hunter training programs within school curriculums. My home is firearm-free, and my children’s homes are also free of firearms. Yet, they want to expose my grandchildren to a gun culture that none of us, including my wife, children, or their spouses, have any interest in. We want nothing to do with it," he conveyed.
Or at least something along those lines. I lack the aptitude as a writer to adequately describe the frustration Dave feels.
While the specifics of our conversation and my thoughts at the time blend together, here is a general summary: Republicans are incessantly undermining our public schools by depriving them of adequate funding, imposing bans on certain books, demanding the removal of crucial curriculum, censoring history they deem undesirable, burdening teachers with additional responsibilities and diminishing their morale. Consequently, many educators are leaving the profession, leading to a decline in the quality of our schools. Furthermore, they are subjecting gay and transgender students to harm by outing them, even if it places them in danger.
All the while, Republicans are diverting public funds towards private schools without any form of financial accountability. This is being done to further their own agenda and perpetuate Republican ideology. While they claim it is about school choice, it is truly about power and ideology. I have previously written about this matter here.
The specific legislation to which Dave referred is House File 654. Part of this bill permits the presence of guns on school premises. Similar to Dave and the Democrats in the Legislature, I firmly believe that guns should not be allowed in schools.
However, my primary concern lies in the section that promotes the teaching of "firearm safety." This is what Dave and I chiefly discussed – the introduction of children to a gun subculture against their parents’ wishes. Let me be clear, I understand the significance of firearms in rural areas, as I previously discussed in an article for the New York Times five years ago.
Although the title of the relevant section of the bill is "Firearm Safety Instruction Programs in Schools," its true intention extends beyond mere safety instruction. It is about indoctrinating students into that particular subculture. And who will be responsible for this indoctrination? The NRA.
Yes, the NRA – the very organization that has consistently obstructed efforts to establish common-sense gun regulations that the American people demand. The NRA tirelessly advocates against initiatives such as gun registration, red flag laws, and bans on assault weapons. Now, if this legislation passes in Iowa, the NRA, the very organization that plays a role in school shootings, will be present in our schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade, potentially before some children can even read.
Does this seem difficult to believe? The pertinent section is provided below (though I cannot find a similar section in the companion bill in the Senate, Senate File 543).
Take a look at the cheerful group of characters known as Eddie Eagle and the Wing Team, brought to you by the NRA. They certainly seem like a fun bunch! Perhaps your elementary-aged children or grandchildren can relate to one of these characters. In just over eight minutes, they provide an important lesson: "STOP! Don’t touch. Run away. Tell a grown-up!" (Although I’m tempted to analyze this cartoon further, I’ll refrain from doing so for now).
I believe it’s crucial for children to learn about gun safety. However, it could be incorporated into health classes or taught during an annual classroom lesson or assembly. Some may argue that only the NRA offers such lessons, but that’s simply a weak excuse.
However, this legislation does not call for a basic lesson. Instead, it proposes programs based on those offered by the NRA. These programs would require courses and instructors. How long will these programs or courses last? What will they cost? The legislation mentions that the program will be developed and distributed, but by whom? I suspect that a private company is currently creating the curriculum, which will then be sold to schools or the state. This means even more taxpayer money that could have gone towards our schools will end up in the hands of private entities.
It seems that these programs can also be developed locally, and the instructors don’t have to be certified teachers. When our children participate in these courses, what knowledge are they missing out on? And do we really need these classes every single year? Of course not, but that would only amplify the indoctrination.
Perhaps the NRA will offer these courses for free! Why not? After all, once these young children are indoctrinated, they may become gun owners and NRA members within a few years. Who knows, they might even sport a MAGA tattoo on their foreheads or display Trump imagery on their clothes, much like certain Republican members of Congress wearing AR-15 pins!
The bill states that schools should offer hunter education courses from grades 7 to 12. This clearly goes beyond the scope of gun safety. It seems more like indoctrination. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against hunting. It’s a part of rural life.
The tragic irony here is that starting from kindergarten, this legislation will make the NRA and its harmful anti-gun-regulation stance a normal part of our schools, even as mass shootings continue to claim the lives of more and more school children.
In the same way that public funds are used to support private schools that promote Republican ideology, bringing the NRA into our school curriculum will have a similar effect. Our children will be indoctrinated into the culture of guns, the NRA, and likely the Republican Party. It’s all part of their long-term strategy.
There’s another irony at play here. The attempt to introduce the NRA into our schools seems to have bipartisan support. If this is true, then Democrats are unintentionally playing right into the hands of Republicans.
I suspect that Dave and I will discuss this aspect on Monday morning.
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