S.C. students pledge against gun violence

[SecularMotion]

United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced that on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, members of the U. S. Attorney's Office and their law enforcement partners will meet with students across South Carolina as part of as part of South Carolina’s 11th annual Student Pledge Against Gun Violence.

Middle and high school students will sign a voluntary pledge promising that they will never take a gun to school, will never resolve a dispute with a gun, and will use their influence to prevent friends from using guns to resolve disputes. Elementary school children will make a simpler commitment, pledging that if they see a gun they will not touch it, they will assume that any gun they see might be loaded, and they will tell a teacher or a trusted adult.

The effort is part of South Carolina’s Project CeaseFire, which is South Carolina’s implementation of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which is aimed at reducing gun violence.

The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence is a national program that recognizes the role that young people, through their own decisions, can play in reducing gun violence. This campaign against youth gun violence culminates each October in a “Day of National Concern about Young People and Gun Violence.”

http://www2.scnow.com/news/pee-dee/2012/oct/16/sc-students-pledge-against-gun-violence-ar-4764466/

[4th law of robotics]

1. This sounds like it will be exactly as effective at curbing gun violence

as DARE was at curbing drug abuse.

Ie: supporters will claim credit for the kids who were going to behave anyway and disavow all those who don't as people who were going to get in trouble regardless.

Millions wasted, no noticeable effect on crime, and a few idiots feel good about themselves.

[slackmaster]

2. Basic gun safety should be taught in public schools

Gun safety training should include hard facts about what can happen to someone who negligently or intentionally misuses a firearm.

Rather than being treated as a forbidden form of power, firearms should be demystified in the minds of teenagers and young adults. If they are presented with objective information about the consequences of misusing firearms - Physical, legal, and moral - Most young people will do the right thing.

[sarisataka]

3. Where have I heard this before...

Elementary school children will make a simpler commitment, pledging that if they see a gun they will not touch it, they will assume that any gun they see might be loaded, and they will tell a teacher or a trusted adult.

...I know I just read about this somewhere; was it good or bad?

Sounds like this would be a good day to put in that hour of gun safety training... Maybe even another hour of anger management and conflict avoidance, taught at age-appropriate levels.

[Glaug-Eldare]

6. Oh! Oh! I know!

SC Project Ceasefire is just parroting NRA talking points!

[sarisataka]

7. It reminds me of a boss I had a few years ago

Knew only the basics of our jobs but could not perform any of the tasks. When we made suggestions to improve the process they were dismissed as impractical, ineffective or not cost efficient.
About two weeks later he would present the idea at a team meeting as his own and it would be brilliant...

[friendly_iconoclast]

10. Funny seeing SM presenting "NRA talking points" as a good thing.

I present the following 'coincedences' for the amusement and edification of the reader:

First, from the OP:

Elementary school children will make a simpler commitment, pledging that if they see a gun they will not touch it, they will assume that any gun they see might be loaded, and they will tell a teacher or a trusted adult.

Now, wherever could Project CeaseFire have gotten such a reasonable and common-sense idea? Oh, yeah...


http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/

What is The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program?

Eddie EagleThe Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program teaches children in pre-K through third grade four important steps to take if they find a gun. These steps are presented by the program’s mascot, Eddie Eagle®, in an easy-to-remember format consisting of the following simple rules:

If you see a gun:

STOP!
Don’t Touch.
Leave the Area.
Tell an Adult.

Begun in 1988, The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program has reached more than 25 million children – in all 50 states. This program was developed through the combined efforts of such qualified professionals as clinical psychologists, reading specialists, teachers, curriculum specialists, urban housing safety officials, and law enforcement personnel.

Anyone may teach The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program, and NRA membership is not required. The program may be readily incorporated into existing school curriculum, taught in a one- to five-day format, and used to reach both levels or simply one or two grades. Materials available through this program are: student workbooks, 7-minute animated video (available on DVD), instructor guides, brochures, and student reward stickers. Program materials are also available in Spanish...

[Atypical Liberal]

4. Sounds about as useful as those "Promise Rings".

Do you think, in the face of the peer pressure, that any of those kids are not going to sign?

When it comes time for some gangland fun, do you think any of those kids are going to stop and say, "Oh, wait guys, I can't carry a gun because I signed a pledge in school!"

You can't avoid gun violence by signing a piece of paper, because it does absolutely nothing to address the fundamental causes of violent crime.

[Remmah2]

5. Screw virginity pledges.

[ileus]

8. Sounds good...firearms are for providing safety.

[Callisto32]

9. Sounds like Eddie Eagle and basic human decency to me.

[friendly_iconoclast]

11. It's *definitely* Eddie Eagle, at least in part- see the link in post #10 above.

Let's see if the OP acknowledges it...