BILL NUMBER: ACR 3	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 10, 1997
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 6, 1997
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 3, 1997

INTRODUCED BY  Assembly Member Wright
   (Principal coauthor:  Assembly Member Oller)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Brown, Cardoza, Figueroa, Havice,
Honda, Murray, Washington,  and Wayne   Wayne,
Ackerman, Baldwin, Frusetta, Kaloogian, McClintock, Morrow, Papan,
Runner, and Vincent  )
   (Coauthors:  Senators Costa, Johannessen, Johnson, and Lewis)

                        JANUARY 13, 1997

   Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 3--Relative to gun safety.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 3, as amended, R. Wright.  Eddie Eagle Elementary Gun Safety
Education Program.
   This measure would encourage the funding of the Eddie Eagle
Elementary Gun Safety Education Program by civic and community
service organizations, would encourage educational institutions in
grades kindergarten through 6 to promote the use of the program in
public schools, and would commend the National Rifle Association for
developing the program and making it available for use in the state.

   Fiscal committee:  no.




   WHEREAS, The loss of a child as the result of a firearm accident
is a tragic event, made even more so because it is often preventable;
and
   WHEREAS, Many of these tragic accidents could be prevented by
providing the opportunity for broad based basic firearms safety
training and education programs in our schools, communities, and
homes; and
   WHEREAS, Many children play with toy guns that closely resemble
real weapons and watch television programs and movies and play video
games that may portray irresponsible and unsafe handling of guns,
which are factors that tend to blur the distinction between
make-believe and reality; and
   WHEREAS, Teaching children how to act safely around firearms is a
critical step in the effort to reduce the number of accidents related
to firearms that involve children; and
   WHEREAS, The Eddie Eagle Elementary Gun Safety Education Program
teaches the fundamentals of firearm safety to children through a
simple and clear lifesaving message that children are taught to
remember and act upon when they see a firearm:  "Stop!  Don't touch!
Leave the area!  Tell an adult!"; and
   WHEREAS, The Eddie Eagle Elementary Gun Safety Education Program
is a nationally recognized firearm safety program that has been
taught to over 8.9 million children since 1988 through more than
2,000 law enforcement groups, 7,000 independent schools and school
systems, and numerous civic groups across the nation and Canada; and
   WHEREAS, This safety program has been recognized by the National
Safety Council as the Outstanding Community Service Program for 1993;
now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the California Legislature encourages civic
and community service organizations concerned about the safety and
well-being of the children of this state to provide funding for the
implementation of the Eddie Eagle Elementary Gun Safety Education
Program at the local level; and be it further
   Resolved, That the California Legislature encourages educational
institutions in grades kindergarten through 6 to promote the use of
the Eddie Eagle Elementary Gun Safety Education Program in public
schools to help prevent accidents related to firearms that involve
children; and be it further
   Resolved, That the California Legislature commends the National
Rifle Association of America for developing the Eddie Eagle
Elementary Gun Safety Education Program and making it available for
use in the communities of this state; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and
transmit a copy of this resolution to the Superintendent of Public
Instruction and the Executive Vice President of the National Rifle
Association of America.