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.