The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program leads the most successful child gun safety program in America, and has the potential to touch more families -- and perhaps do more good for more people -- than any other program in NRA history. Ask the educators and law enforcement officers who teach the program or the parents whose children are now safer as a result. No matter who you talk to, Eddie Eagle wins almost universal praise. NRA staff receive scores of letters and phone calls praising the program. And the Community Service Division of the National Safety Council was so impressed that in October, 1993, it awarded Eddie's creator, NRA's former President Marion P. Hammer, with one of its highest honors: the first place national citation for outstanding community service. At the March 2002 annual mid-winter conference, the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) formally endorsed The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. Sheriff John Cary Bittick, former president of NSA, said "We are proud to partner with the National Rifle Association on this very important issue, and we would like to express our full support for this program."

Awards and Recognitions

• The National Sheriffs' Association formally endorsed the Eddie Eagle Program. (March 2002)

• A study published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing Online named Eddie Eagle the best of more than 80 gun safety programs evaluated. (October 2001)

• The program has been reviewed and recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice (through its Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention). The Clinton Department of Justice reviewed more than 400 safety programs in preparing its February 1999 report, Promising Strategies to Reduce Gun Violence. Of the 400 programs reviewed, only 60 were recommended in the report. The Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® Program was one of these 60 programs, and was described as “an outstanding education initiative.”
• The American Legion passed a resolution encouraging its Posts and Departments to introduce Eddie Eagle to elementary schools and law enforcement agencies in their communities. (May 1995)

• The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to The Eddie Eagle Program. (October 1995)

• The Youth Activities Division of the National Safety Council awarded its silver Award of Merit to The Eddie Eagle Program for its efforts to "promote safety and health, save lives, lessen injury and reduce economic loss." (October 1996)

• The Community Service Division of the National Safety Council presented its Citation for Outstanding Community Service Award to program creator and NRA President Marion P. Hammer. (October 1993)

• The National School Public Relations Association presented its Golden Achievement Award to the program. (April 1994)

• Recently endorsed and commended by the Association of American Educators, saying, "On behalf of the many thousands of teachers belonging to the Association of American Educators, we would like to commend the Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® Program."

