dateline." now stay with us. natalie morales has a new edition of a "dateline" series, "my kid would never do that." >> 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. >> oh, my. >> oh, my gosh. >> 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!"3 f2 >> mi hijo nunca haría esto de

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: there are at least 37 million homes in the u.s. with guns. and according to the centers for disease control, an estimated 2,000 children are injured in gun accidents each year 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. we plan to give parents lessons on the best way to teach kids gun safety from kids 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 an nbc 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. are 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 myself, and there is a firearm in my house, so 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 in whatnot to do and 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 son picks 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 -- >> reporter: yeah. >> -- 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 along with our camera crew leave. the boys chitchat 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. >> coming up -- are these parents prepared for what they're about to see? mouth-watering double cheeseburger and small fries for just $2.50. ♪ ba da ba ba ba. ♪

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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. >> and it all comes down to this moment. 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 -- >> i'm not kidding you. that's real. you feel that? >> oh, my god! >> reporter: oh, boy. >> yo, can i take the clip out? >> i don't know, i don't know, can you? >> i don't want to.

>> 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. imma, imma 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 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. 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? >> yeah, i -- it -- it brought a tear to my eye the way that you were just thinking it was so cool. 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 to high-five you. 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 no 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. at cricket wireless, we think so. that's why prices for our plans are all in

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>> 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. >> the police said that her friend was trying to disarm or get a bullet out of the chamber and the gun went off and struck her in the lower -- in the lower spine. >> reporter: 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 a marathon runner. and she would win. 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 have 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. >> okay. you ready to see how he does? you a little nervous? >> a little nervous, yes. >> 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 moved to running back. >> yeah,i could 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. >> yo, relax, relax, relax, relax, relax, seriously. >> reporter: 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 of 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. >> i don't know what he's talkin' about. >> 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 5 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? watch as these moms get their

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>> reporter: we've been using hidden cameras to find out what teens would do when they found a gun. >> gun safety, gun safety.

>> reporter: now we're 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 and nevada. what will happen when they spot a gun and they think no one is watching? >> reporter: their mom explains why this test is especially important 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 9-year-old nv -- 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, under the guidance 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 be 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 mass 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. >> 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. >> i love you. >> 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 single 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, they weren't 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 me 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. >> ooh, 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. -- --. >> coming up -- the moms thought they had seen it all, but then the moms get a big surprise.

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>> reporter: so far these two 7-year-olds have forgotten most of what they learned in the gun safety class they took three days earlier. >> ooh, a gun. >> reporter: they picked it up a few times before their friend

sean went and 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 baskets. >> let's set them up with the rest of them. >> reporter: he tells them he's going to call about the gun. he's really waiting for me to show up with their moms. >> i'm going to make a phone call about what we just found, okay, guys? >> reporter: and just as i'm wrapping up the interview we see this -- >> oh geez. >> oh, my goodness. >> he said don't touch. >> reporter: we hear them come up with an elaborate prank. >> ben, act like you're dead! >> no, no sean, you do it, you do it. >> it's not going to work. we don't have blood. >> oh, guys! we still have something else! >> no, do not, no.

>> no put like bleeding -- i like it's bleeding down your arm. >> reporter: then sean mimics a 911 call. >> there's a murder here. get your children out, miss jennifer and miss -- >> you know all it takes is one of those kids just playing to pull the trigger. >> i'm devastated that he would pick up a gun and walk with it, especially among friends. >> this could happen? >> so we don't have guns in our house, so we haven't focused a whole lot on it. clearly, bad idea. >> it makes me sad. i'm scared to death that if this was a real situation what could've happened. he didn't think twice. he went for it and grabbed it. so i have some work to do, definitely. >> reporter: i try to round up the boys, but they scatter. then ben picks up the gun to show it to me. >> oh, whoa, wait a minute. are you gonna point that at me? is that -- is that something you should be doing? >> ben, gun safety class. >> well, you touched it. >> hey, i want all you guys to stand up 'cause your mom's wanna talk to you, okay? >> hey, benjamin. >> reporter: sean's mom tells

him she was watching him on hidden cameras. >> you picked it up and you brought it in here. >> no. >> yeah. sean, you were on tv. i saw you. >> where? >> i -- we were watching you from another room. and i saw you pick up the gun. >> reporter: for the first time today, the boys are quiet. i ask them 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. >> get away. then what? >> tell an adult. >> how are you feeling about what you just went through? >> it's a little scary now. >> reporter: 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. >> reporter: turns out dr. ray's not surprised the boys failed. he used a training that's 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 that 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, touched the gun. nevada's reaction falls within the exception. 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. >> now 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 and don't come back until it's done, okay? >> reporter: he's having them act out exactly what to do if they were to spot a gun. >> oh, my gosh. that's a gun. >> reporter: in lots of different situations.

>> oh, my goodness. there's a gun in the kitchen? >> reporter: and now we're going to test two sets of siblings from the class. >> hi, i'm caedon. >> what's your name? >> nolan. >> reporter: caedon and nolan, and harrison and julian. they all seem to be paying close attention during the behavior skills gun safety class. harrison and julian's mom says her boys have very different personalities. >> jillian is sort of the funny kid. he's always laughing. he's very curious. at times, he will test -- test the limits whereas harrison's more of a rule follower. >> reporter: our other set of siblings also have very different personalities. their dad thinks caedon will stay away from the gun, but nolan being the curious type -- >> i think he'll be the one to go ahead and maybe grab a gun. >> reporter: caedon and nolan's parents keep a gun in their house. it's locked and the boys don't know where it is. >> so you want to get started on the letters? >> 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. >> but your heart is racing right now -- >> a little -- a little shaky. yeah, and my hands are a little shaky. >> coming up -- julian's moment of truth. then a couple of dads take their turn in the hot seat. how will their kids do? >> oh, my gosh. if that were real -- >> yeah. >> and the teaching technique that might just save your child's life. t missing a beat. walgreens. at the corner of happy and healthy. you wish your dog could fight off fleas and ticks. but since he can't...

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>> 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, "huh-uh, we're not doing this right now," i'm really proud. and relieved. relieved. >> 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? 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. >> dad, there's a gun on the table, dad. >> there's a gun on the table? >> yes. >> oh, my goodness. thanks for telling me. >> reporter: their dads aren't convinced the training sunk in. >> 30% chance oliver will still 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. >> okay, here we go. so you see the gun on the table's clearly visible. >> 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. >> it -- yeah. you laugh, but -- >> but it's not funny. >> 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 did 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! >> i see a gun. >> reporter: nate spots the gun and yells to the others. 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. give me a hug. >> 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'll be back next sunday for another episode of "my kid would never do that!"

and don't forget "dateline" thursday at 8:00, 7:00 central. i'm natalie morales. for lester holt and all of us at nbc news, goodnight. we wish to sit in the temple and win respect. i trust you will remember my generosity in the days to come. my likeness in the temple for all to see. defend his temple against this abomination! we are lighting a fire that will burn rome to cinders. go to pilate. save this city from a roman massacre. never! the zealots have formed an alliance with ethiopia. they plan to launch a huge uprising against rome. move aside! we are betrayed. quick! forget the ethiopians' weapons. we still have our own. joanna, come with me. she will be put to death claudia. cornelius, begin. [ gasps ] this ends here. [ sobbing ]