Gun safety program at Glenwood Elementary

Last Updated on Thursday, February 28, 2013 03:39 pm Written by Christie Rotondo Thursday, February 28, 2013 02:31 pm

Photo by Christie Rotondo/ After the gun safety assembly, students rushed to give “Eddie the Eagle” high-fives and hugs. WILDWOOD- First and second grade students at Glenwood Elementary had a lesson in gun safety Thursday, and officers from the County Sheriff’s department said the presentation has been in high demand since the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary last December.

Glenwood students learned that if they see a gun, they should stop, not touch it, leave the area, and get an adult- all through rhymes, hand motions, and the help of mascot “Eddie the Eagle.”

The presentation was given by county sheriff officers Randy Mistic and Nate Dickinson. Dickinson performed as “Eddie the Eagle”- the mascot for a gun safety program sponsored through the National Rifle Association. 

“This is not a gun advocacy program, it’s a gun safety program,” Glenwood principal John Kummings said Thursday.

Kummings said this was the first year the Eddie the Eagle presentation was being given to the students. In the past, he said that they have had the “Stranger Danger” program presented by the county- which uses the mascot McGruff the Crime Dog to teach kids about staying away from strangers. This year, because gun violence has been so prevalent in the national conversation, Kummings said he thought it best to teach the children about gun safety. 

“We live in an urban center, so there is the opportunity for kids to encounter guns,” Kummings said. “There are guns in the real world, so we need to be proactive.”

Mistic said that other Cape May County school officials feel the same way. He said that this year, he has done more gun safety presentations than ever before.

“We think that schools have had more interest,” he said. He also said that kids living in Wildwood would be more likely to encounter a gun than children in other areas of the

county.

“Unfortunately, some towns are different than others,” he said.

During the presentation, Mistic stressed that kids should never touch real guns, and if playing cops and robbers, they shouldn’t even point toys guns at other people. He also stressed that guns have no place at school, and if a student ever saw one, they should immediately leave it alone and tell an adult.

After the presentation, he said that prevention programs like “Eddie the Eagle” and “McGruff” are free for schools to host. Both are focused on young children in preschool through third grade, and are designed to teach kids that cops are there to help them.

“We want to show them we’re their friends,” Mistic said.

Officials with the NRA say the program has made a difference.

“The purpose of the Eddie Eagle Program isn't to teach whether guns are good or bad, but rather to promote the protection and safety of children,” reads a statement from the advocacy group. “The program makes no value judgments about firearms, and no firearms are ever used in the program.”

The students seemed enthusiastic about the assembly- many ran to Eddie the Eagle after to give the mascot high-fives and hugs, and during the presentation were eager to participate and answer questions.

“If we can do anything to protect the kids, community, and the school, we want to do that,” Kummings said.

Christie Rotondo can be emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you can comment on this story at www.wildwood.shorenewstoday.com. 

Photo by Christie Rotondo/ Cape May County Sheriff Officers Randy Mistic and Nate Dickinson, who performed as “Eddie” presented a gun safety program to first and second graders at Glenwood Elementary Thursday.