The Eddie Eagle GunSafe program, the NRA’s safety program that is geared toward gun-accident prevention among children, continues to thrive. While it marked a major milestone of serving 30 million children earlier this year, it more recently surpassed the next million-served mark. That translates to reaching more than 1 million children every year.
The program was created in 1988 under the presidency of Marion P. Hammer, and it was the result of a consultative effort between elementary school teachers, law enforcement officers and child psychologists. The goal was to come up with an effective way to teach pre-schoolers through third-graders the basic rules to follow if they come across a gun.
The premise is simple: “If you see a gun: STOP! Don’t touch. Run away. Tell a grown-up.” And since the program’s founding, more than 26,000 representatives from those groups have come together to teach the concept.
“Since our founding, the NRA has been committed to firearm safety, responsibility and education,” said NRA Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Wayne LaPierre. “Those important concepts are the hallmarks of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. Eddie’s incredible success is proof that proactive accident prevention education works, and works well. Our children are our future, and it’s our responsibility to teach them how to stay safe. To that end, the NRA will continue to work with community leaders to reach youths across our great nation.”
The method has been well-received across the nation, with governors and/or legislative bodies from about half the states proclaiming its merits and recommending the program.
