Children who are generally considered too young to be allowed to handle firearms at all have a different set of rules which can be taught to them:

• Stop.
• Don't touch.
• Leave the area.
• Tell an adult.
  

The purpose of these rules is to prevent children from inadvertently handling firearms. These rules are part of the Eddie Eagle program developed by the National Rifle Association (USA) for preschoolers through 6th graders. If a child discovers a firearm, they should seek an adult to remove access to it as soon as possible. This may include turning it over to an appropriate law enforcement agency.

History and teachers of gun safety
While gun safety in different forms has existed since the creation of firearms, modern gun safety is often credited to Jeff Cooper. Being influential in the modern handling of firearms, he formalised the above mentioned rules of gun safety.

Other teachers of gun safety include Massad Ayoob, Clint Smith, Chuck Taylor, Jim Crews and Ignatius Piazza.

One widely known firearms safety program in the United States is the Eddie Eagle program developed by the National Rifle Association.