Lake County prosecutor proposes K–3 gun-safety pilot at Harrison; board notified for Tuesday agenda

Bernard Carter, Lake County prosecutor, and Myrna Maldonado of the prosecutor’s office presented a proposal to the School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees to pilot a gun-safety education program for third-grade students at Harrison Elementary, with a stated goal of expanding the lessons to kindergarten through third grade at the district’s four elementary schools.

The presentation said the initiative is educational and designed to teach an age-appropriate “SAFE” model — stop, avoid touching, find an adult, exit the area — plus pledges and interactive scenarios. Parents would receive a letter and permission slip and may opt their child out of the lessons. The office also provided a QR code linking to videos, including instructions on installing gun locks, and offered to distribute gun locks through coordination with the East Chicago Police Department and the Lake County clerk’s office.

Carter said the prosecutor’s office began the initiative after several cases in Lake County in which very young children died after finding unsecured firearms. “We’re trying to prevent some of these things,” Carter said, describing a countywide effort to distribute gun locks and supply instructional materials. He said the county clerk, Mike Brown, and local police departments are partners in the effort.

Myrna Maldonado reviewed program materials the presenters left with the board: a parent letter from the prosecutor, a permission slip, lesson plans and a PowerPoint intended for social workers to teach, a character called “Careful Carter” to explain the message to children, three scenarios for classroom discussion and a short pledge students would sign. Presenters said lessons could be repeated each quarter with different scenarios.

Board members asked whether materials would be translated into Spanish and whether the East Chicago Police Department had been consulted; presenters said translations were planned and that local police departments would be included. Trustees also asked whether parents would be allowed to attend presentations; presenters said parents would not generally be present but could meet separately with the prosecutor’s office if they wished and could withdraw their child via the permission form.

The presenters said they would provide gun locks when requested and that the office obtains locks through donations. Carter noted Indiana statute requires a gun lock be provided with the sale of a new firearm from a gun shop, and the county program supplies locks to households that request them.

Board President and trustees confirmed the item will appear on the board’s Tuesday agenda for formal consideration. The transcript records no formal board vote during the work session.

The board packet and the presenters’ materials remain in the public record as the proposal advances to the regular board meeting for action or further discussion.