[printer friendly (text) page]

Gun Safety Service Projects
by Cynthia Belliveau, Ph.D.

It seems that every time I pick up a paper, I see an article about someone being injured or killed in an accidental shooting. These senseless, tragic events stay with me, and my thoughts of the anguish of the affected families remains with me for a long time. Now more than ever, I think it is important for students to address the issue of keeping their families and friends safe from gun violence.

An example of a service-learning project addressing gun violence from Broward County Florida is CARGO (Communities Addressing Responsible Gun Ownership). CARGO focuses on safety education and preventative measures to reduced handgun injuries and death. Students and adults teach seminars in which attendees are shown a video about children finding and discharging a handgun and the resulting tragedy. The video is followed by brief presentation by a trauma surgeon who profiles the human toll associated with firearm violence and a psychologist who provides information on early warning signs of aggressive or threatening behavior. After the presentation, students can be engaged in a variety of service projects including:

• Creating brochures for families about how to keep guns out of the reach of children. Raising funds to purchase gun-locks for gun owners who cannot otherwise afford them. Presenting plays and skits to younger students about the dangers of guns. Organizing presentations by individuals who have been injured by guns, or have had a loved one killed.
• Researching the laws related to gun ownership in their community.

This is a perfect way to engage your students and encourage them to keep their peers and families safe from needless gun injuries.  Check out the following websites for other gun safety projects and ideas:

Go Ape Over Safety
http://www.safetyape.com/
Teaches safety and injury prevention through song.

Common Sense about Kids and Guns
http://www.kidsandguns.org/ Gives practical and helpful tips to keep homes safe from gun violence.

McGruff The Crime Dog
http://www.crimedog.com/ Coloring books, audio tapes and other materials for teaching safety to kids. SIDE-BAR

Statistics on gun ownership in America:

40% of American households with children have guns.  Peter Hart Research Associates Poll, July 1999. In 30% of handgun-owning households, the gun was stored unlocked and loaded at the time of the survey.  National Institute of Justice, "Guns in America: National Survey on Private Ownership and Use of Firearms," May 1997. 28% of gun-owning households with children do not always keep guns locked in a secure place.
Peter Hart Research Associates Poll, July 1999.

Of gun-owning households with children, one quarter only "occasionally" lock and store the bullets in a separate place from the gun. Peter Hart Research Associates Poll, July 1999.

48% of gun-owning households with children do not regularly make sure that guns are equipped with child safety or other trigger locks. Peter Hart Research Associates Poll, July 1999.

70% of Americans feel that more needs to be done to educate parents about how to keep their children safe from guns and on proper storage methods. Peter Hart Research Associates Poll, July 1999.

According to Newsweek, 64% of parents with children under 18 are somewhat or very concerned that their child could be harmed at a friend’s house where guns are kept.