families who took part in our "my kid would never do that" series. you can find more advice for kids and parents on our website at datelinenbc.com. that's all for this edition of . i'm craig melvin. >> i'm natalie morales. >> and this is "dateline." >> reporter: some fun-loving kids, a table full of treats and this. he sees it. just saw it. these kids have all had safety training -- >> today, we're going to talk about guns. >> reporter: -- telling them to walk away and find an adult. but in the heat of the moment -- >> ooh, a gun! >> reporter: -- with a fake gun and hidden cameras everywhere, we put kids to the test. >> so scary.

so scary. >> reporter: their parents, nearby in our "watchmobile," eyes glued to every moment. >> i think he might pick it up. i'm just worried about this one. >> reporter: some kids will ace it. >> i'm a proud mama. >> reporter: some won't. >> no, no, no, no! >> reporter: we're also testing teens. >> trigger pulls, however, nothing will fire from the gun. >> yo, straight up right now. >> they're at an age where peer pressure is really big. >> reporter: can they withstand that pressure? >> feel, like, feel how heavy that is? >> oh, my. >> reporter: and then, one way to teach your kids about gun safety that just might work. >> that was perfect! >> i'm really, really proud of you. >> reporter: "dateline's my kid would never do that" the gun safety edition. >> reporter: hi, everyone. kids and guns, a potentially explosive mix. a lot of parents have told their children to never touch a firearm when they're not around, but as our hidden cameras rolled, and parents watched from our "watchmobile," we learned

that that message can all too easily be forgotten when there's a shiny gun in the room. while there's no surefire for keeping kids safe, it turns out there is one surprising strategy that could help save your child's life. we all know children can be impulsive. they break the rules not because they're bad kids, but because they just can't seem to help themselves. sometimes it's something small with minor consequences. but other times, being impulsive can be deadly, especially when it comes to guns. >> reporter: the two were playing around last night with a loaded gun when it went off. >> reporter: according to the centers for disease control, an estimated 2,000 children are injured in gun accidents each yeesh and more than 100 children are killed. all too often, it's a kid pulling the trigger.

each child's death is tragic, and all of them are preventable. >> no child deserves to be taken like this. >> reporter: while the gun issue is incredibly divisive, what is not debated is that everyone wants to keep children safe. and that's our goal tonight. to show parents the best way to teach kids gun safety from children as young as 5 to teenagers. >> yo, yo. >> reporter: we've enlisted the help of dr. ray miltenberger, a professor at the university of south florida and a leading researcher of gun injury prevention. >> you see a gun, what do you do? >> reporter: dr. miltenberger believes the first step to keeping kids safe is to store guns locked and hidden. >> the second is to teach the kids the skills for the one time that some adult will not store the gun safely. >> reporter: and if you're a parent who believes my kids would never touch a gun without my permission, what would happen

if you tested them? we found a group of parents in the tampa, florida, area who agreed to do just that. they wanted to know what their kids would do if they found a gun when they thought no one was watching. >> i'm dying to know what he's gonna do. >> reporter: we're at a local park about to test our first group, teen boys. they are at a much higher risk for accidental gun injuries and deaths than teen girls. will any of them be able to resist this? before anyone arrived, corporal robert powell from the tampa police department took a real gun and disabled it. >> slide works, trigger pulls. however, nothing will fire from the gun. >> reporter: he then placed it under a picnic table. he says in order for the teens to pass this test, not only should they never touch the gun, but they should get away and get

an adult. now hidden cameras are rolling all around the park, zooming in on these two boys. >> hi, i'm austin. >> hi, i'm vinnie. >> reporter: they have no idea they're about to be tested. they think they're here to be a part of a tv shoot on physical fitness. they also don't know the other two are actors. one of them will discover the gun. our roving watchmobile just arrived from new york city. it's our secret command center for parents. you nervous? >> i am. >> reporter: in here, the boys' parents will see on monitors what our hidden cameras throughout the park are recording. >> it's very hard to determine what he would do. >> reporter: austin's dad says his son, who's about to turn 13, owns an airsoft gun that shoots plastic bbs. and that's not the only reason he feels it's important to talk about gun safety. >> i do carry a concealed weapon, and there is a firearm in my house, and we do speak about that. >> reporter: does he know where the firearm is? >> he does not.

