Statham Police Department Offers Firearm Safety Program for Children

Developed through a collaboration between the National Rifle Association and qualified professionals, including clinical psychologists, reading specialists, teachers, curriculum specialists, urban housing safety officials and law enforcement personnel, the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program was first introduced in 1988.

In the nearly quarter of a century since then, the firearm safety program has reached more than 21 million children in all 50 states. The is proud to announce the department is immediately available to offer this very important program to 300 children with materials for both students and parents.

It is believed that 40 to 45 percent of American households have at least one firearm. According to the National Vital Statistics Report (Vol. 60, No. 4) published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preliminary studies show that 600 people may have lost their lives in 2010 in the U.S. due to accidental discharge of a firearm.

From their earliest awareness, children are exposed to the concept of guns through cartoons, television programs and movies. It’s natural for kids to be curious about firearms. Unfortunately, they often develop an inaccurate perception of what a firearm is or does.

Designed for children in pre-K through third grade, the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program does not seek to teach children whether guns are good or bad, but rather promotes firearm safety. Just as swimming pools, matchbooks and household chemicals can all pose a threat to young children, firearms are treated as a fact of everyday life in this program. Whether or not a family owns a firearm, chances are a child may have relatives and neighbors who do.

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program is available to local schools, day care centers, churches and civic groups. The interactive learning module includes a seven-minute DVD, a student workbook, a reward sticker, a certificate of accomplishment and a parents’ guide to gun safety. No live firearms are ever used in the program and participation is free.

At the heart of the program, Eddie Eagle teaches children not to play with firearms with a simple, memorable four-part plan: 

1. STOP! 
2. DON’T TOUCH. 
3. LEAVE THE AREA.
4. TELL AN ADULT.

If you would like more information about this program, call Michael Pruitt at the Statham Police Department, Neighborhood Watch and Community Oriented Policing Services, at 770-725-5992.

How do you teach your children and grandchildren about gun safety? Tell us in comments.

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