The winners of the Friends of NRA 2007 Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program mascot costume competition include: Farmington Police Department, Farmington, New Mexico; El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Rancho Cucamonga Police Department, Rancho Cucamonga, California; Ellis County Sheriff's Department, Waxahachie, Texas; and Gila County Sheriff’s Office, Globe, Arizona.

Launched in 1988, The Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® Program was created by past NRA President Marion P. Hammer, and was developed in consultation with child psychologists, elementary school teachers, and law enforcement officers. The program teaches children in pre-kindergarten through third grade the following safety message: If you see a gun: STOP! Don't Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult. Since its inception, more than 26,000 law enforcement officers, schoolteachers, and community safety leaders have taught the program to more than 21 million young children.

Many law enforcement agencies believe that The Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® Program's delivery has been enhanced by the availability of the costumes. The agencies feel that the Eddie Eagle costume captures children's attention during presentations, and leaves a lasting positive impression.

"The costume greatly adds to any Eddie Eagle presentation, and helps to ensure that children remember how to avoid firearm accidents," said Eddie Eagle Program Manager Eric Lipp. "We are extremely thankful to the Friends of NRA organizations across the country for supporting the Eddie Eagle costume contest, and for their commitment to ensuring that the children in their communities learn Eddie Eagle's life-saving message."

Over the years, the Eddie Eagle program has been praised by numerous groups and elected officials, including the Association of American Educators, the National Sheriffs' Association, the U.S. Department of Justice (through its Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency), 26 state governors, and 23 state legislatures, to name just a few. Since the Eddie Eagle Program was launched, the annual number of firearm-related deaths among children of the program's age group declined more than 80 percent. Gun accident prevention programs such as Eddie Eagle are a significant factor in that decline.

Each Eddie Eagle costume represents a $2,650 value for each law enforcement department, and was made possible through a contribution by local chapters of Friends of NRA. Thanks to the support of Friends of NRA throughout the country, 22 costumes have been donated through this contest to law enforcement agencies since 2001.

The NRA encourages citizens nationwide to participate in heightening gun accident prevention awareness within their local communities. Law enforcement agencies, schools, civic groups, and others interested in obtaining more information about The Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® Program can visit its website at www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie, send e-mail to eddie@nrahq.org, or call (800) 231-0752.