It has become increasingly possible that even if a child is raised in a home with no firearms, that child will eventually come into contact with one, whether at another family member’s house, a friend’s house or a neighbor’s house.

Children are most certainly exposed to many different kinds of weapons in their favorite cartoons or the shows they see their parents watch.

Without the proper education, those children may develop an inaccurate perception of what firearms are and what they are capable of.

That’s where Eddie Eagle comes in. The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office recently received the costume — the mascot for gun accident prevention — after winning a contest sponsored by the National Rifle Association.

The sheriff’s office has plans to take Eddie Eagle into the local schools and to special community events to teach children that if they see a gun, they should “Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.”

While parents and guardians have an important responsibility to teach their children right from wrong when it comes to firearms safety, cartoon mascots are invaluable at grabbing a child’s attention and conveying a message in a way that is easily understood.