PRINTER'S NO. 4240
No. 644 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY MARSICO, ARGALL, BASTIAN, BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI,
BENNINGHOFF, BUNT, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, L. I. COHEN,
COLEMAN, CORRIGAN, COSTA, COY, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DALEY,
DeLUCA, DeWEESE, EGOLF, FAIRCHILD, FEESE, FICHTER, FLEAGLE,
FORCIER, GEIST, GODSHALL, GORDNER, HASAY, HERMAN, HERSHEY,
HESS, HORSEY, KELLER, KIRKLAND, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LEH,
LESCOVITZ, LEWIS, MAJOR, MANN, McCALL, McGILL, McNAUGHTON,
MELIO, METCALFE, R. MILLER, NAILOR, PERZEL, PHILLIPS,
PICKETT, PISTELLA, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS,
RUBLEY, SAINATO, SATHER, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHULER, SEMMEL,
SHANER, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STEELMAN, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR,
THOMAS, TIGUE, WANSACZ, WASHINGTON, WILT, WOJNAROSKI,
G. WRIGHT, ZIMMERMAN AND ZUG, AUGUST 6, 2002
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
AUGUST 6, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Declaring the month of October 2002 as "Pennsylvania Firearm
2 Safety Month" and encouraging organizations and the
3 Department of Education to support and use the Eddie Eagle
4 Gun Safety Program.
5 WHEREAS, The month of October begins another hunting season
6 for the sportsmen of this Commonwealth; and
7 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's hunting heritage represents an
8 honorable tradition and a recreational opportunity with many
9 socioeconomic benefits; and
10 WHEREAS, Many sports and recreational activities, including
11 hunting, are from time to time marred by unfortunate accidents;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania sportsmen and gun owners have not
1 rested on their firearm safety training laurels, and they view
2 any firearm accident, whether in the home or in the field, as
3 one too many; and
4 WHEREAS, Because of widespread ownership of firearms in this
5 Commonwealth, all children may be expected to come into contact
6 with a firearm sooner or later; and
7 WHEREAS, It is the firm belief of the House of
8 Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the
9 National Rifle Association of America that teaching children to
10 act safely around firearms is a critical step in the effort to
11 reduce the number of firearm accidents among children; and
12 WHEREAS, The National Rifle Association of America, education
13 professionals, members of law enforcement, urban housing safety
14 officials, clinical psychologists and firearm safety experts
15 working together have developed a gun safety program designed
16 for children in prekindergarten through grade six; and
17 WHEREAS, The Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program is a nationally
18 recognized firearms safety program that has reached over 9.4
19 million children since its creation; and
20 WHEREAS, The Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program has received
21 numerous awards from the National Safety Council, the American
22 Legion Child Welfare Foundation and the National School Public
23 Relations Association; and
24 WHEREAS, The Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program teaches the
25 fundamentals of firearms safety to children in an effective and
26 enjoyable way, communicating to them the lifesaving message
27 offered by the program: "If you see a gun: STOP! DON'T TOUCH.
28 LEAVE THE AREA. TELL AN ADULT"; therefore be it
29 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
30 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania declare the month of October 2002
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1 as "Pennsylvania Firearm Safety Month"; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage civil
3 and community service organizations which are concerned about
4 the safety and well-being of the children of this Commonwealth
5 to help support the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program at the local
6 level; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage the
8 Department of Education to promote the use of the Eddie Eagle
9 Gun Safety Program in our schools to help prevent firearm-
10 related accidents among children; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
12 the National Rifle Association of America and the Pennsylvania
13 Department of Education.
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