If the Legislature wants to do something about gun violence, then I suggest they begin with education! Just as the Legislature enacted legislation to require driver’s ed in order for a person to obtain a driver’s license, they could do the same with firearm and safety knowledge.

Simply require that all students in order to graduate from high school complete an eight-hour firearms and firearms safety class taught by a certified instructor. This would take up about one hour per week for eight weeks in order to make sure that all students have a basic knowledge about firearms and safety.

I believe the Legislature enacted the driver’s ed requirement to hopefully reduce the number of accidents and deaths caused by motor vehicles and their drivers. I am sure that some firearm and firearm safety knowledge would be a step in the right direction to reduce firearm violence. It would certainly do more than the myriad of bills which penalize responsible gun owners and do little to nothing to address gun violence!

Catherine Paxton

Arlington