Gun safety taught to 2nd graders without parents' permission

How would you feel if your child was taught about guns without your consent?

How would you feel if your child gets home and tells you that they were taught about gun safety at school?

One mother said that it was propaganda

A mother from Florida was mortified when she found out that her son was taught about gun safety without her permission. The mother added that gun safety is a sensitive topic in their home, she adds, “They’ve just undone seven years of parenting in one hour.”

She shared that her son told her, “Mommy, you’re wrong. Toy guns are OK. See, guns are OK, mom. See? It says so right here.”

The mother added that the gun safety lesson was propaganda, since it was designed by the National Rifle Association (NRA). She added that she was concerned that the school might be affiliated with the pro-gun organization.

However, the school said that due to an oversight, parents did not receive the letter about the gun safety lesson which asked for their consent on teaching their kids about gun safety. They add that even if the lesson was created by the NRA, it was backed by education, public safety, and child development specialists.

The kids were taught by “Eddie the Eagle”

The gun safety program, called “Eddie the Eagle” was created back in 1988 by the NRA to help kids know what to do in case they encounter a firearm.

Here’s a sample clip from the program:

According to a spokesperson from the school district,

“The Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program was chosen because its gun–safetymessage is packaged in an engaging and easily-relatable presentation that resonates with students. This is key because the safety of our students is one of our highest priorities. The program does not contain any messaging about gunownership, use of firearms, endorsements, or political perspectives. Please note this is a voluntary presentation and parents may choose to opt their child out of participating. ‎Too many children grow up not being exposed to gun safety.”

Go to the next page to learn what to if your child likes guns.

What should you do if your child is interested in guns?

Most parents would agree that children shouldn’t handle guns. Some parents prefer to educate their child about the dangers of guns while others actually prevent their children from playing with toy guns or toys that look similar to guns.

Generally, boys are mostly the ones interested in playing with toy guns, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that girls aren’t interested in toy guns. So, what should you do if your child takes an interest in guns? Here are some tips that might help:

Communication is key. Talking with your child about guns is very important. Make sure to keep the conversation open and ask them why they’re interested in playing with toy guns. Keep it casual, don’t threaten your child or make them feel that they’re doing something wrong.
Monitor your child’s exposure to violence. While opinions are still split on whether violent shows and games can negatively affect kids or not, it’s important to make sure that the things your child are exposed to are age-appropriate. You don’t want a 7-year-old child to watch a violent movie since they won’t understand the concepts and what’s happening. Always know the things that your child is exposed to.
Know what games your kids play. Some kids like playing cops and robbers or playing soldier. Make sure that your child knows that it’s just play and make sure to place limits if they’re playing games like that too much. Anything in excess can be bad.
Toy guns should look like toys. It’s important to make sure that the toys that your kid plays with actually look like toys. Refrain from buying realistic toy guns since that might take away from the “play” aspect when it comes to guns. You should also teach your child never to point their toy guns at anyone that’s not part of their “game.”
Teach them gun safety. If you have guns at home, make sure that your children know just how dangerous guns are. Tell them to NEVER touch your guns and always keep them away and out of your children’s reach.

Sources: romper.com, actionnewsjax.com, pbs.org

Be sure to check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful stories, questions, and answers from parents and experts alike. If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from sg.theAsianparent.com!!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

Written by