CA. assemblymember Maze urges dept. of ed. to promote gun safety program

read a letter from Bill Maze | January 31, 2005 | Bill Maze

[This Just In]

Copied from a newsletter written by Bill Maze.

The Second Amendament of the United States Constitution protects the ability of individuals to own firearms to protect their families from violent crime and to engage in recreational activities like huntiing and target shooting.

We have seen numerous examples here in California of unsupervised children who have accessed a loaded gun and shot, sometimes killing, a playmate or sibling. While the right to own a firearm is protected under the Constitution, I believe that all responsible firearm owners have a duty to prevent accidental firearm-related deaths by teaching their children and loved ones how to safely handle a firearm.

One important firearm safety educaiton program is the Eddie Eagle Elementary Gun Safety Education Program, which has been taught to seventeen million children across the country since 1988. Recognized buy the National Safety Council as the Outstanding Community Service Program for 1993, the Eddie Eagle program teaches children that when they come across a firearm in their home, they should stop, not touch the weapon, leave the area, and tell an adult.

Teaching children how to act safely around firearms is a critical step in reducing the number of accidents related to firearms that involve children. I support legislative efforts to recognize the success of this firearm safety program, and urge the State Department of Education to promote its use.

This letter is part of my ongoing effort to keep my constituents informed. It is an honor to represent you in the State Assembly.

Sincerely, Bill Maze Assemblymember, 34th District

[Sthitch]

While I agree that school would be a great place to teach gun safety, I wonder how it would jibe with all of the silly zero tolerance policies that schools have. It seems like it would be difficult to discuss it without showing a picture of a gun, or using the word gun. As we know, the simple act of drawing a gun will get you arrested in most of our schools.

[randog]

Y'know, the kids are gonna kill each other anyway, so we may as well teach them to do it safely.

</sarcasm>

[larryw408]

As long as it follows the Eddie the Eagle program (Stop! Don't Touch! Leave The Area! Tell An Adult) and doesn't become another, "Guns are evil and kill" exercise in socialism, I'm all for it.

[xcamel]

And they haven't sent this guy to a "reeducation camp" yet ???

[ElkGroveDan]

For the record that looks like one of many policies letters that members are allowed to send out under the political reform act. (they are often called "200-letters")

California legislators are barred from sending out "newsletters" at taxpayer expense under Proposition 40, and Assemblyman Maze certainly hasn't done that there.

That all said, great message. Bill is one of the good guys up here in Sacramento.

[Servant of the 9]

As long as it follows the Eddie the Eagle program (Stop! Don't Touch! Leave The Area! Tell An Adult) and doesn't become another, "Guns are evil and kill" exercise in socialism, I'm all for it.

Since "Eddie Eagle" is the intelectual property of the NRA (they own the copyright) I think we can mostly trust it.

So9

[This Just In]

My apologies for that "newsletter" oversight.

[newgeezer]

The Second Amendament of the United States Constitution protects the ability right of individuals to own firearms to protect their families from violent crime and to engage in recreational activities like huntiing and target shooting.

There. That's more like it.

[Atlas Sneezed]

The Second Amendament of the United States Constitution protects the ability of individuals to own firearms to protect their families from violent crime and to engage in recreational activities like huntiing and target shooting.

---

Even Republicans don't understand what the 2nd is about. I prefer the Democrat view:

"Certainly one of the chief guarantees of freedom under any government, no matter how popular and respected, is the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. This is not to say that firearms should not be very carefully used, and that definite safety rules of precaution should not be taught and enforced. But the right of citizens to bear arms is just one more guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against tyranny which now appears remote in America, but which historically has proved to be always possible"

Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (D) Minn.
"Know Your Lawmakers" Guns (magazine), February, 1960, p. 4.

[This Just In]

Yes, that is more like it, but I do support Mr. Mazes efforts.
He's a Lone Ranger.

[Myrddin]

Firearms safety should be lumped into the other "family life" style classes in school. It is a basic life (or death) skill. Learn it and handle firearms safely, or ignore it at your potential peril. If the kids want "hands on" time at the range, it should be available as a sponsored activity. Local ranges could schedule "slack time" at favorable rates for the student activity. The range owner improves facility utilization and the kids get a practical education in a safe, supervised facility.

[Mugwump]

I've met amd talked with Bill Maze (he's from my Assembly district). this guy is a straight shooter who spends more time with his contstituents than any other state-level politician I've seen.

And yes, he is definitely pro-gun.

[TalonDJ]

That is a Dem view from 1960. A lot has changed in the party since then.

[This Just In]

I couldn't help but notice that Senator Humphrey is a (D) from
MINNESOTA. California is a different world, let alone a state.

I do not want to assume that Mr. Maze does not understand the 2nd Amendment simply because he did not state the obvious. I hope that he's specifically addressing the issues which most Californians can relate to.

[television is just wrong]

The BSA teaches gun safety. It is a merit badge that can be earned. Always have. I'm not sure school is the best place to start this with liberal beliefs.

[Redcloak]

A few years ago, there was a non-binding resolution in the CA Legislature to commend the NRA for the Eddie Eagle program. The Democrats refused to pass it. For all their yammering about "the chirllins", they could give a rip about doing anything that would actually keep children safe from firearms.

Telling rich, White guys that they can't own .50BMG target rifles is one thing, but praising an effective child safety program is quite another!

[television is just wrong]

LOL, I went to the local middle school for an activity. they had one of those inflated rooms for the kids. One of the kids had bullets in his pocket, cause while they were jumping around, the bullets were falling out.

Wrong to have on campus, esp in Ca. Kid got in lots of trouble.

[_katie_scarlet]

Hear hear. School is not the place to teach gun safety. School is a place to learn academia. Parents are responsible for the rest.

[television is just wrong]

Boy Scouts have gun safety merit badge youth can earn. Girl Scouts don't offer anything like that cause their leadership is very liberal.