Update June 6: The White Center event with the Boys and Girls Club of King County SE Safety Network has been rescheduled. It will be held today, June 6, from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Greenbridge Plaza – 9800 8th Avenue SW, Seattle.
Original post, June 3: In a nation where gun violence has become an all too familiar headline, National Gun Violence Awareness Day stands as a reminder of the need for action, awareness, and personal responsibility. This day, observed annually on the first Friday in June, serves as a rallying call for communities nationally and locally.
Join us for free gun lockbox giveaway events June 7
This year on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Lock It Up Program are proud to partner with community organizations to host six gun lockbox giveaway events across King County on June 7, 2024.
Locking up firearms saves lives and protects communities. Using a gun lockbox can prevent unauthorized access, reduce the risk of accidental shootings, and prevent theft or misuse.
Each gun lockbox event on June 7 will feature remarks from community safety experts and local government leaders, gun safety education, and free handgun lockbox giveaways. These events are free and open to all, and lockboxes will be distributed while supplies last.
Seattle Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Community Passageways – featuring remarks from King County Executive Dow Constantine
- Time: 9 – 11 am
- Location: Parking lot at 23rd Ave & Jackson Street, Seattle
Burien Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with YMCA Alive and Free
- Time: 11:30 am – 1 pm
- Location: 14700 6th Ave SW, Burien
Kent Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Community Passageways
- Time: 1:30 – 3 pm
- Location: City Hall Square – 220 4th Ave S, Kent
Skyway Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Urban Family
- Time: 3 – 5 pm
- Location: King County Fire District 20 – 12424 76th Ave S, Seattle
Rainier Beach Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Rainer Vista Boys & Girls Club SE Safety Network
- Time: 4 – 7 pm
- Location: Safeway parking lot – 9262 Rainier Ave S, Seattle
Thursday, June 6: White Center Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Boy & Girls Club of King County SE Safety Network
- Time: 3:30 – 6:30 pm
- Location: Greenbridge Plaza – 9800 8th Avenue SW, Seattle
Data on gun violence in King County
Gun violence in King County increased with the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting King County Executive Dow Constantine to declare it a public health crisis in 2020.
From 2018 to 2022, deaths from firearms in King County increased by 16%. In 2022, 216 King County residents lost their lives due to gun violence.
Young adults, Black and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities bear the greatest impact of gun violence in King County:
- Young adults ages 18-24 were twice as likely to die from gun violence compared to the county average.
- Black and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents were 2.5 and over 1.5 times as likely to be victims of gun violence compared to the county as a whole.
You can explore more data about how gun violence impacts King County by visiting our data dashboard.
Remembering lives lost and working toward a safer future
As we reflect on the significance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, let us not forget the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the urgent need for action.
“We all have a role to play in preventing gun violence,” said Eleuthera Lisch, Director of Public Health’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention. “Responsible gun ownership means keeping firearms safely stored. We’re proud to partner with the King County Lock It Up Program and King County residents to commemorate gun violence awareness day. Together we can make a difference.”
Everyone deserves to be safe and well. King County is proud to take part in this important community movement toward a future free of gun violence.
More information
- Public Health’s Community-Based Resource Guide for people impacted by gun violence
- Public Health’s Lock It Up Program
- King County Regional Office on Gun Violence Prevention
- Data on the impact of firearms in King County: kingcounty.gov/firearms
Originally published on June 3, 2024.