{"id":549459,"date":"2026-04-29T20:00:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T20:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harrisburgnewsnow.com\/news\/story\/549459\/new-book-holds-a-crucial-discussion-about-gun-safety-for-kids.html"},"modified":"2026-04-29T20:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T20:00:15","slug":"new-book-holds-a-crucial-discussion-about-gun-safety-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/story\/549459\/new-book-holds-a-crucial-discussion-about-gun-safety-for-kids.html","title":{"rendered":"New Book Holds a Crucial Discussion About Gun Safety for Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"font-style:italic;padding:8px 0px\">&#8220;This book will save lives!&#8221; June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month.<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Charlotte, NC, USA &#8211; April 29, 2026 &#8211;<\/strong> With more than half of households in the United States owning firearms, avoiding the topic does not make children safer. Education does. David Hayes Cox&#8217;s new book, <strong>This is a Gun<\/strong>, is a calm, age-appropriate introduction to firearm safety for young children and the adults who care for them. David is a certified firearms instructor and a dad, and his goal is to help families talk openly and clearly about what a gun is, why it can be dangerous, and what children should do if they ever encounter one.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.globalnewslines.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/967b11dfd7194c75277d6da29d5aa029.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>This Is a Gun is an excellent, age-appropriate resource for parents and caregivers who want to teach children about gun safety in a calm, clear, and responsible way.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Chris Cordani, Media Fellow, Project Sentinel; Host, Book Spectrum; Producer: Sentinel Circle with Tony Shaffer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Using simple language and gentle illustrations, the book reinforces a small number of clear safety rules that children can remember and parents can build on. It is designed to be read together, creating a shared starting point for conversations that many families know are important but are not always sure how to begin. Illustrated by Joe Ruiz, <strong>This is a Gun<\/strong> also includes an index of common household guns with realistic sizing, an excellent resource for teaching kids about models they could encounter.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Masterfully written and illustrated, this book is a must read for all families with children&mdash;the pinnacle for addressing and assuring gun safety!<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 Hall of Fame Reviewer, 5-Stars<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">In addition to practical advice and gun identification, David hammers home three key points: &#8220;What do you do if you see a gun? 1. Do not touch the gun. 2. Run away from it. 3. Tell an adult about the gun.&#8221; These are easy for young children to remember and act accordingly. Also included is a &#8220;gun safety promise,&#8221; a mock contract giving kids the chance to actively say that they will practice responsibility and safety if they find a gun. The focus is not fear or judgment, but understanding, communication, and prevention.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Empowering families with knowledge and responsible guidance is one of the most effective ways to prevent tragedy. This book offers a constructive approach to educating children about safety in a calm and age-appropriate way.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Scott Reitz &amp; Brett McQueen, Co-authors of The Art of Modern Gunfighting, Co-founders of International Tactical Training Seminars<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Guns are a fact of American life, and that makes gun safety a parental responsibility, not a political position. An adult is responsible any time a child gains access to an unsecured firearm, and This Is a Gun gives parents a simple, honest tool for meeting that responsibility before curiosity becomes tragedy. Every parent owes their child this conversation, whether or not they own a gun.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>David Yamane, Professor of Sociology, Wake Forest University, author of Gun Curious<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">June is <strong>National Gun Violence Awareness Month<\/strong>, so now is the perfect time for crucial firearms education, whether it&#8217;s taught in schools, daycare, or just amongst your family. <strong>This is a Gun<\/strong> avoids political or biased debates, instead focusing objectively on personal safety, respecting boundaries, and reducing the risk of accidental injury. This book is ideal for children ages 4-10 and grades K-5, parents, caregivers, and educators who want a practical, thoughtful approach to early safety education.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Further information can be found at <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/thisisagun.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/thisisagun.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>This is a Gun<\/strong>, ISBN 979-8994702215, $17.95 Paperback, $24.95 Hardcover, $1.99 eBook, 34 pages, Common Ground Press, 2026. Available on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/06OFOiIx\" target=\"_blank\">Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.globalnewslines.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e432b38c7e344098f6c4228cff27e1cf.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>About David Hayes Cox<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">David is a father, lifelong firearms enthusiast, and passionate advocate for children&#8217;s safety. Having trained with firearms for well over 20 years, he is well-versed in their proper handling and brings a personal sense of responsibility to his writing. David is also a certified firearms safety instructor and range safety officer. As a parent, he understands the deep need to protect and educate, and his work reflects a commitment to bridging those worlds. His children&#8217;s book, <em>This Is a Gun<\/em>, was born from conversations with his own kids: honest, direct, and grounded in love. Off the page, he spends his time outdoors, teaching his children respect for tools and for life, and working to ensure that safety doesn&#8217;t come at the cost of curiosity. His mission is simple: to help families talk about hard things with clarity, care, and courage. A proud family man, David&#8217;s heritage predates the American Revolution. His family has been farming in America for over 400 years, and David helps manage his family&#8217;s farms in Texas. David holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Media Contact:<\/strong> For a review copy of <strong>This is a Gun<\/strong> or to arrange an interview with David Hayes Cox, contact Scott Lorenz of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westwindbookmarketing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Westwind Book Marketing<\/a> at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 248-705-2214. Reach Lorenz on Twitter <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/aBookPublicist\" target=\"_blank\">@abookpublicist<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"caps\"><span style='font-size:18px !important'>Media Contact<\/span><br \/><strong>Company Name:<\/strong> Westwind Communications Book Marketing<br \/><strong>Contact Person:<\/strong> Scott Lorenz<br \/><strong>Email:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href='http:\/\/www.universalpressrelease.com\/?pr=new-book-holds-a-crucial-discussion-about-gun-safety-for-kids'>Send Email<\/a><br \/><strong>Phone:<\/strong> 248-705-2214<br \/><strong>Country:<\/strong> United States<br \/><strong>Website:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.WestwindBookMarketing.com\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.WestwindBookMarketing.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getnews.info\/press_stat.php?pr=new-book-holds-a-crucial-discussion-about-gun-safety-for-kids\" alt=\"\" width=\"1px\" height=\"1px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;This book will save lives!&#8221; June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Charlotte, NC, USA &#8211; April 29, 2026 &#8211; With more than half of households in the United States<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549459"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=549459"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549459\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=549459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=549459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.honolulunewsnow.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=549459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}