it's locked up. >> reporter: the other boy is vinnie. he's 14. >> he's an exceptional kid and student. he's very athletic, he's very much a leader. >> reporter: they don't have guns in their house, but vinnie has gone hunting with a friend. >> the dad gave him a lot of lessons and what not to do, what to do. >> reporter: in terms of gun safety, you feel like he's prepared. >> i don't know. i mean, i think he thinks he would be smart enough not to do anything. >> reporter: not to touch it. >> not to touch it, not to aim it at somebody. >> reporter: if your sons pick up the gun, what would you be feeling? >> i would feel like i let him down with my gun safety rules in the house. >> i would be a little sad, i think, that he would have little fear, and i would want him to have more -- -- seriousness about it. >> reporter: okay, i think you're both very nervous, so let's get it going. to keep up the ruse that this is a fitness shoot, we've asked a trainer to run the boys through several exercises. >> nice and tight, nice and tight. >> reporter: then she sends them to take a break at the picnic table. >> i'll give you about

15 minutes or so. >> reporter: she and our camera crew leave. the boys chit chat for a few minutes, and then -- >> yo, straight up. >> what's up? >> straight up right now. >> reporter: our actor pretends to discover the gun. >> what -- what is that? >> reporter: vinnie looks at it over the table. austin peeks under the table. and their parents can't look away. >> oh, my god. >> reporter: are these parents prepared for what they're about to see? coming up -- >> oh, my -- >> reporter: when "dateline" continues.

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i'll give you about 15 minutes or so. >> reporter: these boys appear to be all alone. >> yo, straight up. >> what's up? >> straight up right now. >> reporter: and one of them just found a gun. >> what -- what is that? >> reporter: there may be no adults around, but plenty are watching on hidden cameras, including these boys' parents. austin is almost 13 and vinnie is 14. their parents have put them in this situation to see what they will do next. >> are you kidding me right now? >> reporter: the boys don't know the gun is disabled and that these two are actors. he's looking at it. both boys are trying to see the gun. and both their parents are hoping they won't touch it and will tell an adult.

>> this was just sitting right there, dude. >> reporter: immediately, austin seems concerned. >> oh, that's safe. >> reporter: but the others ignore him. >> is that like a bb gun? >> reporter: then -- >> that's real. you feel that? >> oh, my god! >> reporter: oh, boy. >> yo, can i take the clip out? >> i'm shocked. >> you put actual bullets in there. you put actual -- yo, it's real. >> reporter: austin is taking it all in. remember, his dad keeps a gun in the house and says safety lessons have been engrained in his son. >> austin's not saying a word. >> reporter: but when our actor starts playing with the gun, pointing it in the boys' direction -- >> gun safety, gun safety, gun safety. >> he's scared. >> yeah.

>> reporter: but austin doesn't do anything about it. he doesn't get away and he doesn't get an adult. >> wait, let me see it. i'm going to take it off. >> reporter: then look what vinnie does next. >> how do you put this thing back? >> just click -- sound. >> yo, i thought you were supposed to -- >> yeah, it's like -- it's like right there. >> is he shooting it? >> that's a real gun. >> reporter: how are you doing? >> i'm really sad that he would just do that. and i've failed because i haven't taught him enough about it. >> feel, like, feel how heavy that is? >> reporter: the actors put the gun near austin. >> i don't want to touch it. >> he doesn't want to touch it. >> and my son won't stop. >> killed him. guy's dead. >> oh, my -- >> oh, my. >> reporter: it's an emotional

moment for vinnie's mom. >> i feel like a cop right now. >> i am overwhelmed at his response to this. >> i'm just avoiding the barrel. >> reporter: then we ask our actors to simulate a real life peer pressure situation. >> yo, you guys gotta not say nothing, seriously. >> i'm -- >> legit. >> reporter: try to convince the boys to agree not to tell anyone about the gun. >> i'm not going to say anything. >> put this stuff in front of it. >> where'd they even go? >> reporter: hi, guys. i go out to speak to them to see what they'll tell me. anything else happen? anybody wanna say anything to me? >> nope. >> what are we doing next? >> reporter: i'll tell you what's happening next. >> yeah, i know. >> reporter: vinnie it seems has figured out he's not here for a physical fitness shoot. >> reporter: what's happening? >> we found the gun. >> reporter: so do you know what i'm here for? >> gun safety.

