HLS 19RS-625 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 65
BY REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Urges and requests the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
to work with the Department of Education and the Louisiana School Boards
Association to provide hunter education as a voluntary physical education elective
in public high schools
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work with the Department
3 of Education and the Louisiana School Boards Association to provide firearm and
4 hunter education as a voluntary physical education elective in public high schools.
5 WHEREAS, Louisiana law requires a person born after September 1, 1969, to have
6successfully completed a firearm and hunter education program approved by the Department
7of Wildlife and Fisheries prior to receiving a hunting license; and
8 WHEREAS, firearm and hunter education programs teach the state's youth not only
9how to hunt but also how to use weapons responsibly, how to respect weapons and their
10capabilities, and tries to make them understand that the use of a firearm is not akin to a video
11game, all of these being lessons that could reduce the occurrence of severe incidents or
12mistakes involving a firearm; and
13 WHEREAS, firearm and hunter programs include instruction in areas such as
14understanding responsibilities as a sportsman; understanding hunting ethics; demonstrating
15the safe handling of firearms; understanding and identifying different types of firearms,
16ammunition, and the correct usage of both; learning how to practice safe firearms cleaning
17and storage in the home; the basic principles of wildlife management, conservation, and
18preservation; and understanding how hunters can be conservation tools in wildlife
19management; and
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HCR NO. 65
1 WHEREAS, familiarity with these principles, equipment, and responsibilities can
2benefit our society overall and may well reduce the number of gun-related accidents; and
3 WHEREAS, several states, such as Kansas, Iowa, and South Carolina, have instituted
4programs whereby students in their middle and high schools may opt to meet their firearm
5and hunter education obligations through their physical education classes; and
6 WHEREAS, Louisiana's firearm and hunter education program requires passage of
7an online test of the laws and knowledge of firearm equipment; basic shooting skills; basic
8hunting skills; how to be a safe, responsible, and ethical hunter; and survival skills; followed
9by four to six hours of hands-on experience in outdoor shooting, blood trailing, tree stand
10safety, and more survival skills; and
11 WHEREAS, all of these principles and learning experiences are necessary for those
12people who want to be outdoors hunting but the classes also provide knowledge and skills
13that are generally useful across the board and are skills and information that can easily and
14quickly be relayed through voluntary physical education classes; and
15 WHEREAS, since the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is currently statutorily
16tasked with overseeing the firearm and hunter education programs, having them partner with
17the Department of Education and the Louisiana School Boards Association allows delivery
18of training that is consistent and at the core of the department's mission, and enables the
19department to reach out to the next generation of Louisiana sportsmen and women through
20programs coordinated throughout the state's schools.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
22urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work with the Department of
23Education and the Louisiana School Boards Association to provide hunter education as a
24physical education elective in the public high schools.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
26secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the state superintendent of education,
27and the executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association.
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HCR NO. 65
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 65 Original 2019 Regular Session Bishop
Urges and requests the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries to work with the Dept. of Education
and the La. School Boards Association to provide firearm and hunter education as a physical
education voluntary elective in public high schools.
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