In a move to enhance community safety, the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department is hosting the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program, an initiative aimed at educating children on gun safety. On Tuesday, June 18, 2025, the department will hold two sessions, one at 10:00 am and another at 6:00 pm, to instill crucial awareness in the younger demographic. Participation is cost-free, and interested parties can secure their spot by registering online.
For over three decades, the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program, established by a task force of diverse professionals including educators, clinical psychologists, and firearm safety experts from the National Rifle Association, has been dedicated to preventing gun accidents among children. Originally conceived in 1988, the program promotes a simple yet effective message encapsulated in four steps: Stop! Don’t touch. Run away. Tell a grown-up. According to a social media post from the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department, in 2015 the initiative underwent a refresh with a new mascot named Eddie, accompanied by his 'Wing Team,' continuing the legacy of the program's preventative mission.
The sessions will take place at the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, located at 515 W. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188, with contact available at 262-548-7122. The approach addresses a key component of child safety often sidelined compared to other topics like stranger danger and fire drills, ensuring gun safety is given equal attention in the spectrum of hazards that children may encounter.
