In a 1st grader's backpack: library book, PB&J, and ??

Perhaps the most depressing aspect of writing this blog is how easy it is to find material to write about.

Today, while still reeling from the news of the "too close for comfort" murders in the lobby of the Wilmington Courthouse, I read an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer headlined "7-year-old had gun in school."  The article describes how the boy, a 1st-grader, brought a loaded .357 Magnum to his Philadelphia elementary school and "was showing it to his classmates about 8:15 a.m. in the cafeteria."

Have you spent any time around elementary school boys lately?  I have, and I just keep picturing this scene in my mind:  One boy says, “Wait till you see what I have!”  He pulls the shiny gun out of his backpack and holds it up for his buddies to admire.  “Lemme see!” says one boy, reaching for it.  “Is it real?” another asks.  “Let ME see it!” cries another.  The first boy tries to pull it back out of reach of the others and BANG.  There’s the next 48-hour news cycle.  

Fortunately, this story didn’t go that way.  “Other students reported the incident to a school police officer.  The officer escorted the boy to the principal’s office, where school officials searched the student’s backpack and found the weapon,” the article explains.  An investigation is underway, and we can exhale, this time.  

Last week on Facebook I saw several links to on-line articles regarding "teaching children about guns."  (One example:  http://fox4kc.com/2013/01/30/nra-gun-safety-school-program-drawing-controversy/)  At least one Facebook group which strongly favors gun control seems to have reacted to the headline only, and declared this a terrible idea. 


This is one of those cases where it would be wonderful to live in a world where it wasn't necessary to teach children about guns, but none of us live in that world.  I would like to see a few key "gun avoidance/safety" rules taught in every school, starting at the preschool level. 

The NRA's Eddie the Eagle "Gunsafe" program teaches young kids:  "If you see a gun, STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an adult."

I don't know anything else about this program, so I can't condone it or object to it overall. I do agree with  critics who say that any such lessons for kids should be presented by school teachers or local law enforcement personnel, not by a pro-gun group.

But, to me, the message is completely appropriate.  It is simple, direct, and worth repeating.  Starting in preschool, teach young children:  "If you see a gun, STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an adult."  As children get older, we can begin telling them why and what could happen if they don't.

The article in today's paper goes on to say, "Monday's incident marked the second time in a week that a Philadelphia student had brought a loaded firearm to school.  A 7-year-old boy found a loaded revolver in his book bag Thursday....."  

If you see a gun, STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an adult.

Tell your children, your grandchildren, the kids next door.  We never know when the next incident will be too close for comfort.