Cumberland County Sheriff Casey Cox has announced that the National Rifle Association awarded the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office an Eddie Eagle costume to assist in teaching Cumberland County’s youth about gun safety.

“Our office is excited to have been awarded this costume and very happy to partner with the National Rifle Association for this terrific cause,” said Sheriff Cox. “We feel it will greatly enhance our office’s education efforts of gun safety to our county’s children. Plan to see Eddie Eagle present at many of our community events.”

Sheriff Cox began working with the NRA last year on a grant to purchase the Eddie Eagle costume and materials for teaching the Gun Safe® program. This effort was pursued so the classes could be taught without adding expense to Cumberland County taxpayers.  The Sheriff’s Office has been involved with teaching gun safety for some time but this grant will expand the program into all county schools, daycares, churches and groups that have Pre-K through 3rd grade age children and are interested in sponsoring a presentation. Presentations will include a Parent’s Guide to Gun Safety that will be given to each child.

Eddie Eagle Gun Safe® program is a gun accident prevention program developed by a task force made up of educators, school administrators, curriculum specialists, urban housing safety officials, clinical psychologists, law enforcement officials and National Rifle Association firearm safety experts.

It began in 1988 with one mission: teach children four simple, easy to remember steps so they know what to do if they ever come across a gun.

1. STOP 

2. DON’T TOUCH 

3. LEAVE THE AREA 

4. TELL AN ADULT 

Federal officials estimate that there are over 200 million firearms in the United States with studies suggesting they are kept in approximately half of all households. Whether or not a particular family owns firearms, chances are, neighbors and relatives do, making it likely that children will encounter a firearm at some point. From their earliest awareness, children are exposed to guns through cartoons, television shows and movies. They are curious about firearms and may have developed inaccurate perceptions of what a firearm is and does.

Eddie Eagle teaches them not to play with firearms with a simple, memorable four-part plan: “If you see a gun, STOP! Don’t Touch! Leave the Area! Tell an Adult!”

Neither Eddie nor any members of his Wing Team are ever shown touching a firearm, and there is no promotion of firearm ownership or use. The NRA does not make any sort of profit off the program, nor does it intend to. The goal of the Eddie Eagle Program is merely to prevent accidents and keep children safe.

The program is available to your group at no charge. If you are interested in Eddie Eagle and his Wing Team presenting to your children’s group from Pre-K through 3rd Grade contact Gary Howard at (931) 484-6176 or (931) 246-9882.