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(USGovernment-News.Com, November 14, 2012 ) Matthews, NC -- The Aiken County sheriff’s department and K9 division, along with ATF agents, are visiting schools all across the Aiken County area as part of Project Ceasefire. The endeavor is to help teach children about gun safety, bullying, and drug use.
The officers state it is an important opportunity to help kids learn about each of the possible dangers, including gun safety. Many of the children’s parents may own guns, and many of those parents may keep them at home.
On Wednesday, Jefferson Elementary students learned about what to do if they see a gun.
"Stay away from them and stop and tell an adult," said third grader Kaydin Mabrey.
"They told me if I ever see a gun in public, don't touch it," added second grader Starr Jordan.
It is all part of “Project Ceasefire”.
"Project Ceasefire is a two part," said Sgt. Selwyn DeLoach with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. "Part of it is very aggressive criminal enforcement on firearm crimes. The second part of that is a lot of educational assets in the schools to try to teach the kids not to touch guns, not to succumb to bullying and not to allow that bullying to go into violence."
The Aiken County Sheriff’s office is attempting to work with the ATF in order to help stop violence before it ever has an opportunity to occur.
"Bullying is a major issue in schools and bullying leads to other issues with gun violence when the kids are either at school or when they leave school," said DeLoach. "Society now we really have to educate our kids that they have to make good choices because everything they do is gonna follow them."
The children watched the videos, and then answered questions, even getting to play with canine officer, Rick.
"They're most impressionable right now," said guidance counselor Erika Smith. "When they're older, I think sometimes they start to tune things out, but right now it's easy to get their attention and they look at law enforcement as sort of heroes to them right now and they look up to them a lot."
Unfortunately, the reality of children picking up guns they find and accidently shooting someone happens far too often.
"It does happen quite a bit throughout the United States and we're trying to do our part to make sure our kids stay safe and know to make good choices," DeLoach said. "Unfortunately, we do hear things like that and you have to make it a priority to talk about it with our kids," Smith said.
It is a reminder to kids that if there is a gun in their home, they need to stay away.
"So you don't accidentally pick it up and shoot someone," Mabrey said.
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