A new legislative proposal would offer optional training to Utah's middle school students on what to do if they encounter a weapon or if a gunman enters their school.

Republican Sen. Todd Weiler, who sponsors the proposal, says not all parents may know how to talk to their kids about those issues.

The course would include instruction on what to do if a student brings a gun to school, for whatever reason, or how to stay safe if there's a school shooter.

If schools or districts choose to offer the class, parents would have to give consent for their child to participate.

Weiler says no guns will be brought into the class.

His bill is geared toward eighth-grade students, but Weiler said he's considering changing that to sixth- or seventh-graders.