Ross Co. Sheriff's deputies offer gun safety classes to school kids
The Chillicothe Gazette is reporting that Sgt. Dale Gillette and Lt. Don Dettillion of the Ross County Sheriff's Office have enlisted the help of the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program in an effort to educate children on what to do if they find a gun.
From the story:
- Parents who think their children have no idea where their handguns, rifles and ammunition are hidden should know the secret is out.
Kids know where the guns are hidden.
At least that's what about a dozen kids told Ross County sheriff's deputies Tuesday at a gun safety class.
It was shocking, but not the first time Sgt. Dale Gillette and Lt. Don Dettillion of the Ross County Sheriff's Office said kids have confessed their little secret.
While millions of guns in homes across America, Gillette said it is rare to run across an adult who takes the time to teach their children about guns.
"Parents really think if they say 'don't touch it' their kids will listen," Gillette told the newspaper. "That just doesn't always happen, and someone has to tell these kids how dangerous guns are."
Getting that message across is the reason Gillette and Dettillion have been crisscrossing the county teaching the Eddie Eagle gun safety program to fourth- and fifth-graders.
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The time to start educating them on gun safety is now, Gillette said, before it is too late. During the presentation, Dettillion used an incident of an accidental death occurred in Ross County several years ago and as an example for the children. At that time, a 5-year-old who got his hands on his father's gun accidentally shot and killed himself. "As I was carrying that little baby to the ambulance, he died in my arms," Dettillion told the children. "That's how dangerous guns are."
Again, from the story:
- "Guns are not toys," Gillette told the room of bright-eyed Paint Valley Elementary School students. "Never touch one. Never."
Instead, Gillette now only told kids what to do, but also showed them with the help of the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program.
"Stop, don't touch, leave the area and tell an adult," he said in singsong rhythm as Eddie Eagle danced along with the words on a video.
The lesson was not lost on the kids, who eagerly jumped up from their seats to show Gillette what they would do if they came across a gun.
"I'm glad to see everyone's got it," he said. "Nothing is worse then the story Lt. Detillion just told you about carrying that (child) outside. We at the sheriff's office don't want to receive a call like that about any one of you kids."
Paint Valley Principal Gary Uhrig said there have been no incidents in which a student there has brought a firearm to school. "The more kids know about pistols and guns the better they will be in the long run," Uhrig told the Gazette. "It's the younger kids who sometimes think guns are toys. But the dangers and risks associated with playing with guns are no laughing matter. Kids need to understand guns should never be touched."
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