SALT LAKE CITY – Utah lawmakers want to teach middle school students about responsible gun ownership through a proposal to provide voluntary firearm safety classes in schools.

Republican state Sen. Todd Weiler introduced Senate Bill 276 to provide voluntary firearm safety classes for eighth grade students, though the measure would not permit actual guns at school, the Associated Press reports.

The bill was approved by a Senate committee Wednesday and is expected to go before the full Senate soon.

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The bill would give the state attorney general authority over firearms safety curriculum, which would stress that students should not touch guns if they find one, and to report it to an adult if they do, according to the news service.

Weiler said the classes would serve as a starting point for a conversation about guns at home, but Republican Sen. Mark Madsen believes that by advising students to stay clear of guns officials may be “reinforcing an irrational fear.”

“Former state representative Sylvia Andersen told Madsen that the curriculum would acknowledge that guns can be a useful tool and can be handled responsibly with parents. She said it is important for students to know that a gun found in an unexpected place should not be handled and should be reported,” the AP reports.

Dan Deuel, a National Rifle Association instructor, said he supports the legislation, and pointed out that it’s illegal for a minor to possess a firearm unless they are under the supervision of a parent or guardian.

The Utah Parent Teacher Association also seems to be on board with the idea, though the organization hasn’t yet fully vetted the legislation.

Debi Tabor, the PTA’s director of advocacy, “said she and the PTA will need to review the legislation in more detail, but so far she is excited about it,” according to the AP.

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According to the SB 276, the bill “creates a pilot program to provide instruction to public school student in grade 8 on firearm safety and violence prevention” and tasks the Attorney General with selecting a provider through a bid process, as well as developing the curriculum in consultation with the State Board of Education.

The bill also “requires the Office of the Attorney General, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, to report on the pilot program to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee” and would sunset if not reapproved by July 1, 2018.

The bill allocates $75,000 to the Attorney General to implement the program, which would go into effect on May 12, 2015, if approved, according to the bill.