Lake County Prosecutor speaks to students about gun safety

Chicago Tribune

06-02-2025

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter spoke to students at third-grade students at Benjamin Harrison Elementary School in East Chicago on Tuesday about his Gun Safety Literacy Program, which aims to teach children in kindergarten through third grade about the importance of gun safety.
Harrison Elementary is the first site for the initiative, which is designed to help children stay safe by avoiding unsecured firearms.
The program uses the S.A.F.E. method to remind children how to react when they see a firearm — Stop, Avoid Touching the gun, Find an Adult, and Exit the Area. The S.A.F.E. method is demonstrated by Careful Carter, a canine mascot who helps children learn the critical steps to staying safe if they ever encounter a firearm. The students are taken through relatable scenarios, with kid-friendly visuals, and interactive activities.
The program also aims to foster trust and open communication between children, parents, and law enforcement.
'Our children's safety is non-negotiable,' Carter said in a news release. 'This program gives young students the tools they need to recognize danger and make safe choices if they encounter a gun. By introducing these lessons early, we're helping prevent tragedies before they happen.'
The program is the latest effort by the Lake County Prosecutor's Office to curb gun violence after a spate of incidents in recent years where children were maimed or killed when they gained access to unsecured firearms.
'Too many children lose their lives or are seriously injured because guns aren't properly secured,' Carter said.
In November 2023, a 2-year-old Gary boy was accidentally shot and killed by his 3-year-old brother after finding a gun in his mother's purse, while a 3-year-old boy died in Merrillville of an apparent accidental gunshot wound in December 2023. In August 2023, Edan Johnson, 5, of Chicago, was killed while visiting relatives in the 2400 block of Fillmore Street in Gary. A 32-year-old man told police that he'd laid down his gun before falling asleep, but was awakened by the sound of a gunshot and found the boy shot. The boy died of his injuries at a hospital.
Another incident occurred in September 2023 when a 4-year-old found his mother's gun inside of her purse in the closet and accidentally shot himself, Gary Police said. He survived his injuries.
Carter has held numerous events to distribute gun locks through the Lake County Ministerial Alliance. The Gary Police Department is a distribution point, and other police departments such as St. John and Highland among others already have gun safety lock programs in place.
Last spring, Carter worked to create a series of gun safety videos with State Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary, and Wheatfield resident Kandice Cole, whose 4-year-old son Eric gained access to an unsecured handgun in his babysitter's home and shot himself in the forehead in 2017.
'It's just my hope the more I share this tragedy… we can spare other parents the heartache,' Cole said in April 2024.