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June 1, 2023
King County commemorates tomorrow’s National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend with proclamation and lockbox giveaway events
This Friday, June 2, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, kicking off “Wear Orange” Weekend, to call for an end to gun violence.
King County Executive Dow Constantine has issued an Executive Proclamation declaring June 2, 2023 to be King County Gun Violence Awareness Day in recognition of the rising threat of gun violence and the work of the Regional Gun Violence Provider Network to address this public health issue.
Tomorrow, Friday, June 2, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Regional Gun Violence program is partnering with community organizations to host events throughout King County. Each event 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.
Free community lockbox giveaway events
- Seattle Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Community Passageways
Friday June 2, 2023 I 10:00 am to 11:30 am I Parking Lot 23rd Ave & Jackson Street, Seattle
- Skyway Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Urban Family
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | Grocery Outlet parking lot – 11445 69th Pl S, Seattle
- Kent Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Community Passageways
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | City Hall Square – 220 4th Ave S, Kent
- White Center Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with YMCA Alive and Free
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm | Greenbridge Plaza – 9800 8th Avenue SW, Seattle
- Rainier Beach Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Rainer Vista Boys & Girls Club – SE Safety Network
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Safeway parking lot – 9262 Rainier Ave S, Seattle
Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US," said Eleuthera Lisch, Public Health's Regional Gun Violence Program Director. "Over the past three years, we have seen an uptick in the number of firearm-related injuries and deaths in King County, in places where we all live, play and learn. Gun violence is not inevitable, it is preventable, and in our region, we recognize that gun violence is a public health emergency. We each have a role in ending it."
Safe firearm storage is the best way to reduce the risk of unintentional shootings and injury, and prevent firearms from being stolen and misused by others. In order to help increase safe firearm storage, Public Health runs the Lock It Up program. Everyone who owns firearms can take action by locking up their guns. For more information about gun lockboxes and related resources, visit Public Health's Lock It Up program webpage.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by gun violence and needs support, please visit Public Health's Community-Based Resource Guide webpage for resources.
For more information about Wear Orange Weekend and Public Health's Regional Gun Violence program, see our recent blog post.