An elementary school and a preschool in Houston canceled gun-safety presentations for their young students over concerns that the National Rifle Association crafted the lessons, reports the Houston Chronicle. “The principals made a decision they didn’t want to participate in an event that folks could perceive as them taking a position one way or another on the gun control debate or any other debate the NRA is involved in,” school district spokesman Jason Spencer said.
The NRA sent out a news release touting its safety presentations at the two schools, which were scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, in advance of the gun group’s annual meeting in Houston this weekend. The NRA said nearly 3 million school children in Texas have heard the gun-safety presentation over the last 25 years. The program typically involves its Eddie the Eagle mascot in costume, delivering this message to kids who may come across guns: “Stop! Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult. Before cancelling the presentation, one of the principals gave a radio interview saying she was “so elated to have a gun safety program at our school today.”