>> reporter: i'm doing a show on gun safety, exactly. we saw you point it, shoot it. what do you think you should have done differently? >> told the trainer as soon as she came. >> reporter: uh-huh. and what else could you have done differently? >> walked away. not stayed when they had a gun. >> reporter: i invite the parents to sit down next to their kids. were you scared for your son, sharon? >> it was very eye-opening to see where i'm failing in not teaching my children what's the right thing to do. >> reporter: corporal powell comes in to give the boys a quick lesson on gun safety. >> we don't know the difference between real and fake guns sometimes. so we have to treat them all as if they're real, stay away from them and tell the adult. >> reporter: think you can do better next time? >> yes, ma'am. >> reporter: excellent. all right, high five. he's like, "i'm not so sure i want a high five." we're going to try this again. >> yo, yo, come on now. >> reporter: with this boy who

knows firsthand the dangers of a gun. coming up, of all our teens, jordan should know better than to touch a deadly weapon, but can he stand up to this kind of peer pressure. >> you want to see it? >> reporter: how are you feeling right now? when "dateline" continues.

>> reporter: we've been testing teens to see what they do when they find a gun. >> pop, pop, pop. >> reporter: and think no adults are around. >> killed 'em. >> reporter: in this scenario the gun is disabled. but for 13-year-old brooklynn mae mohler, when her friend picked up a gun, it was loaded. >> her friend's father had a loaded gun in a kitchen cabinet. >> reporter: brooklynn's dad was on his way to pick her up when her best friend accidentally shot her. >> she was on the ground. and her friend was holding her. >> and you were the one who walked in -- >> i was the first one on the scene. >> reporter: she died a short time later. that was two years ago, but her parents say they still see her every time they close their eyes. >> she was so special. and she was extremely athletic and competitive.

and you couldn't tell her no. and if you tried to, she would say, "watch me." and i loved that about her. and i miss that about -- i miss that so much. >> reporter: one thing that haunts her parents, who are gun owners themselves, is that they never asked if there was an unsecured gun in her friend's house. >> maybe if i would have just asked that question, maybe things would be different. i'd still have my daughter. >> we're trying to prevent accidental childhood shootings. >> reporter: brooklynn's parents started an organization, the brooklynn mae mohler foundation, dedicated to promoting responsible gun ownership. >> we're just trying to prevent this from happening. if you're a gun owner, be responsible. there's no excuse. yeah, it's a gun lock. lock your guns up. and if you're not, and you -- even if you're just a parent, ask where your children go, if they have unsecured weapons in the home. >> i just want to make sure that no other parent ever has to feel this. >> reporter: they think

tonight's test is so important and they applaud the parents willing to test their kids so that so many others will learn what to do if they ever find a gun. the next teen to be tested is 15-year-old jordan. he knows more about the effects of gun violence than most kids his age. >> are you ready? let's go. >> reporter: his mom, who's with me in our watchmobile, explains that before moving to florida, they lived in a rough neighborhood in chicago where there were gangs. >> a bullet actually went through our -- our mailbox, which is where my boys would've been playing. >> reporter: his mom says because of his life experience, she's betting her son won't touch the gun. >> how do you think jordan is going to act and react? >> you know, i don't want to touch it. maybe he might be curious, like any other kid, to look at it. but hey, let's get an adult involved so that we can correct the situation. >> all right, here we go. >> reporter: like the other

