CARDWELL, MO (KAIT) - In addition to math, reading, and writing, a Missouri legislator is proposing school districts arm first graders with gun education. 
 
 On Dec. 13, 2012, one day before the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, Republican Senator Dan Brown from Rolla filed Senate Bill 75, a measure that would require school districts and charter schools to annually teach the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program, or an equivalent program to first grade students. 
 
 The National Rifle Association developed the Eddie Eagle program. 
 
 According to the bill, "The purpose of the program would be to promote safety and protection of children and emphasize how students should respond if they encounter a firearm." Firearms are prohibited when the program is being taught, and school personnel are prohibited from publicly making "value judgements about firearms." 
 
 Southland Schools Superintendent Kim Campbell says the district is in the process of implementing several safeguards on campus that should be in place by the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic year, such as installing security cameras on campus and on school buses, installing "buzz-in" systems at both main offices and installing "newer, safer" doors on the buildings. 
 
 Supt. Campbell thinks the proposed bill would work well with the other precautionary measures in protecting the 350 elementary, middle and high school students who attend Southland Schools. 
 
 "From what I've read over Senate Bill 75, I'm in favor. I'm not sure if the training needs to start at first grade or maybe a little bit later, but one thing I would change as a superintendent, I would ask my board to allow us to train every year. The same training maybe up through eighth grade because repetition, I believe, is important." 
 
 Also included in the bill are requirements for teachers and school employees to participate in eight-hour armed intruder or active shooter training classes, and simulated active intruder and shooter response drills. 
 
 Supt. Campbell does not agree with critics who argue that teachers should be responsible for solely teaching. 
 
 "If you ask any teacher, any administrator, any educator, they're going to tell you that just goes with the territory. That doesn't concern us at all. We welcome the challenge," he said. 
 
 People who do not support the bill also believe introducing children to guns would only increase their interest in them. 
 
 Cardwell resident Roxy Harper, who thinks the bill is a good idea, said, "(Guns) are tucked away, they're hidden, they're locked like there's something wrong and forbidden with them, and the first thing a child is going to do is go up to something they don't know anything about and find out what it is all about. So, if they know what it's about, and they know how dangerous it actually is, and that it's not a toy, it's not a game, it's not like you see on TV, it'd be a lot less people getting hurt and shot." 
 
 Sen. Brown discussed the proposed bill with the Senate chamber's General Laws Committee Tuesday. No one publicly opposed the bill, and the Committee did not vote on it. 
 
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 “Gun Safety,” Shannon Watts Style 
 
 In a potent case of “Eddie Eagle envy,” Moms Demand Action is rolling out its own “educational” program entitled Be SMART. Rather than focusing on training children, Be SMART seems more concerned with teaching grown-ups to badger other parents about whether they store guns in their house. And Moms is really bringing in the celebrity star power with ’90s teen sensation Melissa Joan Hart—who presumably could use the cash after her latest get-rich-quick scheme made her a national laughingstock. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Shannon Watts passion project unless it was served up with a generous helping of untruth. There is the off-hand reference to a child who “found a loaded gun in Speaker Boehner’s office” (this actually happened in a Capitol building bathroom). Watts is hoping you’re too lazy to actually click the link and see what happened—and too lazy to start fact-checking any of her “statistics.” 
 
 Tennessee Takes Step To Block Federal Gun Control 
 
 Last Thursday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law a measure that prohibits the implementation of federal gun-control laws that do not comply with the state constitution. It represents a big step toward ending federal gun control in Tennessee. The bill was first introduced in the House by Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, who noted at the time, “There is no need for Washington, D.C., to be the end-all and be-all with regards to the regulatory world.” SB 1110, sponsored by Sen. Richard Briggs, received overwhelming support, passing 74-20 in the House and 29-1 in the Senate. More pro-gun legislation recently signed by Gov. Haslam: HB 745 creates a lifetime handgun carry permit; 
 
 SB 633 prohibits schools from requiring families to provide information on firearm ownership; 
 
 HB 1255 mandates “shall-sign” legislation for Class III NFA items; 
 
 HB 955 strikes down local laws banning guns in parks. 
 
