How to teach kids respect, not fear, around firearms

This episode of Unleashed on the America Out Loud Talk Radio Network centers on gun safety education for children, featuring David Cox, author of the children's book 'This Is A Gun: A Safety Guide for Families with Children.' The discussion emphasizes teaching kids respect rather than fear around firearms, using age-appropriate language and real-life scenarios to help children identify guns, understand their dangers, and know how to respond if they encounter one—such as not touching it, running away, and finding an adult. The panel, including Project Sentinel leaders Lieutenant Colonel Tim Wilson, Jay Homnick, and Carolyn Parlano, underscores the importance of early education, noting that over 500 million firearms in the U.S. make accidental exposure inevitable, and that schools should play a role in teaching safety. The conversation also addresses gun storage, peer pressure, and the psychological impact of normalizing firearms through responsible exposure, with Cox advocating for the book to be adopted in schools and community organizations. The episode concludes with a strong call to action for parents, grandparents, and educators to prioritize proactive, calm, and consistent safety conversations with children.