Merritt, OK – From March 23 through April 1, Beckham County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers Wendi Holland and Richard Jones presented the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program to pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade students at Merritt Elementary School.

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program is a nationally recognized gun accident prevention program that has helped teach children firearm safety for more than 30 years. The program focuses on one simple mission: teaching children what to do if they ever encounter a firearm. 

During the presentations, students learned four easy-to-remember safety steps through interactive discussions and an animated educational video featuring Eddie Eagle and the Wing Team. The program’s message encourages children to avoid touching firearms and immediately seek help from a trusted adult.

Students repeatedly practiced the program’s safety message: “STOP! Don’t Touch. Run Away. Tell a Grown-up.”

School Resource Officers Holland and Jones said the goal of the program is to provide children with simple, practical knowledge that could help prevent accidental injuries and keep young students safe both at school and at home.

Teachers and staff said students remained engaged throughout the presentations and continued singing the safety song long after the program concluded.

Copyright 2026 Paragon Communications. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.