 When Seconds Count, Minutes Kill 
 
 New information coming from the terror attack Saturday on an art contest in Garland, Texas—an attack for which ISIS has claimed responsibility—underscores the difference that good guys with guns make when the chips are down. CNN reported on Monday that the time from when the two men, armed with AK-47s, exited their vehicle and began firing to when they both lay dead in the street was only 15 seconds—thanks to quick action and straight shooting by Garland police officers. Contrast that to the January attack at Charlie Hebdo magazine headquarters in Paris, where attackers were met by unarmed police officers, killed 12 people over a period of minutes (including one officer), then escaped the scene unharmed. They were finally captured nearly two days later. Say what you want, but in this type of situation, good guys with guns fare much better than good guys without guns. 
 
 Really? Elitism In The Anti-Gun Movement? 
 
 Despite a seemingly presumptive coronation of Benghazi bungler-in-chief Hillary Clinton as the Democratic candidate for president in 2016, a few other possibilities are queuing up. They aren’t promising. Self-described “Democratic Socialist” Bernie Sanders of Vermont has thrown his hat in the ring. Earning a solid “F” from NRA-ILA, he voted for the 1994 Crime Bill (including the so-called assault weapons ban) and a long list of other restrictions. Now—oddly—he purportedly “cares that other people care about guns” and “thinks there’s an elitism in the anti-gun movement.” Is he referring to the “it’s-more-important-for-me-to-feel-safe-than-you-to-be-safe” taxpayer-paid/private personal security crowd? Elitism, eh? There's a shocker. 
 
 Crime In The Charm City Not A Recent Phenomenon 
 
 While continued protests in Baltimore draw national attention, a look at historical crime rates show the current rash of violence is less of an anomaly, and more of a slight upward blip. Baltimore’s homicide rate has increased by 25 percent this year, but the city has consistently ranked among the most dangerous in America. According to Police Captain Eric Kowalczyk, while the police department increased ranks due to civil unrest, some of the additional personnel have been redirected toward the ongoing deluge of unrelated crimes citywide. Baltimore’s population has been falling since the 1960s, likely due to persistent criminal activity. But state lawmakers have turned a deaf ear to those who stay, instead passing increasingly restrictive firearms legislation. No law has ever stopped criminals from misusing firearms—so why doesn’t Maryland instead address the drug and gang issues, and allow the law-abiding sufficient means to protect themselves in the meantime? 
 
 WWII Vet Thwarts Robbery With Cane—And Will Be Packing Heat Next Time 
 
 96-year-old Arthur Kamberis doesn’t usually take his cane when he walks outside, but it was a good thing that he did on Saturday. While he was walking, a man approached him and began to aggressively try to reach into his pockets for his wallet. Kamberis, who is an NRA member, says that he realized his assailant must not have a firearm and decided to take action. He swung his cane, hitting the man twice before a bystander intervened and chased away the attempted robber. Kamberis is fine, but he says that next time he steps out of the house, he’ll have his cell phone on one hip—and a .357 revolver on the other!
– Reading, writing, arithmetic, and gun knowledge? Yes, a Missouri lawmaker wants students taught about guns—in first grade. GOP state Sen. Dan Brown introduced Senate Bill 75, which would require schools to use the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program or similar. The program was designed by the NRA, and its website says it teaches kids "important steps to take if they find a gun," as presented by mascot Eddie Eagle. But opponents of the bill say that exposing children to guns at all will get them interested in weapons. The bill assures that firearms would be prohibited while the program is being taught, and teachers can't make "value judgements about firearms" publicly, KAIT-8 reports. It would also require simulated active shooter drills, and for teachers and other school employees to receive training for how to deal with a school shooting situation.