Gun violence is a public health issue that devastates communities throughout the country.

The online publication Seattle’s Child recently reported signs, however, that collective efforts to make King County’s communities safer are working.

Citing data provided by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the publication reported that incidents of gun violence in King County have fallen since the second quarter of 2024, and that that progress has continued into the first quarter of 2025.

According to King County, the first quarter of 2025 saw the lowest numbers for firearm-related homicides and injuries compared to the past five years. South King County, in particular, saw a decrease – 37 percent fewer shots-fired incidents in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

In recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday, June 6, the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the Regional Peacekeepers Collective, the Alliance For Gun Responsibility, and seven South King County city partners, including Auburn, hosted free gun lockbox giveaways to raise awareness and provide useful resources to communities.

The following cities hosted giveaways: Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Kent Seattle, Renton and Skyway.

One method to prevent accidental shootings, suicides, and theft is is to lock up one’s firearms in safe firearm storage.

Public Health’s Lock It Up program provided the lockboxes to promote and support safe firearm storage to help keep families and communities safe. In 2024, the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention provided funding to support the distribution of safe firearm storage statewide.

Working with local health departments, community violence intervention programs, tribal health organizations,and more, to date Lock It Up has reached 14 counties across Washington with safe storage devices. Last year, the program and Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention collectively distributed more than 10,000 lockboxes.