PRINTER'S NO. 1398
No. 86 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY ROBBINS, HELFRICK, BRIGHTBILL, COSTA, EARLL,
MOWERY, THOMPSON, BELAN, PICCOLA, GERLACH, ARMSTRONG AND
TOMLINSON, OCTOBER 17, 1997
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, OCTOBER 17, 1997
A RESOLUTION
1 Declaring the month of October 1997 as "Pennsylvania Firearm
2 Safety Month" and encouraging organizations and the
3 Department of Education to support and use the Eddie Eagle
4 Gun Safety Program.
5 WHEREAS, The month of October begins another hunting season
6 for the sportsmen of this Commonwealth; and
7 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's hunting heritage represents an
8 honorable tradition and a recreational opportunity with many
9 socioeconomic benefits; and
10 WHEREAS, Many sports and recreational activities, including
11 hunting, are from time to time marred by unfortunate accidents;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania sportsmen and gun owners have not
14 rested on their firearm safety training laurels, and they view
15 any firearm accident, whether in the home or in the field, as
16 one too many; and
17 WHEREAS, It is the firm belief of the Senate of the
18 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Rifle Association
1 of America that teaching children to act safely is a critical
2 step in the effort to reduce the number of firearm accidents
3 among children; and
4 WHEREAS, The National Rifle Association of America, education
5 professionals, members of law enforcement, urban housing safety
6 officials, clinical psychologists and firearm safety experts
7 working together have developed a gun safety program designed
8 for children in prekindergarten through grade six; and
9 WHEREAS, The Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program is a nationally
10 recognized firearms safety program that has reached over 9.4
11 million children since its creation; and
12 WHEREAS, The Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program has received
13 numerous awards from the National Safety Council, the American
14 Legion Child Welfare Foundation and the National School Public
15 Relations Association; and
16 WHEREAS, The Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program teaches the
17 fundamentals of firearms safety to children in an effective and
18 enjoyable way, communicating to them the lifesaving message
19 offered by the program: "If you see a gun: STOP! DON'T TOUCH.
20 LEAVE THE AREA. TELL AN ADULT"; therefore be it
21 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
22 declare the month of October 1997 as "Pennsylvania Firearm
23 Safety Month"; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage civil and community
25 service organizations which are concerned about the safety and
26 well-being of the children of this Commonwealth to help support
27 the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program at the local level; and be it
28 further
29 RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage the Department of
30 Education to promote the use of the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety
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1 Program in our schools to help prevent firearm-related accidents
2 among children; and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
4 the National Rifle Association of America and the Pennsylvania
5 Department of Education.
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