Alabama	Alabama Governor Fob James, Jr. signed a proclamation congratulating the NRA on the tenth anniversary of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, and encouraging all of Alabama's citizens to join him in recognizing the importance of the mission of the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle Program. (July 1998)
Alaska	The Alaska State Legislature passed a resolution supporting the NRA's Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program and recommending state education officials implement the program in their schools. (January 1994)
Arizona	Arizona Governor Fife Symington signed a proclamation declaring May 1994 as "Arizona Firearms Safety Month." Additionally, the proclamation mentions the National Rifle Association for sponsoring ongoing programs to advance awareness of public firearms safety. (April 1994)
California	California Governor Pete Wilson signed a proclamation congratulating the NRA on the tenth anniversary of the Eddie Eagle Program, and saluting all of the teachers, parents and law enforcement officers who have made it a reality. (July 1998)
Delaware	Delaware's Legislature passed a resolution commending the NRA for developing the Eddie Eagle Program and encouraging Delaware's State Department of Education to promote the use of the program in the public schools to help prevent accidents related to firearms that involve children. (March 1997)
Florida	The Florida Senate passed a resolution recognizing the success and usefulness of the program in 59 of 67 counties. (March 1994) Florida Governor Lawton M. Chiles signed an official proclamation declaring the week of December 1-7, 1996, "Eddie Eagle GunSafe Week." (November 1996)
Georgia	The Georgia Legislature passed a resolution encouraging school systems in Georgia to adopt the program and civic and community service organizations to help provide funding at the local level. (April 1995)
Hawaii	The Hawaii legislature passed a resolution that the Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (CPJAD) of the Office of the Attorney General is requested to convene a working group to evaluate and recommend measures to prevent and reduce firearms injuries to children and to encourage the use of firearm safety programs such as the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. (May 2002)
Idaho	Idaho Governor Philip E. Batt signed a proclamation encouraging the citizens of Idaho to join with the NRA and Eddie Eagle Program to promote gun safety in Idaho. He proclaimed April 4, 1996, "Eddie Eagle Day," and April 8-12, 1996, "Child's Gun Safety Week" in Idaho. (January 1996) The Idaho Legislature passed a resolution encouraging schools to adopt firearm safety education programs such as the NRA's Eddie Eagle Program. (March 1996)
Indiana	Governor Frank O'Bannon of Indiana proclaimed July 1998 as "Eddie Eagle GunSafe Month." (June 1998)
Iowa	Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation recognizing the tenth anniversary of the Eddie Eagle Program. (July 1998)
Kansas	The Kansas Legislature passed a resolution encouraging school systems in Kansas to adopt the Eddie Eagle Program with the view of preventing accidental firearm related injuries to children. (March 1998)
Kentucky	Kentucky Governor Paul Patton proclaimed September 1998 as "Eddie Eagle GunSafe Month." (August 1998)
Louisiana	Governor's Award was given to the program by Louisiana Governor Mike Foster celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Eddie Eagle Program teaching America's youth it's four-part safety message to avoid firearm accidents. (June 1998)
Maine	The members of the Senate and House of Representatives in the State of Maine joined in recognizing the National Rifle Association’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, on the 20th anniversary of its providing gun safety education to children in pre-kindergarten through third grade. (March 27, 2008) The Maine legislature passed a resolution encouraging the State Department of Education and civic and community service organizations to implement and teach the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. (April 1999)
Maryland	Casper R. Taylor, Jr., Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, signed a resolution recognizing April 20-27, 1998 as "Eddie Eagle GunSafe Week." (April 1998)
Massachusetts	Former Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld signed a proclamation declaring October 1-7, 1995, as "Eddie Eagle GunSafe Week." (October 1995)
Michigan	Governor John Engler of Michigan issued a Certificate of Special Tribute to the Eddie Eagle Program "acknowledging the outstanding mission and history of the program, and wishing continued success in the years to come." (July 1998)
Mississippi	Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice commended the Eddie Eagle Program for teaching a lifesaving message that makes a positive, lasting impression on the lives of more than one million children each year. (July 1998)
Missouri	The Missouri legislature passed a resolution encouraging the State Department of Education to promote the use of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program in our schools to help prevent firearm related accidents among children. (May 1998)
Montana	The Montana legislature passed a resolution encouraging the superintendent of public instruction and local school districts to adopt the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. (March 1999)
Nebraska	Nebraska Governor Benjamin Nelson proclaimed January 25-31, 1998 as "Eddie Eagle Week." (January 1998)
Nevada	The Nevada Legislature passed a resolution encouraging the Department of Education and civic and community service organizations to implement and teach the program. (January 1995)
New Hampshire	The New Hampshire Legislature passed a resolution recognizing the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program for its efforts to teach children gun safety, and encouraging schools, law enforcement and other organizations to sponsor such gun safety education programs for children. (April 1996)
New Jersey	New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed a proclamation on the occasion of the program's tenth anniversary and urged parents, teachers and law enforcement officers to teach the lifesaving message of gun safety to children. (July 1998)
New Mexico	The New Mexico Legislature passed a resolution requesting school systems in New Mexico to adopt the Eddie Eagle Program with a view to prevent accidental firearm-related injuries to children. (March 1997)
North Carolina	North Carolina enacted a bill encouraging the State Board of Education to use the program in state schools and civic organizations to help finance the program at the local level. (April 1995) North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. signed a proclamation declaring April 6-12, 1997 as "Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Week." (April 1997)
