By:  Danburg                                          H.C.R. No. 24
       73R2990 PFG-D
                                 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, The loss of a child as the result of a firearms
    1-2  accident is a tragic event made even more so because it is often
    1-3  preventable; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Currently, our nation has approximately 60 million
    1-5  gun owners and an estimated 200 million firearms in private
    1-6  ownership that are potential accidents waiting to happen in the
    1-7  hands of an unsuspecting child; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, In addition, many children play with toy guns that
    1-9  closely resemble real weapons and watch television programs and
   1-10  movies that routinely portray the irresponsible and unsafe handling
   1-11  of guns--factors that tend to blur the distinction between
   1-12  make-believe and reality and encourage unsafe behavior; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Fortunately, the National Rifle Association (NRA),
   1-14  education professionals, urban housing safety officials, clinical
   1-15  psychologists, and firearms safety experts working together have
   1-16  developed a gun safety program designed for children in
   1-17  pre-kindergarten through sixth grade; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, The Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program teaches the
   1-19  fundamentals of firearms safety to children in an effective and
   1-20  enjoyable way, emphasizing the correct safety procedure through
   1-21  numerous activities and materials that include workbooks, games, a
   1-22  video, class discussion, and role-playing scenarios; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, Participating children receive certificates of merit
   1-24  and stickers and posters of Eddie Eagle, the program's lovable
    2-1  feathered mascot, in addition to invaluable safety training that
    2-2  could save a life; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, Available free or at nominal cost, this worthwhile
    2-4  program is gaining popularity in many of our state's school
    2-5  districts and police departments; by the first half of 1992, 131
    2-6  school districts, including the Dallas Independent School District,
    2-7  and 11 police departments in our state had used the Eddie Eagle
    2-8  program; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Teaching children to act safely around firearms is a
   2-10  critical step in the effort to reduce the number of firearms
   2-11  accidents among children; now, therefore, be it
   2-12        RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas
   2-13  hereby encourage the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to promote the
   2-14  use of the NRA's Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program in our schools to
   2-15  help prevent firearms accidents among children; and, be it further
   2-16        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-17  prepared for the TEA as a formal expression of the sentiment of the
   2-18  Texas Legislature.