ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 65
BY REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work with the Department
of Education and the Louisiana School Boards Association to provide firearm and
hunter education as a voluntary physical education elective in public high schools.
WHEREAS, Louisiana law requires a person born after September 1, 1969, to have
successfully completed a firearm and hunter education program approved by the Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries prior to receiving a hunting license; and
WHEREAS, firearm and hunter education programs teach the state's youth not only
how to hunt but also how to use weapons responsibly, how to respect weapons and their
capabilities, and tries to make them understand that the use of a firearm is not akin to a video
game, all of these being lessons that could reduce the occurrence of severe incidents or
mistakes involving a firearm; and
WHEREAS, firearm and hunter programs include instruction in areas such as
understanding responsibilities as a sportsman; understanding hunting ethics; demonstrating
the safe handling of firearms; understanding and identifying different types of firearms,
ammunition, and the correct usage of both; learning how to practice safe firearms cleaning
and storage in the home; the basic principles of wildlife management, conservation, and
preservation; and understanding how hunters can be conservation tools in wildlife
management; and
WHEREAS, familiarity with these principles, equipment, and responsibilities can
benefit our society overall and may well reduce the number of gun-related accidents; and
WHEREAS, several states, such as Kansas, Iowa, and South Carolina, have instituted
programs whereby students in their middle and high schools may opt to meet their firearm
and hunter education obligations through their physical education classes; and
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WHEREAS, Louisiana's firearm and hunter education program requires passage of
an online test of the laws and knowledge of firearm equipment; basic shooting skills; basic
hunting skills; how to be a safe, responsible, and ethical hunter; and survival skills; followed
by four to six hours of hands-on experience in outdoor shooting, blood trailing, tree stand
safety, and more survival skills; and
WHEREAS, all of these principles and learning experiences are necessary for those
people who want to be outdoors hunting but the classes also provide knowledge and skills
that are generally useful across the board and are skills and information that can easily and
quickly be relayed through voluntary physical education classes; and
WHEREAS, since the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is currently statutorily
tasked with overseeing the firearm and hunter education programs, having them partner with
the Department of Education and the Louisiana School Boards Association allows delivery
of training that is consistent and at the core of the department's mission, and enables the
department to reach out to the next generation of Louisiana sportsmen and women through
programs coordinated throughout the state's schools.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request 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
physical education elective in the public high schools.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the state superintendent of education,
and the executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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