Ohio	Governor George V. Voinovich of Ohio officially recognized the Eddie Eagle Program on its tenth anniversary. (July 1998) Ohio became the first state to appropriate funds specifically for schools to teach the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program. The Ohio legislature appropriated $40,000 (Item 200-578) to help participating schools purchase Eddie Eagle program materials to teach gun accident prevention to children in pre-K through the third grade. The money will be divided between Fiscal Year 2004 and Fiscal Year 2005, and could potentially reach over 130,000 Ohio schoolchildren. (2003)
Oklahoma	Governor Brad Henry signed a proclamation recognizing that The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program helps protect our citizens by educating elementary school children about firearm safety and promotes safe behavior by instructing children to: "STOP! Don't Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult." when they come upon an unsecured firearm. He proclaimed September 11-17, 2005, as "Children's Gun Safety Week." (August 2005) Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating signed a proclamation recognizing The Eddie Eagle Program teaches children knowledge, discipline and responsibility in a fun way that has no other agenda other than accident prevention. He proclaimed March 4-8, 1996, as "Children's Gun Safety Week." (February 1996)
Oregon	The Oregon Legislature passed a resolution commending the National Rifle Association for its diligence and service in developing the Eddie Eagle Program and encouraging the state's Department of Education to promote the use of the program to schools to help prevent firearm related accidents among children. (May 1997)
Pennsylvania	The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing the National Rifle Association of America for its diligence and services in developing the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program and to celebrate the programs 20th anniversary. The resolution also encourages all civic and community organizations concerned about the well-being and safety of the children in the Commonwealth to provide funding for the program at the local level, and encourages the Pennsylvania Department of Education to promote the use of the program in PA schools. (June 11, 2008) The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by Rep. Ron Marsico, declaring October 2003 as Pennsylvania Firearm Safety Month. Marsico's resolution recognizes the National Rifle Association-sponsored Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program for its effectiveness in educating children across the nation. It encourages the state Department of Education to promote the use of the program in public schools across the state. (October 2003) Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge signed a Letter of Commendation offering thanks to the Eddie Eagle Program for its work in teaching children about gun safety. (June 1997) The Pennsylvania Legislature passed a resolution encouraging the Department of Education to promote the use of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program to its schools to help prevent firearm-related accidents among children. (September 1997)
Rhode Island	Governor Lincoln Almond of Rhode Island recognized the tenth anniversary of the Eddie Eagle Program with a gubernatorial proclamation. (June 1998)
South Carolina	The General Assembly of the State of South Carolina passed a resolution urging the school districts and local law enforcement agencies in the state to teach the NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program to the children of the state in an effort to save lives by showing children that guns are not toys. (June 1998) South Carolina Governor David Beasley commended the Eddie Eagle Program for ten years of exemplary service to the young people and their parents who've participated in the lifesaving program.
Tennessee	Tennessee Legislature passed a resolution honoring and commending the Eddie Eagle Program, and urging schools and law enforcement agencies in Tennessee to use the program. (March 1998)
Texas	Texas Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 430, requiring that visiting school resource officers offer to provide students with annual instruction (beginning Sept. 2001) in a firearm accident prevention program as determined by each school district. This law further stipulated that the Eddie Eagle Program may be included as part of each school's instructional program. (June 2001) The State of Texas passed a resolution encouraging the Texas Education Agency to promote the use of the program in schools to help prevent firearm accidents among children. (April 1993)
Utah	Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt signed a declaration recognizing the tenth anniversary of the Eddie Eagle Program. (August 1998)
Vermont	Vermont's Legislature passed a resolution recognizing the importance of the program and encouraging school districts in Vermont to participate. Governor Howard Dean proclaimed March 15, 1995, "Eddie Eagle Day" in Vermont. (March 1995)
Virginia	Former Virginia Governor George Allen signed a Certificate of Recognition recognizing April 7-13, 1997 as "Eddie Eagle GunSafe Week" in Virginia. (March 1997) Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore III signed a Certificate of Recognition to honor the tenth anniversary of the Eddie Eagle Program by marking the month of March as "Eddie Eagle GunSafe Month" in Virginia. (March 1998) The General Assembly of Virginia passed House Joint Resolution No. 711, "requesting the Board of Education to encourage local school divisions to adopt and implement the National Rifle Association's gun safety education program to prevent accidental firearm-related injuries to children." (February 1999)
Washington	Senate Joint Memorial 8009 was passed, strongly encouraging schools districts in Washington to promote the use of the Eddie Eagle Program in its schools to help prevent firearms accidents among children. (March 1997)
West Virginia	West Virginia Governor Cecil H. Underwood signed a proclamation congratulating the NRA on the tenth anniversary of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program and encouraging all West Virginia citizens to acknowledge the important message the National Rifle Association is conveying about gun safety. (December 1998) West Virginia's State Legislature passed a resolution encouraged its school systems to adopt The Eddie Eagle Program and commended the NRA for its development of the program. (March 1996)
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson honored the Eddie Eagle Program with a Certificate of Commendation, and called the NRA's commitment to the safety of children "truly outstanding" with wishes of continued success. (July 1998)

Eddie Eagle program materials are available for a nominal fee. For more information on The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, or to get a free brochure, call (800) 231-0752 today.