Parents play a key role in developing safe practices and are ultimately responsible for the behavior and safety of their children. Because isolated lessons and concepts can be quickly forgotten, repetition will keep children remember standard safety procedures. Parents can teach their children the Eddie Eagle Program at home. Simply call the Eddie Eagle Program at 800-231-0752 and request a sample kit. Each includes a copy of the student workbook, instructor’s guide, program statistics, a description of materials, and order form, and the Parents’ Guide to Gun Safety brochure. This text is also available as a brochure. To receive a copy of the “Parents’ Guide to Gun Safety” brochure, email eddie@nrahq.org or call (800-2310752). In a home where guns are kept, the degree of safety a child has rests squarely on the child’s parents. Parents who accept the responsibility to learn, practice and teach gun safety rules will ensure their child’s safety to a much greater extent than those who do no. Parental responsibility does not end, however, when the child leaves the home. It is critical for your child to know what to do if he or she encounters a firearm anywhere, and it is the parents’ responsibility to provide that training. There is no particular age to talk with your child about gun safety. A good time to introduce the subject is the first time he or she shows an interest in firearms, even toy pistols or rifles. Talking openly and honestly about gun safety with your child is usually more effective than just ordering him or her to “Stay out of the gun closet,” and leaving it at that. Such statements may just stimulate a child’s natural curiosity to investigate further. As with any safety lesson, explaining the rules and answering a child’s questions help remove the mystery surrounding guns. Any rules set for your own child should also apply to friends who visit the home. This will help keep your child from being pressured into showing a gun to a friend. If you have decided that your child is not ready to be trained in a gun’s handling and use, teach him or her to follow the instructions of NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. If you find a gun: STOP – DON’T TOUCH – LEAVE THE AREA – TELL AN ADULT.
