Educating Children About Gun Safety
The information on this page is noted directly from the NRA website.
NRA's Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program
Parents are ultimately responsible for the behavior and safety of their children. For parents who have decided that their child is not ready to be trained in a gun's handling and use, it is important they teach him or her what to do if he or she encounters a firearm anywhere. Parents can use the NRA's Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program which teaches four key steps for children to follow when they find a gun. The four steps include:
- Stop!
- Don't touch.
- Leave the area.
- Tell an adult.
The initial steps of "Stop" and "Don't Touch" are the most important. To counter the natural impulse to touch a gun, it is imperative that you impress these steps of the safety message upon your child.
In today's society, where adult supervision is not always possible, the direction to "Leave the Area" is also essential. Under some circumstances, area may be understood to be a room if your child cannot physically leave the apartment or house.
"Tell an Adult" emphasizes that children should seek a trustworthy adult, neighbor, relative or teacher -- if a parent or guardian is not available.
Disclaimer: This webpage is not intended as a complete course in gun safety and is not a substitute for formal, qualified instruction in the handling, use, or storage of firearms. The guidelines herein should be considered options to minimize the chance of an accident occurring in the home.