Zahilay proposes $1 million for comprehensive gun violence prevention strategy

July 10, 2024

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay on Wednesday introduced a proposal that would set aside $1 million from the upcoming supplemental budget for a five-pronged gun violence prevention strategy.

The proposal comes amid a continuing surge in gun violence, with over 1,701 shots fired incidents in King County last year, and an overall upward trend since 2018.

“Gun violence has been increasing in King County for several years now. This trend is as unacceptable as it is preventable,” Zahilay said. “Today, I proposed a comprehensive plan to address this crisis through King County’s budget. By building on the five pillars laid out in my plan, I believe we can more effectively respond to and even prevent the shootings and deaths we are seeing all too frequently. I look forward to working with partners around the region to create a safer community for all.”

Zahilay’s legislation, which is co-sponsored by Councilmember Jorge Barón, would add $1,000,000 to the Executive’s proposed supplemental budget and require King County to develop a specific gun violence prevention plan by September that includes the following strategies:

• Strengthen Systems & Relationships: The legislation would create a Regional Board for Gun Violence Prevention intended to strengthen collaboration and communication between several levels of government, first responders, and impacted communities so that they may more promptly and effectively respond to and prevent gun violence incidents.
• Develop Clear Protocols: Develop and implement a standardized protocol for King County departments to follow in the aftermath of gun violence. For example, the protocol may require King County’s public health and behavioral health departments to immediately reach out to schools or apartment complexes after a shooting to offer mental health resources and support services.
• Create Resource Database and Deployment Plan: Develop a comprehensive database of resources readily available to support victims, families, and communities impacted by gun violence, including resources available directly from King County (such as mental health resources) and through partnerships with community organizations. King County will also create a deployment plan that documents how county staff will proactively reach out and provide these resources to impacted communities.
• Advance Targeted Interventions: Create a plan for how the Executive will collaborate with partners in the criminal justice system, Harborview Medical Center, impacted people, and community-based organizations to identify individuals at high risk of being involved in gun violence. Through these collaborations, they will create tailored intervention plans to divert people away from participating in gun violence, including through conflict mediation, therapy, anger management, mental health resources, addiction recovery services, space activation, accountability measures, job opportunities, and after school activities.
• Funding: Conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing and possible revenue sources to fund the gun violence prevention plan, including reviewing a potential councilmanic tax to support Harborview Medical Center, Crisis Care Centers levy, Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services levy, Best Starts for Kids levy, Mental Illness Drug Dependency sales tax, general fund, philanthropy and more.

“As both a councilmember and a county resident, there is no priority more urgent and critical to me than keeping everyone in our community safe, especially our young people,” Barón said. “I am proud to co-sponsor this proposal, which will help build better systems to address and respond to gun violence for today and tomorrow. However, this proposal by itself will not solve the gun violence crisis: we must continue to enhance our region’s mental health and social support systems, and push for action at all levels of government to address this crisis and keep our communities safe.”

The legislation was passed out of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee along with the 2024 supplemental budget on Wednesday, July 10. If Zahilay’s proposal is adopted at the July 16 Full Council meeting, the legislation would require the Executive to transmit the required five-pronged gun violence prevention plan to the Council along with the 2025 Budget by September 20, 2024.

Zahilay is available for interviews upon request.

Additional quotes:

Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility: “The Alliance for Gun Responsibility is honored to support King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay`s proposal to allocate $1 million toward a comprehensive, five-pronged gun violence prevention strategy in King County. A comprehensive and public health focused approach is vital for effectively addressing the gun violence plaguing our communities. It is imperative that we expand funding to gun violence prevention efforts at every level of government and we extend our sincere gratitude to Councilmember Zahilay for his continued leadership and commitment to public safety. These investments, including standing up a Regional Gun Violence Prevention Board and advancing targeted interventions, are an urgent necessity to protect our communities and reduce the devastating impact of gun violence.”

Apollonia Washington, Central District Public Safety Accountability: “Last year, the children, parents, and staff of A 4 Apple Learning Center were terrorized by a shooting that hit their building. We knew that urgent action was needed to keep our community safe in the Central District. We formed Central District Public Safety Accountability to bring our government and community together to form solutions. Councilmember Zahilay has been supporting our efforts from the beginning and it’s clear he has been listening. His five-point plan advances many of the safety solutions we have proposed and meets the needs of our community.”

Celia Jackson, Director of Criminal Legal Transformation in the Executive’s Office: “Gun violence is a public health crisis, and it demands urgent action. It is significant that in October King County Executive Dow Constantine officially launched the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention to build on and advance a coordinated effort to prevent and eliminate gun violence In King County. This Office within Public Health-Seattle & King County builds on our commitment to a public health approach and works across government and alongside directly impacted communities, community organizations, elders, young adults, and survivors to advance equitable community-led solutions.”

Sue Shutz, volunteer with the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action: “Investing in gun violence prevention is a common-sense approach to protecting communities across our county from senseless acts of gun violence. We must address gun violence at the local level, making targeted investments that strengthen collaboration and communication between government, first responders, and impacted communities. We thank Councilmember Girmay Zahilay for his continued commitment to gun safety and look forward to working together to make these investments a reality.”

Dominique Davis, founder and CEO of Community Passageways: “Our community is in crisis, so we need all hands on deck! Councilmember Zahilay’s five-point plan is powerful, comprehensive, and will be a blueprint for other system’s stakeholders to emulate. It’s clear he understands this issue and knows what will work. His plan also strengthens and supports much of the work Community Passageways has been doing with City and County partners, like our 100 Days of Peace initiative. Together, we can end gun violence.” 

Marty Jackson and Ricole Jones, Boys & Girls Club SE Network: “Our SE Network team has seen up close the devastating effects of gun violence and disinvestment in our Rainier Beach community. We have been on the ground keeping our community safe for years and we know what works. Councilmember Zahilay’s legislation would build on our work and take our region to the next level in terms of collaboration and safety.” 

Eleuthera Lisch, Director of the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention: "Two weeks ago, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory naming gun violence a national public health crisis and called on us all to take collective responsibility and meaningful action. In King County, we have proven our expertise in addressing public health emergencies and this moment demands that we mobilize with the same urgency that put King County at the forefront of addressing the COVID crisis. We have demonstrated that we can coordinate our response across government and collaborate directly with community to successfully address crisis. We know that by working together we can make a difference in ending gun violence.”