teens, jordan was invited here to be part of an nbc shoot on physical fitness. >> we're going to go a bench over here. >> reporter: the trainer gets the boys to wrap up their workout, sends them to the picnic table and leaves. >> i'm just going to see if anybody else has come. >> reporter: remember, jordan doesn't know the two other boys are actors. >> i used to play linebacker. >> yeah? >> i can see running back. >> reporter: we cue our actor to pick up the gun. >> yo, yo, come on now. >> reporter: jordan looks under the table, then leans in for a closer look. >> oh, wow. >> no, for real. put that back. for real. >> yo. >> no, no, no, no. >> yo, yo. >> reporter: jordan gets on the other side of the table. and does what every parent hopes for. >> yo, where'd she go? >> i don't know. this is crazy, yo. >> reporter: he looks for an adult. >> yo, where'd they go for real? >> reporter: but there are no adults around. so our actors continue to try to get jordan to pick up the gun. >> do you wanna see it? like -- >> naw, i'm straight.

>> don't worry man. >> naw, for real put it down. put it down bro. >> yo, dude, just relax, man. >> come on. just back up, back up. >> dude, legit. >> that's so dumb bro, put it back. >> reporter: just as his mother suspected, because of what he experienced in his old neighborhood, jordan wants nothing to do with the gun. >> were ya'll born here? >> yeah. >> that's why, bro. >> what'd you say? >> i said that's why, bro. >> what do you mean? i thought you were from tampa. >> i'm not from tampa. i live in tampa. i'm from chicago -- >> okay. >> it hits very close to home. >> if i see a gun, i'll leave it there. >> i just don't understand, man. >> i don't like guns bro. where'd the hell she go? >> how are you feeling right now, seein' that your son is speaking up? >> i'm pretty proud of him. >> this is so dumb. >> reporter: as i head out to meet them, our actor pours on the peer pressure and begs jordan to stay silent. >> yo, can you just please not say anything? like, at least if you're gonna walk away, don't say nothin' about it? >> wow, are you straight? >> you guys are the exercise shoot participants right? >> yeah, yeah, that's us. >> hi. >> reporter: we chat a bit about the fitness test.

jordan doesn't say a word about the gun. then i ask the important question. >> anything else go on? >> hey, paul, did you find something? >> what? >> did you find something? >> no. >> somebody tell me something. come on. >> obviously you guys are hiding something. >> bro, paul, just pull it out, bro. i see it in the back of your pants, bro. >> reporter: that's when i fill him in on what's really going on. >> jordan, i'm gonna put you out of the misery of this situation right now because actually we're here doing a show called "my kid would never do that." this is not a real situation. these guys are actors. >> reporter: we bring in jordan's mom. >> you spoke up and i'm really proud of that. >> reporter: what's especially remarkable about how jordan handled this situation, says our expert, is that jordan resisted the pressure by the other boys who tried everything to get him to pick up the gun. >> you guys did some good acting. >> i think that's the main thing with teens, is that they're at an age where peer pressure is

really big. >> reporter: dr. miltenberger suggests the best way to teach gun safety to teens is to act out a scene just like what jordan went through. >> i would create scenarios in which a peer is trying to pressure them into touching a gun or playing with a gun. and -- and they learn to act assertively and refuse that. and -- and actually try to get the peer to put it away. and -- and if the peer wouldn't, to go so far as to leave. >> reporter: he warns parents these are tough lessons to make stick, so start when kids are young. >> stop and don't touch it. >> reporter: little kids, that's who we'll be testing next. we've got siblings and friends, kids ages five to 9 years-old. no actors this time-- just toys, candy and a very real looking gun. coming up, these kids just had

safety training, but when they spot this on a table full of candy, what will they do? >> he sees it. he saws it. >> reporter: watch as these moms get their own education. >> oh. >> reporter: when "dateline" continues. oh

hello. i'm dara brown. here is what's happening. republican leaders now say congress will vote on the tax overhaul bill tuesday. two new estimates say it will cost just over $1.5 trillion in two years. roy moore is telling supporters the battle is not over and is asking for contributions. hollywood is responding to a series of sexual ab bups scandals by establishing a commission on sexual harassment and workplace equality. now back to "dateline."

i'm natalie morales. what about younger kids? now we're putting them to a test after a gun safety class. will it be enough to keep them away from the weapon. let's return to our story. we used hidden cameras and now focusing our lenses on little kids. our expert says you should start gun safety training with children as young as 4. the first little kids we're going to test are siblings luke andive vannah. what will happen when they spot a gun and think no one is watching. their mom explains why this test is especially for for her kids. i know your husband is training to be a police officer. >> yes.

