Knimrod
11-08-2005, 10:27 PM
Child safety first
Programs aim to teach students about guns
MILLARD K. IVES
THE STAR-BANNER
Nov. 8, 2005 7:30 am
OCALA - There is this trick with a bang that Ocala police Cpl. Ella Daniels likes to play on elementary students in her presentations for D.A.R.E., a drug abuse and violence prevention program.
She brings to class a large glass case of confiscated Glocks, pistols and Uzis, including a gun painted lime green to look like a toy. She asks the class what they would do if they found one of them.
As the children take several seconds to decide, she pops a giant balloon hidden behind the display. She watches in bitter amusement as the children jump or scream - just before they start to giggle at the sight of her raising the shreds of balloon. Even the teacher, who knows in advance about the balloon trick, can't help but be startled.
"Seconds," Daniels shouts to the students, "that's how long it takes for a gun to accidentally go off in your hand."
In 2001, the latest numbers available, 182 children died from accidental shootings, according to the Children's Defense Fund, a nonprofit child advocacy group based in Washington. Five of them were from Florida.
Local schools and law enforcement have made gun safety a priority.
Last Friday, a 13-year-old was accidentally shot to death at his home in Meadowridge subdivision. He and two 11-year-old twins were skipping school when they found a .30-30 rifle in a closet, according to Marion County Sheriff's Office reports.
As one of the twins was putting the gun back, it went off in his hands. The bullet hit West Port Middle School student James "Jay" C. Wallace in the back and killed him.
In May, another 11-year-old boy, with a shotgun, wounded his 9-year-old brother in the leg while they played with the loaded gun at their father's house in Marion County.
IN THE SCHOOLS
It's these types of incidents that are being targeted by several local elementary schools. A gun-safety program by the National Rifle Association advises children when they find a gun to: Stop, don't touch it, leave the area and tell an adult. The Eddie Eagle Program is used by schools, law enforcement agencies and other groups concerned with the safety of children, said Jorge Amselle, an NRA spokesman.
It isn't to teach whether guns are good or bad, but rather to promote the protection and safety of children, Amselle said. He said the program has reached 18 million children across the nation.
Marion County Fire-Rescue helped start a Risk Watch program in several elementary schools in April. It addresses safety topics, including the dangers of firearms.
West Port Middle School has a segment called Student Improvement Time, which is taught in individual classrooms and addresses issues concerning students to help them make good choices. In light of Friday's shooting, Principal Jayne Ellspermann said the school soon will address gun safety in the segment.
"We want to make sure our children understand guns are dangerous, can hurt and, in fact, kill," she said on Monday.
Jay, an eighth-grader, was well-liked at school.
"It's been a very difficult day. He was a very good friend to many," Ellspermann said.
OWNER RESPONSIBILITY
Local law enforcement has taken other steps in recent years to encourage gun safety. The Ocala Police Department held a gun buy-back program a couple years ago. The Sheriff's Office provides gun locks with every gun that is returned to the owner from its evidence department.
The Sheriff's Office and Ocala police provide free gun locks to gun owners requesting them.
Sandy Brygider is the manager of Ocala Armory, which holds thousands of guns on display. He said Monday that most new guns come with gun locks. They decrease the number of children being able to pull the trigger on firearms they find.
"A lot of children just don't realize the power that's in their hands when they are holding guns," Brygider said.
Officials point out that gun owners have the biggest responsibility.
Jay's father, James Wallace Sr., told the Star-Banner on Friday that the gun was kept in the master bedroom well out of his son's reach. He said it was never loaded, and he was not aware of any rounds in the home.
The State Attorney's Office is still investigating the case.
Amselle said Eddie Eagle promotes gun safety among children, but, with guns in their home, parents ultimately are responsible.
Jay and the twins had skipped school Friday - they hid their bikes behind the home - and went inside and played on the computer. Cpl. Daniels said that, ironically, she was in a meeting Thursday night with truant students and their parents, who were being told how much trouble children can get into while playing hooky. When Daniels heard of the shooting the next day, "it was mind-boggling," she said.
