: SAFETY FACTS & FIGURES! 78901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234 Sheriffs’ Association Endorses GunSafe Program (NAPSA)—The National Sheriffs’ Association formally endorsed the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. The program teaches children in pre-K through sixth grade that, if they find a gun, they should: STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult. “We are proud to partner with the National Rifle Association on this very important issue and we would like to express our full support for this program. Thesafety of our nation’s children is of paramount concern and I can think of no better way to provide them with knowledge about firearm safety than through the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program,” said Sheriff John Cary Bittick, President of the National Sheriffs’ Association. “This program, which has proven to be most effective, simply teaches children not to touch firearms and to tell adults immediately if they should come into contact with a firearm of any kind.” “We greatly appreciate the National Sheriffs’ Association’s recognition and supportof this program,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “Local law enforcement officers have helped deliver Eddie Eagle to 15 million children, andit is gratifying to receive a formal endorsement from people who work daily with community safety issues. An endorsement from the National Sheriffs’ Association is a great milestone for the program, and it will ultimately help savelives.” Accidental deaths with firearms have been decreasing for decades and are now at an alltime low among the U.S. population. Gun accident prevention programs are widely considered to be a major reason for the decline. Studies from the National Center for Health Statistics indicate a 56 A popular gun safety program has been endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association. percent drop in fatal firearm accidents among children since 1988, the year that Eddie Eagle began. The program was created by former NRA President Marion P. Hammerand developed in consultation with elementary schoolteachers, child psychologists, safety experts, and representatives of the law enforcement community. The program has now been taught by more than 20,000 teachers, police officers, and civic leaders, and has reached more than 15 million children. To help deliver the program, teachers are offered a variety of materials such as colorful student workbooks, an animated video, a CD-ROM, instructor guides, and posters. Materials for up to 300 children per school are available free to schools and law enforcement agencies. For more informa- tion on how to bring Eddie Eagle to your school or community, call (800) 231-0752.
