New Jersey fourth-graders learn gun safety

November 13, 2004
Asbury Park Press (NJ)

Union Beach students get smart about guns

"If you find a gun, don't touch it," instructed Patrolman Lisa Griffin of the Union Beach police department.

Griffin led a week-long program at the end of October on gun safety for kindergarten through fourth-grade students at Memorial School in Union Beach. On the last day she addressed Melanie Pozarwycki and Florence Byrne's fourth-grade classes.

Griffin explained that although adults may not know the way to handle the situation upon finding a gun, a child's curiousity can do further damage.

"You could be interfering with an investigation," she said. "How many of you have seen CSI?"

With that almost all the students in the room raised their hands.

"Then you know the importance of forensics and not getting your fingerprints on the gun."

"Don't guns have locks on them?" asked 10-year-old Michael Terpak.

"Yes," Griffin responded. "But it's a crime if a person under 16 years old picks up a gun. That's how serious we take gun laws in the state of New Jersey."

The classes then watched a 1998 video titled "Learning Gun Safety with Eddie Eagle" narrated by Jason Priestley and sponsored by the National Rifle Association. In the animated film, Eddie Eagle had four specific instructions for the students.

"If you see a gun -- Stop. Don't touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult."

And while most of the fourth-grade students said they thought the tape was a "bit corny," they were clearly excited to meet Eddie Eagle, the NRA's mascot used to teach children the importance of gun safety.

As the large brown bird entered the room they chanted, "Eddie, Eddie, Eddie!"

Click here to read the entire story in the Asbury Park Press (NJ).

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