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King County Washington home

June 3, 2026

Commemorating National Gun Violence Awareness Day with free gun lockbox giveaway events on June 5

To commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday, June 5, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention is partnering with the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, community organizations, the City of Seattle, and south King County cities to host seven free gun lockbox giveaway events throughout King County.

Free community lockbox giveaway events on June 5

Rainer Beach Lockbox Giveaway

Featuring remarks from King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and City of Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson

  • Location: Detective Cookie Chess Park - 5025 S Barton Pl, Seattle, WA 98118
  • Time: 11:30 am to 1 pm
  • Partnering organizations: Alliance for Gun Responsibility, City of Seattle, Community Passageways, Fathers & Sons Together, Fatherhood Accountability Movement, Rainer Beach Action Coalition, and Urban Family

Renton Gun Lockbox Giveaway

  • Location: Renton Recreation Center - 1715 Maple Valley Hwy, Renton, WA 98057
  • Time: 1 pm to 2:30 pm
  • Partnering organizations: Alliance for Gun Responsibility, City of Renton, and Freedom Project

Burien Gun Lockbox Giveaway

  • Location: Burien City Hall - 400 SW 152nd St, Burien, WA 98166
  • Time: 2:30 pm to 4 pm
  • Partnering organizations: Alliance for Gun Responsibility, City of Burien, and Progress Pushers

Kent Gun Lockbox Giveaway

  • Location: Kent City Hall Square - 220 4th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032
  • Time: 2:30 pm to 4 pm
  • Partnering organizations: Alliance for Gun Responsibility, City of Kent, and Community Passageways

Skyway Gun Lockbox Giveaway

  • Location: King County Fire District 20 - 12424 76th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98178
  • Time: 4 pm to 5:30 pm
  • Partnering organizations: Alliance for Gun Responsibility and Urban Family

Auburn Gun Lockbox Giveaway

  • Location: Auburn City Hall - 25 W Main St, Auburn, WA 98001
  • Time: 4 pm to 5:30 pm
  • Partnering organizations: Alliance for Gun Responsibility and City of Auburn

Federal Way Gun Lockbox Giveaway

  • Location: Progress Pushers parking lot - 32020 1st Ave S, #209, Federal Way, WA 98003
  • Time: 4 pm to 5:30 pm
  • Partnering organizations: Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Progress Pushers, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Each event will feature remarks from community safety experts and local government leaders, gun safety education, and free gun lockbox giveaways. These events are free and open to all, and lockboxes will be distributed while supplies last.

Data points towards downward trends in gun violence but young people are still at risk

Gun violence in King County has steadily decreased in recent years, following an increase during the COVID pandemic, as measured in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office "Shots Fired" report (3.8 MB).

However, young adults in King County remain disproportionately impacted by gun violence, with residents ages 18 to 24 years old being twice as likely to die from gun violence compared to all King County residents.

"We are encouraged by the downward trend in gun violence across King County. However, community members who are closest to the issue remind us daily that there is significant work to be done to curb the violence they experience regularly," said Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention Director Eleuthera Lisch. "We must continue to move with urgency and work together to end gun violence, so every neighborhood and community feels safe."

Secure storage is key to gun safety

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, whether in their home or car.

For more information about gun lockboxes and related resources, visit Public Health's Lock It Up program webpage.

Public health approach to gun violence reduction in King County

The Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention collaborates with community and across systems to take a public health approach to reducing gun violence. This includes coordinating community and government programs for a unified public safety approach, raising public awareness and engaging with directly impacted communities, funding support services for people impacted by gun violence, and coordinating stabilization and restoration efforts for communities following incidents of gun violence.