while he was in the police academy he had a gun in the house for a full year. >> reporter: did your kids know where the gun was? >> no. >> reporter: she's sure nine-year-old nevada will know exactly what to do. she's sort of the rule follower kind of kid? >> absolutely. >> reporter: but she's not so sure about 7-year-old luke. >> he's the middle child. he's very outgoing. he's kind of the ham of the family. >> reporter: before we test luke and nevada we send them to a gun safety class with our expert, dr. miltenberger. the kids call him dr. ray. >> first? >> stop and don't touch. >> stop and don't touch. >> reporter: dr. ray talks them through the safety steps- and they repeat the lesson with ease. >> what should you do? >> stop, don't touch, run away. >> where you gonna run to? >> to your parents. >> to your parents, it doesn't matter where they are. >> reporter: now at the university of south florida, with the help of dr. ray and one of his research assistants, the kids are about to be tested. this test is similar to one dr. ray has used in his studies. for luke and nevada it's been only three days since the

training session. their mom's outside in the watchmobile. and if they go for it, how do you think you're gonna be feeling? >> scared. terrified probably. >> reporter: she told luke and nevada they were here to fill candy baskets to be donated to a local food bank. the baskets will be donated. >> now we're going to just filling out the eggs with as much candy as we want. >> reporter: but what they don't know is in a room down the hall. there's a table full of treats and a gun placed where they can't miss it. it's a prop gun that looks and feels real. will they resist the urge to touch it? you nervous for them? >> yes, i'm really nervous -- >> reporter: after they work hard at filling the baskets, dr. ray's research assistant tells luke he can take a break. >> you go ahead and get started on your break. >> he likes the candy. >> reporter: hit the jackpot. he's so busy dancing, he doesn't spot the gun, but then.

>> he sees it. just saw it. he's giving it a second look. so far he's not touching it but he hasn't done anything about it yet. >> reporter: luke's mom is hoping he'll remember his training, get away and get an adult. and she gets more and more worried as time ticks by. for almost three minutes he happily eats the candy periodically peeking at the gun. finally he heads over to talk to his sister. >> nevada. >> yeah. >> i'm not kidding, i saw a gun on the table. >> reporter: she doesn't believe him at first. >> hahaha. >> no, come see it. i saw a gun on the table. >> reporter: then she goes to check it out. will she touch the gun?

>> look. that's a gun. >> reporter: nevada springs into action. >> let's get out of here. >> reporter: and goes in search of an adult. >> reporter: good. >> that's really good. >> his sister knew what to do. >> yeah. >> reporter: how are you feeling seeing this? >> a little bit relieved -- >> reporter: yeah. >> but, you know, it's still just so terrifying that initially that shock wasn't there for him. >> reporter: mom says she has more work to do. >> i feel like i need to bring it to luke's attention that there needs to be a quicker reaction and not to stand by. you know, it should be an immediate get help. so scary. so scary. >> reporter: we're going to do this test again but this time we've got a group of rowdy

7-year old boys. they're friends which means peer pressure could play a role will being with their buddies make it harder to resist touching the gun? meet ben, nate and sean. they were in the same gun safety training class as siblings luke and nevada and were told the same steps for gun safety. >> stop don't touch. >> run away. >> tell an adult. >> excellent. >> hi i'm ben. >> reporter: do you have guns in the home? >> no. >> reporter: no guns in the home. >> no guns. >> reporter: and ben's mom is pretty confident ben will not touch the gun. >> i think he'll be frightened by the situation. i think he'll stay away. >> hi, my name is nate. >> reporter: do you have guns in your home? >> we do. we do. >> reporter: you do? >> our boys have not seen the gun. and it is secured. and i grew up with guns. so we are fine with having a gun in the house for safety. >> reporter: nate's mom also thinks her son will steer clear of the gun. >> i don't think he'll touch it. >> hi, my name is sean. >> reporter: sean's mom says there are several guns in their house, all of them locked. do the kids know that you have guns in the house?

