Frequently Asked Questions About Eddie Eagle

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® program is a gun accident prevention program for children in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. The main teaching tool for the program is a video, newly released in April 2015, featuring Eddie Eagle and the Wing Team. Eddie and his friends teach children that if they ever come across a gun in an unsupervised situation, they need to STOP! Don’t touch. Run away. Tell a grown-up.

In 1988, past NRA President Marion P. Hammer spearheaded the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program with a task force made up of educators, school administrators, curriculum specialists, urban housing safety officials, clinical psychologist, law enforcement officials and National Rifle Association firearm safety experts. Since then, it has reached more than 32 million children in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.

In 2015, the NRA introduced a brand new Eddie Eagle and his friends, the Wing Team. The updated program includes a new animated video, parent and teacher curriculum guides, a kid-friendly website and more. While Eddie’s look has changed, his mission to keep children safe from accidents involving firearms remains constant.

No! The program neither offers nor asks for any value judgment concerning firearms. Like safety lessons about swimming pools, electrical outlets and lighters, Eddie Eagle’s sole purpose is to give children crucial information about what to do if they ever come across a gun. With firearms found in about half of all American households, it’s a message that makes sense. Eddie is never pictured holding or even touching a gun.

Children can explore Eddie Eagle’s Tree House, a kid-friendly website with games, sing-alongs, storybooks and more. Visit www.eddieeagle.com to learn more.

Curriculum guides and activity books are also available for parents and teachers. Visit our Program Resources or email [email protected].

Teachers, law enforcement agencies, day cares, libraries, and health officials can also email [email protected] or call 800-231-7500 to request printed materials.

The NRA welcomes anyone interested in keeping children safe to answer the call and share Eddie’s message. No formal certification is required. 

Yes! Volunteers serve as Eddie Eagle Representatives in their communities. They receive a volunteer handbook and new issues of the Eagle Eye Newsletter. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, please email us at [email protected] or call 1-800-231-0752 for an application.

No. The NRA hopes you will appreciate and share Eddie’s important message whether you’re a member or not. If you are interested in becoming a member of the NRA, visit membership.nra.org. 

While there is no specific age to talk with your child about gun safety, a good time to introduce the subject is when he or she shows an interest in firearms. The interest can come from family members, friends, toy guns, video games or television shows and movies. Talking openly and honestly about gun safety with your child is usually more effective than just ordering him or her to “Stay out of the gun closet,” and leaving it at that. Such a statement may just stimulate a child’s natural curiosity to investigate further.

Instead talk with them by asking opened ended questions. After having a broad discussion on safety, discuss firearm safety, the rules for firearms and what your child should do when they see a gun in an unsupervised situation. As with any safety lesson, explaining the rules and answering a child’s questions can help remove the mystery surrounding guns. Any rules you set for your own child should also apply to family members and friends who visit the home. This will keep your child from being pressured into showing a gun to visitors.

Children often see characters shot and “killed” with well-documented frequency on TV and in movies. When that child sees the same actor appear in next week’s episode, or another movie or TV show, confusion between entertainment and real life may result. In many video games, players actively shoot other characters with no personal consequences. The player can simply hit the reset button to bring themselves and other characters back to life. Do not assume that your child knows the difference between being “killed” on TV or in a video game and the reality of gun violence.

Having toy guns in the house is a decision each parent should make. If your child has toy guns, you may want to use them to explain how they differ from genuine firearms. Make sure to tell them to never assume a gun they see or find is a toy.

Isolated lessons and concepts can be quickly forgotten, repetition will help children remember standard safety procedures. Quiz your child regularly. Praise her if she knows the proper way to respond and correct her if she does not. In addition to the Eddie Eagle video, the program also includes an activities for kids booklet and other activities that can be found on Eddieeagle.com. It is a great way to give your child repetition to the important safety message.

That’s up to you as a parent. Every child is different, and only you know yours best. The NRA suggests talking to your child about gun safety as soon as you think he or she is able to really comprehend the message, and certainly if your child shows an interest or awareness of firearms. The target age group for this program is pre-K through fourth grade.

Some parents may want to consider gun safety on the checklist of rules you run through when your child goes over to a new house, much like pool safety or food allergies. You should be comfortable with the environment where you are sending your kids however, the topic of firearms can be a delicate situation. When and how to bring up the topic is up to you, but we encourage you to be open and honest. The safety of your child depends on it. Whether you own a firearm or not, ask the questions and answer honestly.

It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that guns are stored safely. NRA’s longstanding rule of gun storage is to store your guns so that they are inaccessible to any unauthorized users, especially your children and the children that visit your home.

Most states impose some form of legal duty on adults to take reasonable steps to deny access by children to dangerous substances or instruments. It is the individual gun owner’s responsibility to understand and follow all federal and state laws regarding gun purchase, ownership, storage, transport, etc. Contact your state police and/or local law enforcement agency for information specific to your state.

