How to Spread Eddie Eagle's Message of Gun Safety in the Digital Age

It is without a doubt we live in a digital age – all things revolve around portable devices and social media. It is how and where we get our news, provide our updates and connect with those around us.

That is why the Eddie Eagle Team at Headquarters worked around the clock to ensure Eddie Eagle and his Wing Team were given a boost into the digital world, creating the Eddie Eagle Treehouse.

If you’re not familiar, the Eddie Eagle Treehouse is an interactive website designed for children. It allows children to watch videos, interact with Eddie Eagle and the Wing Team, as well as provide adults with a tool to help teach their children about gun safety, on the devices our youth have become masters at – computers, iPads, iPhones, etc.

Law enforcement agencies across the nation have also transitioned to the digital age and are using social networks to share updates on situations and better connect with their communities.

So it only made sense that we, the Eddie Eagle Team and law enforcement agencies partnered together, and use social media to help continue spreading the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® message.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee is a great example of how using social media, especially Facebook, has been useful in spreading the Eddie Eagle message. They often feature pictures of Eddie’s visits across the county, parent testimonials, videos of Eddie interacting with students and teachers, and sharing events that Eddie will make an appearance at.

Since receiving their costume earlier this year, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s office bought Eddie’s lifesaving message to over 4,000 kids ranging from Pre-K to 4^th Grade. After being awarded a grant from Friends of NRA, through the NRA Foundation, Sheriff Cox worked with local schools to set up assemblies every month.

“We’ve had multiple reports from parents telling us that their children are singing the Eddie Eagle song and teaching their siblings to stay safe around guns,” said Sheriff Cox. One such report comes from a comment on the Cumberland County Facebook page, “My son, who just turned 5, came running home all excited. Stop, don’t touch, run away, tell a grown up. Eddie has truly impressed him!”

The program has tremendously impacted the Cumberland County community thanks to the hard work of Sheriff Cox and his deputies!

Like the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, help spread Eddie Eagle’s gun safety message using your social networks! Share your stories on how Eddie Eagle and the Wing Team has impacted your children or community.