Whether or not NRAs Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program is the right way to teach safety to young children - Essay Example

Whether or not NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program is the right way to teach safety to young children Safety is the consideration of every individual and every parent want their children to learn this art. As they say that our safety is in our own hands, it is imperative to understand and educate ourselves not only on safety issues but ways and means to achieve them. One such measure is through NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program which teaches young children safe handling of gun which derives the basic principles of all firearms operations. What exactly NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program is? Before we start talking about the pros and cons of NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program, it is crucial to understand what exactly it is all about and what skills it offers young children. Designed a decade ago, the program was intended to cease accidents related to firearms in homes. "Stop! Dont touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult," is the slogan that National Rifle Associations Eddie Eagle gun-safety program came up with, in order to impart children with knowledge and skills to curb the dangerous consequence one may have to bear with firearms accidents. Arguments in Favour of the Program It has been statistically proven that the number of fatal accidents due to firearms has evidently reduced owing to NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program. The program has made a place for itself in schools also. Classrooms are filled with this gun-avoidance program that according to the teachers and school authorities is an approach to safeguard the safety interests of the young children. The program has a positive effect on both teachers as well as children, which according to the statistics have grown to 12 million. According to these schools who are benefitted by the program, "Just as Smokey the Bear teaches children not to play with matches," the NRA says on its World Wide Web site, "Eddie Eagle teaches them that firearms are not toys...” (Jessica L. Sandham. (April 19, 2000). NRAs Gun-Safety Course Finds Favor in Schools. Education Week. 10-12) “Last year the "EDDIE EAGLE" GUN-SAFE PROGRAM was presented by Pete Mathews and Dave Birchard to more than 30 toddlers at the PSD Cambridge Springs Preschool.” (Springs Rod & Gun Club. (2002). Learn Gun Safety with Eddie Eagle.) Other than the support of schools, Mike Fuljenz and Universal Coin and Bullion believes in the program and thus is sponsoring it. According to Fuljenz, it would help families to teach their children to be responsible, respect their safety and of those who are around, thereby contributing to the community at large. “Since 1988, The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program has been taught to more than 19 million children. A lot of our customers and employees are NRA members, shooting sports enthusiasts, parents and grandparents.” (PR Web. (October 6, 2009). Mike Fuljenz and Universal Coin & Bullion Sponsors the NRA Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. Topix. Retrieved from http://www.topix.net/content/prweb/2009/10/mike-fuljenz-and-universal-coin-bullion-sponsors-the-nra-eddie-eagle-gunsafe-program.) Arguments against the Program According to Heidi Prescott, the National Director, Fund for Animals, who opposes the NRA Safety Program, [NRA is] "a soft-sell approach to making guns more acceptable to children, done under the guise of gun safety." (Samantha Berman. (August 23, 1999). NRA Firing Back With "Eddie Eagle" Gun Program for Kids. Albion Monitor.) As per her, with NRA, there are more requirements for paediatric trauma care whose animation dressed as a superhero mascot eagle portrays the guns in a warm-fuzzy manner instead of kindling its dangerous effects. Another critic of NRA for a long time is Sugarman, for whom the mascot, Eddie Eagle, is a salesman for gun industry and not only a marketing tool as the company was caught saying, “[Eddie Eagle] is going to help us market to kids.” (Samantha Berman. (August 23, 1999). NRA Firing Back With "Eddie Eagle" Gun Program for Kids. Albion Monitor.) According to Sugarman, teaching kids is not worthwhile. However, if the company really wants to bring out any kind of change in the state of accidents caused by the firearms, they should address the parents instead and educate them about the importance of keeping firearms as guns away from the reach of children. It would be any day more effective than to burden the small minds of young children. For Suagrman, there is no difference between tobacco education programs that the tobacco industry funds and the Eddie Eagle Program. A think tank of Washington’s Violence Policy Center, Josh Sugarman is strictly against the agenda of the program. He feels that the company is trying to boost up their image in the name of the program and using it as a marketing tool in order to soften the employment of guns. Analysis It is a big debatable topic as everyone has a different perspective. But seeing the presence of children in the matter, it becomes imperative to analyse and solve the issue as soon as possible. We cannot forget that the schools are