Panel Shoots Down Fox’s Gun Proposal Activities Association Says Gun Training Doesn’t Belong In Idaho Schools

The Idaho High School Activities Association has said thanks but no thanks to schools Superintendent Anne Fox’s suggestion that riflery and other shooting sports should become extracurricular activities in Idaho’s junior high and high schools.

The association’s board voted the idea down at its December meeting. Critics of the Fox plan said guns have no place in public schools - particularly in light of the federal schools to Be Free of Weapons policy.

It bans weapons on school property and calls for a mandatory one-year expulsion of any student found with a weapon at school.

Fox says competitive shooting can boost self-esteem, increase students’ ability to focus and even help improve their relationships with parents.

“We throw kids out of school for a year if they bring a gun to school, and now we’re supposed to have a rifle team?” Moscow Superintendent Jack Hill said at a school board meeting during the week.

Liability issues alone would make the proposal almost impossible, said Don Armstrong, president of the activities association and Potlatch school superintendent.

Costs and facility concerns would be problems, he said.

Armstrong said to his knowledge, no school in Idaho has a shooting range, and construction would be expensive.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association does not recognize riflery as a sanctioned, competitive sport.

Others say Fox’s idea has merit, and could prevent gun-related injuries.

Steve Brandt, owner of Brandt’s Gun Shop, Moscow, is a National Rifle Association certified instructor. He said proper knowledge and training about firearms can prevent curious children from trying to play with them as toys.

“My father had guns and I’ve had guns for all of my kids’ lives and there’s never been a problem because they were taught there is a time and place for them and they are not toys,” he said.

Rhonda Edmiston, Fox public information officer, said the fear of firearms shouldn’t cause people to jump to conclusions about the idea.

“People tend to think that guns are dangerous, but used properly they aren’t,” she said.

From Brandt’s point of view, accurate information about any topic is always helpful and can prevent problems.

Some school officials concede that there’s nothing wrong about teaching children about the proper use of firearms, just not at school.

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