>> they do. >> we always check to make sure it's empty. >> i've let them handle them. of course there's they weren't not loaded, but just to take the mystery away of holding a handgun. >> reporter: so, it was important for you to give them the exposure. >> yes. >> reporter: but she's worried because her son is familiar with guns, that he might touch it. >> i will be crushed if he grabs that gun, but i would not be surprised. >> reporter: all right, you ready to see how they do? >> yeah. >> reese's, pieces. >> reporter: it's a bit of a challenge for the research assistant to get the boys to focus on making the candy baskets. >> no, no! >> he's gonna need a break after being with the three of them. >> reporter: then he tells them it's time for a break and nate and ben take off. >> you guys can go head okay? >> reporter: their moms' eyes are glued to the monitors as they watch their sons head towards the room with the gun. will they remember the lessons from the gun safety training they had just three days ago? at first nate doesn't spot it just inches from his hands. >> candy.

>> reporter: but then -- without a second thought, he reaches for it. >> oh a gun. >> reporter: oh, oh. it's a heart-stopping moment for all the moms especially nate's. >> i found a gun. >> reporter: ben leans in and reaches for the gun. he picks it up by the barrel which is pointing right at him. >> don't you dare ben that's a real one! >> reporter: when he drops it the barrel is now pointing at sean. >> yes that is. >> no it's heavy, it's heavy! >> reporter: then it occurs to sean. >> no, guys, the gun safety class. >> reporter: sean's mom is relieved he remembered the rules. you were the one who thought sean was gonna go for it right away. >> yeah. >> reporter: but for ben and nate's moms. >> it's hard, very hard. and he was quick. and he could've had his finger in the wrong place. and that's how accidents happen. >> reporter: scary? >> absolutely. >> reporter: and then as i'm

wrapping up the interviews with the moms. something even scarier stops us in our tracks. >> so -- and -- oh, gee -- >> reporter: oh, my goodness. >> reporter: coming up -- >> oh, my goodness. >> reporter: the moms thought they had seen it all, but they're about to get a big surprise. so am i. >> whoa. wait a minute. are you going to point that at me? when "dateline" continues. plus b vitamins for heart health. your one a day is showing. was you had to pay to be on there, and i felt like the people who were on there really value a relationship. - for my family, we are three for three in our siblings for getting married. i thank eharmony for that. - [narrator] stop waiting, start communicating for free today.

so far these two 7-year-olds have forgotten most of what they learned in the gun safety class they took three days earlier. they picked it up a few times before their friend sean got an adult. >> where did you guys find it? >> reporter: now we make a mistake, thinking the test is over, the research assistant puts the gun back. remember, it's a prop gun. then he moves the boys out of the area to the table with the baske baskets. he tells them he's going to call about the gun. he's waiting for me to show up with their moms. >> i'm going to make a phone call about what we found. >> reporter: just as i'm wrapping up the interview, we see this. >> oh, my goodness. >> reporter: we hear them come

up with an elaborate prank. >> it's not going to work. we don't have blood. >> guys, we still have something else? >> reporter: then sean mimics a 911 call. >> there's a murder here. get your children out. >> reporter: all it takes is one of those kids just playing to pull the trigger. >> i'm devastated he would pick up a gun and walk with it, especially among friends. >> reporter: it was a wake-up call for ben and naelt's moms. >> this could happen. we don't have guns in our house. this could happen. clearly a bad idea. >> makes me sad. i'm scared to death that if this was a real situation what could have happened. he didn't think twice. he went for it and grabbed it. so i have some work to do definitely. >> i tried to round up the boys,

but they scatter. then ben picks up the gun to show it to me. >> whoa. are you going to point that at me? is that something you should be doing? >> ben, gun safety class! >> reporter: i want all you guys to stand up. sean's mom tells him she was watching him on hidden cameras. >> you picked it up and brought it in here. >> no. >> you were on tv. i saw you. >> where? >> we were watching you from another room. i saw you pick up the gun. >> reporter: for the first time today, the boys are quiet. skid about the gun safety class they just took. >> do you remember what you learned? >> stop, don't touch. >> stop, don't touch. then what? >> get away. >> then what? >> tell an adult. >> how are you feeling about what you just went through? it's a little scary now. >> it's okay. >> we tell the boys they're not

