The Public Health approach to gun violence
Gun violence is a public health issue
Each year, nearly 40,000 Americans die by suicide, homicide, or accidents with firearms. In King County, more people are killed by firearms than by car crashes, with an annual financial cost of nearly $200 million in medical charges and lost productivity.
Public Health — Seattle & King County is addressing this public health emergency by working with firearm owners and communities affected by gun violence to understand how and when firearms are used unsafely, raise public awareness of firearm safety practices, and develop and evaluate upstream evidence-based prevention programs.
Explore the resources below to learn how you can play a role in preventing firearm-related injuries and deaths in our communities.
What you can do to prevent gun violence
Safely store your firearms.
Find out which gun storage device is right for you, and where you can get a discount.
Talk to family and friends about safe storage.
Asking if guns are safely stored may save lives.
Know the warning signs of suicide.
Unlocked firearms are a risk to people struggling with suicidal thoughts. Learn more about resources and next steps for suicide prevention.
What Public Health is doing to prevent gun violence
- Supporting a public awareness campaign around safe storage of guns.
Learn more about Lock It Up
- Collecting data and identifying trends.
View King County and Washington statistics, facts, and reports
- Advocating for a national public health approach to preventing gun violence.
Read the Safe States Alliance official firearm policy statement.
What we know about gun violence in King County
- Current King County firearm data:
- The impact of firearms in King County
Data and key findings on the impact of firearms on overall King County populations as well as view a spotlight on King County children and youth
- Firearm deaths among residents of King County and Seattle: 2012-2016
- Reports of stolen firearms to law enforcement agencies
Firearm theft incidents reported to law enforcement in King County, 2018
- The impact of firearms in King County
- Older reports on gun violence in King County:
- King County Firearms Fact Sheet (updated Oct. 2017)
- Firearm Homicides in King County: Key Findings from Homicide Investigation Tracking System (2014)
- Gun Violence in King County – 2006-2011 (published 2013)
- Impact of Firearms on King County's Children – 1999-2012 (published 2013)
- King County Firearms Fact Sheet (updated Oct. 2017)
Link/share our site at www.kingcounty.gov/guns