Drop by, vote, and leave a message. A surprisingly even-handed article by the liberal Detroit News -- truly the Millenium has arrived! And note Sugarman's typically liberal attitude -- better the kids die because of ignorance than let them be exposed to The Great Evil. Geez!
http://www.detnews.com/2000/metro/0003/10/A02-13567.htm
Kids learn gun safety
Dearborn Heights school implements controversial class
By Katie Merx / The Detroit News
DEARBORN HEIGHTS -- Police started teaching a controversial, National Rifle Association-sponsored gun-safety program Thursday to 8-year-olds in a parochial school.
Advocates insist the program could save children's lives. But opponents contend it's more dangerous than having no program at all.
Parents may be shocked that such young children are learning about guns, but the kids already know about them so they should know how to be safe around them, said Dearborn Heights Police Officer Mark Parrinello, who helped teach Thursday's class.
In light of the recent string of fatal school shootings -- including the most recent one involving two 6-year-olds in Mt. Morris Township -- there is an urgency to provide such education to children as early as preschool, Dearborn Heights police Lt. Gary Zulinski said.
In the gun-safety program presented to St. Linus Elementary School students Thursday, cartoon character Eddie Eagle toldkids to "Stop. Don't touch. Run away. Tell an adult." if ever they encounter a gun. The children don't touch a gun during the program.
In the three-session program, police also tell the children what to do if they find a gun, using comic books, songs and stickers to illustrate the points. A graduation party is at the end of the third class.
St. Linus parents had the option of pulling their children out of the gun-safety class, but none chose to do so.
Chris Washburn, 8, said he thinks the program will keep kids safe. "It's a good idea, so kids can know if they touch a gun they could accidentally touch the trigger and lose a life," Chris said. "It's important because you learn that just because you don't have a gun in your house doesn't mean you won't ever see a gun."
Advocates contend the program could save children.
"In light of everything that's been going on, we don't know when a kid might run into a gun," said Melvindale Police Officer Rolando Hinojosa Jr., who also taught the class on Thursday. Other Dearborn Heights police officers observed so they can teach in the future.
Opponents say the program is more dangerous than staying silent on the subject.
"This program is much worse than no program at all," said Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center, a Washington-based group working to reduce violence in America. "It keeps people from looking at the real solution to gun-related tragedies."
The real solution, Sugarmann said, is not having guns in homes with children.
Vicki Kennedy, president of Common Sense About Kids and Guns in Washington D.C., was less critical. Children should learn about gun safety, she said, but parents should take the primary role. "In addition to wherever else they get the information," Kennedy said, "parents must speak to their children about guns."
St. Linus Parent Jayne Tirey agreed. "I think it's really important that we educate kids about the dangers of guns. But I think parents should take a primary role."
Copyright 2000, The Detroit News
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The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
http://www.detnews.com/2000/metro/0003/10/A02-13567.htm
Kids learn gun safety
Dearborn Heights school implements controversial class
By Katie Merx / The Detroit News
DEARBORN HEIGHTS -- Police started teaching a controversial, National Rifle Association-sponsored gun-safety program Thursday to 8-year-olds in a parochial school.
Advocates insist the program could save children's lives. But opponents contend it's more dangerous than having no program at all.
Parents may be shocked that such young children are learning about guns, but the kids already know about them so they should know how to be safe around them, said Dearborn Heights Police Officer Mark Parrinello, who helped teach Thursday's class.
In light of the recent string of fatal school shootings -- including the most recent one involving two 6-year-olds in Mt. Morris Township -- there is an urgency to provide such education to children as early as preschool, Dearborn Heights police Lt. Gary Zulinski said.
In the gun-safety program presented to St. Linus Elementary School students Thursday, cartoon character Eddie Eagle toldkids to "Stop. Don't touch. Run away. Tell an adult." if ever they encounter a gun. The children don't touch a gun during the program.
In the three-session program, police also tell the children what to do if they find a gun, using comic books, songs and stickers to illustrate the points. A graduation party is at the end of the third class.
St. Linus parents had the option of pulling their children out of the gun-safety class, but none chose to do so.
Chris Washburn, 8, said he thinks the program will keep kids safe. "It's a good idea, so kids can know if they touch a gun they could accidentally touch the trigger and lose a life," Chris said. "It's important because you learn that just because you don't have a gun in your house doesn't mean you won't ever see a gun."
Advocates contend the program could save children.
"In light of everything that's been going on, we don't know when a kid might run into a gun," said Melvindale Police Officer Rolando Hinojosa Jr., who also taught the class on Thursday. Other Dearborn Heights police officers observed so they can teach in the future.
Opponents say the program is more dangerous than staying silent on the subject.
"This program is much worse than no program at all," said Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center, a Washington-based group working to reduce violence in America. "It keeps people from looking at the real solution to gun-related tragedies."
The real solution, Sugarmann said, is not having guns in homes with children.
Vicki Kennedy, president of Common Sense About Kids and Guns in Washington D.C., was less critical. Children should learn about gun safety, she said, but parents should take the primary role. "In addition to wherever else they get the information," Kennedy said, "parents must speak to their children about guns."
St. Linus Parent Jayne Tirey agreed. "I think it's really important that we educate kids about the dangers of guns. But I think parents should take a primary role."
Copyright 2000, The Detroit News
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