in trouble. they just need more training and they need the right kind of training. >> stop and don't touch it. turns out dr. ray is not surprised the boys failed. he used a training that is often taught in gun safety classes. you simply tell kids what to do. he used this talk-only method to illustrate what his research found, that type of training doesn't usually work. >> i expected they would probably touch the gun, perhaps play with it and maybe do something dangerous with it. >> reporter: based on his research published in the journal of the american academy of pediatrics, dr. ray says just talking to kids about gun safety was about as effective as no training at all. most kids when tested touch the gun. nevada's reaction calls within the exceptions. he says, if you want to be more effective, you have to not only tell kids how to be safe, you have to show them.

>> go see that gun and show me what you can do. >> reporter: he calls it behavioral skills training. that's what these kids are getting. >> i want you guys to go in the kitchen and do your homework. >> reporter: he's having them act out exactly what to do if they were to spot a gun in lots of different situations. >> oh, my goodness, there's a gun in the kitchen? >> reporter: now we're going to test two sets of siblings from the class, katd den and nolan and harrison and julian. they all seemed to be paying close attention during the gun safety class. harrison and julian's mom says they have very different personalities. >> julian is the funny kid, always laughing. very curious. at times he'll test the limits. harrison is more of a rule follower. >> reporter: our other set of siblings have different

personalities. their dad thinks caden will stay away from the gun. nolan being the curious type. >> i think he'll be the one to grab the gun. >> reporter: they keep a gun in their house. it's locked and the boys don't know where it is. >> you want to get started on the letters? >> yeah. >> reporter: as their kids begin the test. the parents get anxious and we wonder will this new training make a difference. >> it's a nail biter. >> your heart is racing right now. >> my hands are a little shaky. >> coming up, dads take their turn in the hot seat. how will their kids do? >> oh, my god. >> reporter: and then the teaching technique that just might save your child's life when "dateline" continues. when it comes to heartburn

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it even lets you take a time out. no! no! yes! yes, indeed. amazing speed, coverage and control. all with an xfi gateway. find your awesome, and change the way you wifi. >> reporter: we've got two sets of siblings happily filling baskets with candy. julian and harrison. and caedon and nolan. they're about to be sent to a room with no adult and a very real looking gun. from our watchmobile, their parents cross their fingers hoping none of their children will touch the gun. >> i lost something. >> reporter: the research assistant tells the kids it's time to take a break. >> so you guys can go ahead and get started on your snacks. >> reporter: they race over to the other table and within seconds, julian spots the gun.

and then he reaches for it. will his hands-on training make a difference? >> we can't touch it! remember? >> can't touch it. >> guys, we need to go tell them. >> reporter: he gets the group to run in search of the research assistant. >> there's a gun, there's a gun. >> where? >> yeah. >> we need to go tell him. >> that didn't take long. >> how are you feeling about how -- >> i'm -- >> --your kids reacted? >> --a proud mama. i'm a proud mama. julian's initial reaction of stepping back, you know, sort of telling the other kids, "unh-uh, we're not doing this right now, i'm really proud. and relief. relief. >> yeah, i bet. >> reporter: so the behavioral training may have made a difference. >> i think it really did. i think education is so important, really important. and -- yes! >> reporter: we tested other

kids from that same role-playing class. like these two friends. they spotted the gun -- and ran for help. so far so good? >> if you find a gun at someone else's house, what do you tell? >> reporter: we've got one more group. six-year-old friends austin and oliver. >> guys, lets go play. >> reporter: they also got that behavioral skills training. >> check this out. >> there's a gun on the table? >> yes. >> their dad isn't convinced their training will kick in. >> 30% chance oliver will pick it up. >> 30% chance, okay. matt? >> i don't know. i think he might pick it up. i'm just worried about this one. >> reporter: austin quickly spots the gun. >> gun. >> reporter: will he remember

his training and not touch it? >> gun. >> oh, no. >> reporter: but the laughter doesn't last for long. >> he's got his finger on the trigger. >> which is unbelievable. >> you should not bother it. remember? never touch a gun. >> reporter: oliver's dad looks relieved. his son's warning seems to jog austin's memory. >> oh! i gotta go tell him. we have to go tell him. >> reporter: but oliver stays at the table. and then -- >> oh. no, no, no, no. >> right at his face. >> reporter: now watch what he does next. >> oh! >> oh my goodness. >> reporter: as they come back with the research assistant, oliver lifts up the gun. the barrel pointing at his friend's head.