in favour of NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program and are providing both teachers as well as their students with the instructions and guidelines to safely handle an arm. This in itself proves that educational bodies, which study the psychology of a child also support the cause. Also, parents of the children who are being educated by the program are seeing nothing wrong in it otherwise the school authorities would never have been able to carry forward the program in their premises. There are many in favour of NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program and even NRA, which is funding this program from its non profit foundation and comes immediately to defend itself. As per them, one cannot force a person not to have firearms if they have children. Firearms are a part and parcel of our culture. The need is to prevent those accidents whose rate is going up and the worst affected are young children. Nancy Pretto, who is the spokesperson for NRA says that the organization could not ignore the need of preventing these accidents which were best possible by educating children about handling such firearms, if they come across any. The company is right on their part as there have been tremendous occasions where the NRA safety program has evidently reduced the chances of accidents. However, there seems to be no harm in educating children about the hazardous effects of playing with firearms which may even lead to fatal accidents. In fact, this would indeed build a kind of responsibility in the children for themselves as well as the society at large. But the question is whether their their soft and innocent minds ready to accept what we are teaching them or it is more of a trauma to their mental state? The training definitely makes the children understand their safety concerns and that of those around them but those who are against NRA are also right in their place saying that we cannot afford to pay a higher price of traumatising them. Sugarman is correct in saying that the need of education regarding handling of firearms is more for parents than children because at the end of the day it is their responsibility to ensure the safety of their innocent children. No one is more concerned than parents regarding the safety issues that surround their children. It is rightly put in light that if the children are too small to understand the problem that a gun or any other firearm may create, it is best to carry on programs for parents and teach them how to place their firearms away from the reach of their children and not to leave the firearm in any case loaded that increase the probabilities accidents. Just as the medicine companies warn people to keep the medicine away from the reach of their children as it may lead to fatal consequence otherwise, in the same way, parents should be told to keep arms away from the reach of their children. Or if they have small children who are fascinated with the concept of firearms and want to play with them like they do with their toys, it is best not to keep firearms at homes. This would cease all probabilities of accident of any kind and a small child does not have to go through the mental trauma of what to do and what not to do as he has seen a real gun. Conclusion Analysing both sides of the story and carefully studying the views and perspectives of all prominent statements by people of repute, I personally feel that the NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program definitely has reduced the number of accidents that were very prominent earlier due to firearms or guns. It has been statistically proven and those children showed no signs of any kind of trauma. They not only proved to be more responsible but also showed presence of mind during such situations where there were great chances of accidents that could be fatal in nature. But it is also right that no two kids are alike and thus some children may show signs of mental stress, which may not be healthy in their overall growth and personality development. I believe, in such a situation, it would be wise to carry on with the NRA’s Eddie Eagle Program but draw a line when it comes to younger children who may not respond well with the program. Also, prior to providing a child with the program, proper consultation from their parents should be a must. Since no one would be more concerned about the safety of a child other than his parents, the best way to deal the situation is to take their consent prior to providing a child with the program. They understand their child better and know how he or she would respond to such programs. Thus, this way the child would get to know the right way of ensuring safety whenever he comes across a firearm without affecting his mind thereby ensuring his/ her healthy growth. Bibliography Jessica L. Sandham. April 19, 2000. NRAs Gun-Safety Course Finds Favor in Schools. Education Week. 10-12. PR Web. Mike Fuljenz and Universal Coin & Bullion Sponsors the NRA Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. Topix. October 6, 2009. Learn Gun Safety With Eddie Eagle. Springs Rod & Gun Club. 2002. Samantha Berman. August 23, 1999. NRA Firing Back With "Eddie Eagle" Gun Program for Kids. Albion Monitor. NRA Guide To The Basics of Pistol Shooting. A Publication of the National Rifle Association of America. First Edition - May 2009. Read More