Gun shops sell a wide variety of safes, cases, and other security devices. While specific security measure may vary, a parent must, in every case, assess the exposure of the firearm and absolutely ensure that it is inaccessible to a child.

One study published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing Online (October 2001) named the Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® program the best of 80 gun accident prevention programs evaluated. In 2023, the Journal of the American Medicine Association (JAMA) Pediatrics did a study which showed that a one-minute gun-safety video does make a difference in a child's behavior around guns.

Beyond that, the effectiveness of the Program is evident in several ways. First, fatal firearms accidents in the Eddie Eagle age group have been reduced by more than 80 percent since the program’s nationwide launch, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. NRA feels that gun accident prevention programs such as Eddie Eagle are a significant factor in that decline. Second, we often receive letters from parents whose children have encountered guns in unsupervised situations and avoided an accident by doing exactly what Eddie Eagle had taught them: “STOP! Don’t touch. Run away. Tell a grown-up.” Third, the Program has been honored or endorsed by groups such as the National Sheriffs’ Association, the U.S. Department of Justice (through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention), and the Association of American Educators. The Program also received bipartisan support from 26 state governors, as well as resolutions from 23 state legislatures, recommending the use of the Eddie Eagle Program. Finally, the fact that 26,000 school teachers and law enforcement officers have taught the Program to over 32 million children verifies the popularity of the Program with those who deal with child safety issues every day.

No! The Program neither offers nor asks for any value judgment concerning firearms. Like safety lessons about swimming pools, electrical outlets and lighters, Eddie Eagle’s sole purpose is to give children crucial information about what to do if they ever come across a gun. With firearms found in about half of all American households, it’s a message that makes sense. Eddie is never pictured holding or even touching a gun.

Thank you for wanting to share this important message! The best way to get school administrators to adopt the Program is to let them know it’s available and important to you and other parents! The NRA thanks you for your help in spreading the word about Eddie and his important message.

The NRA offers a variety of programs for youth of all ages. Visit the Youth Programs page to learn more.

Let your school administrators know that the Program is available and free. The Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® program is a worthwhile use of educators’ time whether you have five minutes or several days to cover the material. It’s about safety, and it’s important – because it could save a child’s life.

Dr. Lisa Monroe of the University of Oklahoma, who specializes in early childhood curriculums, crafted these guides to meet both student and teachers’ needs. Lisa explains her reasoning behind the guides and makes a case for why Eddie Eagle should be taught in schools in several video testimonials. You can watch them here.

You can adapt the Program to meet your needs. Use all or only parts of the program to fit your schedule and your group of students.

One study published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing Online (October 2001) named the Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® program the best of 80 gun accident prevention programs evaluated. Beyond that, the effectiveness of the Program is evident in several ways. First, fatal firearms accidents in the Eddie Eagle age group have been reduced by almost 80 percent since the program’s nationwide launch, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. NRA feels that gun accident prevention programs such as Eddie Eagle are a significant factor in that decline. Second, we often receive letters from parents whose children have encountered guns in unsupervised situations and avoided an accident by doing exactly what Eddie Eagle had taught them: "STOP! Don't touch. Run away. Tell a grown-up.” Third, the Program has been honored or endorsed by groups such as the National Sheriffs’ Association, the U.S. Department of Justice (through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention), and the Association of American Educators. The Program also received bipartisan support from 26 state governors, as well as resolutions from 23 state legislatures, recommending the use of the Eddie Eagle Program. Finally, the fact that 26,000 school teachers and law enforcement officers have taught the Program to over 32 million children verifies the popularity of the Program with those who deal with child safety issues every day.

No! The Program neither offers nor asks for any value judgment concerning firearms. Like safety lessons about swimming pools, electrical outlets and lighters, Eddie Eagle’s sole purpose is to give children crucial information about what to do if they ever come across a gun. With firearms found in about half of all American households, it’s a message that makes sense. Eddie is never pictured holding or even touching a gun. 

Schools, law enforcement, hospitals, daycare centers and libraries are eligible for grant funding. Email the Eddie Eagle Department at [email protected] to find out if grant funding is currently available. You can then place your order; no application is necessary. Grants are generously made possible by Friends of NRA fundraising events.

The NRA held 22 focus groups in 12 cities across the country. These groups included superintendents, principals, teachers, parents and children from various ethnicities, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds. Groups reviewed a variety of storylines and characters, which were adapted based on feedback. The NRA is confident that the final product is approachable and relatable for all.

The gun is found in a communal area, underlining the idea that sometimes you might find a gun where you least expect. This scenario was verified as a believable situation by focus group participants.

Gary Goose is the video gamer in the story, and he makes some comments that highlight the difference between guns in video games and guns in real life.

Eddie’s original mantra was “Stop! Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.” However, during research, the NRA discovered that children had a hard time remembering words they didn’t use regularly—especially area and adult. The updated mantra integrates more kid-friendly words and phrases like run away and grown-up, and recall on the mantra has improved as a result.