>> oh my gosh. yeah, he just -- >> oh my gosh. >> we laugh because we know it's a situation where we're testing them, but if that were real -- >> yeah. >> hard to see that? >> it was disappointing. those training sessions were so recent. >> reporter: their dads go to speak with their sons. >> what happened when you saw that gun? >> i touched it. >> why? >> i wanted to. >> i love you. i'm glad you're safe. if this was a real gun, it could've been incredibly dangerous, and incredibly scary. okay? >> do you realize what that gun can do? >> it can kill you? >> i love you, buddy. but next time we can't have that happen. it can never happen again, okay? >> okay. >> reporter: so why did these kids fail? dr. ray says even though his research found the behavioral skills training is better, it isn't foolproof.

he says it works about 50% of the time. for some kids, the attraction to guns is so strong, that they need to be trained over and over. he says after the role playing, and after you've tested them, you need to train again and test them again. >> kids know their abcs and they know their basic addition and subtraction 'cause they've practiced it over and over. it's the same with this skill. >> like a fire drill at school. >> absolutely. >> kids have to practice it. they have to know the exits. they have to get it under a certain amount of time. >> that's a perfect analogy. >> ooh, a gun. >> reporter: to show you what he means, we go back to these boys, nate, ben and sean. >> don't you dare ben, that's a real one. >> reporter: they failed the test after the "just talk" training. so would more training using the behavioral skills method make a difference? >> you didn't expect one today did you? >> reporter: on the day of the first test, right on the spot, dr. ray gave them the behavioral skills training. >> stop. run away.

it's a real gun, okay? >> reporter: and he had them role-play one more time. >> see that gun and show me exactly what you would do. >> reporter: now we're going to test them again at sean's house, the same place they had their last training. they might be on alert since the setting is familiar, but will that help them remember what to do? we've got hidden cameras rolling upstairs and their nervous moms downstairs. >> so you had a training again with dr. ray, and how did the boys do then? >> they, they did really well. he emphasized a little bit more. you know. to take it one step farther. >> they some role playing. i think they took it seriously. i think they took -- took dr. ray seriously. and hopefully, it'll stick. >> reporter: it's been more than three weeks since they failed the first test. >> let's see what happens. >> reporter: the boys come home from school and head upstairs. >> you guys nervous? >> i am a little bit. of course. >> i'm completely nervous.

>> i see a gun! >> reporter: nate spots the gun and yells to the others. this time the boys don't go anywhere near the gun. instead they run downstairs to tell an adult. >> hey. hi guys. >> awesome. >> reporter: relief and pride for these moms. >> good job, buddy. >> reporter: and their boys. >> i'm really proud of you. >> reporter: we've seen tonight just how hard it is for kids of all ages to resist the temptation to pick up a gun. but our expert says it's not impossible to keep kids safe. he says make sure guns are locked and hidden. ask before your kids visit friends' homes if there are any unsecured guns. and always teach them gun safety by acting out what to do. it just might save a life.

>> that's all for this edition of "dateline." i'm natalie morales. thanks for watching. i'm craig melvin. >> i'm natalie morales. >> and this is "dateline." >> she looks drunk. >> you keep touching me. stop touching me. >> he's acting like he's going to take advantage of her. >> i'm going to go in the back. i'll be right back. >> i'm going to go for it. >> will another teen come to her rescue. >> i don't trust him. >> their parents are in our watchmobile, seeing it all unfold on our hidden cameras. >> i want to say do something, say something. >> dating, sex and the social scene. what to do, whatnot to do and what should you do if you see someone