Link to story (http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051108/NEWS/211080346/)
Programs aim to teach students about guns
MILLARD K. IVES
THE STAR-BANNER
Nov. 8, 2005 7:30 am
OCALA - There is this trick with a bang that Ocala police Cpl. Ella Daniels likes to play on elementary students in her presentations for D.A.R.E., a drug abuse and violence prevention program.
She brings to class a large glass case of confiscated Glocks, pistols and Uzis, including a gun painted lime green to look like a toy. She asks the class what they would do if they found one of them.
As the children take several seconds to decide, she pops a giant balloon hidden behind the display. She watches in bitter amusement as the children jump or scream - just before they start to giggle at the sight of her raising the shreds of balloon. Even the teacher, who knows in advance about the balloon trick, can't help but be startled.
"Seconds," Daniels shouts to the students, "that's how long it takes for a gun to accidentally go off in your hand."
In 2001, the latest numbers available, 182 children died from accidental shootings, according to the Children's Defense Fund, a nonprofit child advocacy group based in Washington. Five of them were from Florida.
Local schools and law enforcement have made gun safety a priority.
Last Friday, a 13-year-old was accidentally shot to death at his home in Meadowridge subdivision. He and two 11-year-old twins were skipping school when they found a .30-30 rifle in a closet, according to Marion County Sheriff's Office reports.
As one of the twins was putting the gun back, it went off in his hands. The bullet hit West Port Middle School student James "Jay" C. Wallace in the back and killed him.
In May, another 11-year-old boy, with a shotgun, wounded his 9-year-old brother in the leg while they played with the loaded gun at their father's house in Marion County.
IN THE SCHOOLS
It's these types of incidents that are being targeted by several local elementary schools. A gun-safety program by the National Rifle Association advises children when they find a gun to: Stop, don't touch it, leave the area and tell an adult. The Eddie Eagle Program is used by schools, law enforcement agencies and other groups concerned with the safety of children, said Jorge Amselle, an NRA spokesman.
It isn't to teach whether guns are good or bad, but rather to promote the protection and safety of children, Amselle said. He said the program has reached 18 million children across the nation.
Marion County Fire-Rescue helped start a Risk Watch program in several elementary schools in April. It addresses safety topics, including the dangers of firearms.
West Port Middle School has a segment called Student Improvement Time, which is taught in individual classrooms and addresses issues concerning students to help them make good choices. In light of Friday's shooting, Principal Jayne Ellspermann said the school soon will address gun safety in the segment.
"We want to make sure our children understand guns are dangerous, can hurt and, in fact, kill," she said on Monday.
Jay, an eighth-grader, was well-liked at school.
"It's been a very difficult day. He was a very good friend to many," Ellspermann said.
OWNER RESPONSIBILITY
Local law enforcement has taken other steps in recent years to encourage gun safety. The Ocala Police Department held a gun buy-back program a couple years ago. The Sheriff's Office provides gun locks with every gun that is returned to the owner from its evidence department.
The Sheriff's Office and Ocala police provide free gun locks to gun owners requesting them.
Sandy Brygider is the manager of Ocala Armory, which holds thousands of guns on display. He said Monday that most new guns come with gun locks. They decrease the number of children being able to pull the trigger on firearms they find.
"A lot of children just don't realize the power that's in their hands when they are holding guns," Brygider said.
Officials point out that gun owners have the biggest responsibility.
Jay's father, James Wallace Sr., told the Star-Banner on Friday that the gun was kept in the master bedroom well out of his son's reach. He said it was never loaded, and he was not aware of any rounds in the home.
The State Attorney's Office is still investigating the case.
Amselle said Eddie Eagle promotes gun safety among children, but, with guns in their home, parents ultimately are responsible.
Jay and the twins had skipped school Friday - they hid their bikes behind the home - and went inside and played on the computer. Cpl. Daniels said that, ironically, she was in a meeting Thursday night with truant students and their parents, who were being told how much trouble children can get into while playing hooky. When Daniels heard of the shooting the next day, "it was mind-boggling," she said.
Link to story (http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051108/NEWS/211080346/)