News Release - NPU Officers Teach Gun Safety in Elementary Schools

In an effort to educate children about the dangers of firearms, officers with the Neighborhood Policing Unit are visiting elementary schools with a 45-minute presentation designed to promote gun safety. The first in a series of presentations was held at Discovery Elementary School on Monday. Officer Ron Lugo is spearheading the effort in conjunction with the National Sports Shooting Foundation in an operation called “Project Child Safe.” The program is set up in two phases. The first phase has officers conducting presentations to sixth grade students at all of the City’s elementary schools. The presentations consist of a short video entitled, “You Make the Call” which covers two scenarios involving children with guns, one of which details a true story told from the victim of a shooting that left him paralyzed for life because he and his friends were “playing” with a loaded gun.

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control, 2004 data, 1,804 children and teenagers were murdered in gun homicides, 846 committed suicide with guns, and 143 died in unintentional shootings in the U.S. Firearms are the second leading cause of death (after motor vehicle accidents) for youth aged 19 and under in the United States.

The children also learn a pledge with a reminder of what they will do if they find a firearm, or see another student with a firearm. “Children need to know that there is no such thing as a gun that’s not loaded,” said Officer Ron Lugo. “Our goal is to prevent a tragedy, and create responsible, educated children in terms of exposure to these situations.”

Phase two consists of providing free gun locks to citizens. Gun locks will be available at Department events, or by contacting the Neighborhood Policing Unit at NPU@pbfl.org.

Photo: Officer Ron Lugo at Discovery Elementary School

^Top