King County partners with community organizations to commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Day with free gun lockbox giveaway events on June 6, 2025

Tomorrow, Friday, June 6, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. To commemorate this event, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention is partnering with community organizations and South King County cities to host free gun lockbox giveaway events throughout King County.

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.

Free community lockbox giveaway events on June 6

Seattle Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Community Passageways

• Time: 9 – 10:30 am
  
• Location: Parking lot at 23rd Ave - 2300 S Jackson St, Seattle
  

Renton Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Freedom Project

• Time: 1 – 2:30 pm
  
• Location: Renton Community Center - 1715 Maple Valley Hwy, Renton
  

Kent Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Community Passageways

• Time: 2:30 – 4 pm
  
• Location: City Hall Square – 220 4th Ave S, Kent
  

Skyway Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Urban Family

• Time: 3 – 5 pm
  
• Location: Grocery Outlet parking lot – 11656 68th Ave S, Seattle
  

Burien Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Progress Pushers

• Time: 4 – 5:30 pm
  
• Location: Burien City Town Square - 400 SW 152nd St, Burien
  

Auburn Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with The City of Auburn

• Time: 4 – 5:30 pm
  
• Location: Auburn City Hall - 25 W Main St, Auburn
  

Federal Way Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Progress Pushers

• Time: 4 – 5:30 pm
  
• Location: Federal Way Community Center - 876 S. 333rd St, Federal Way

Encouraging declines in gun violence in King County

New data from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (2.9 MB) shows that incidents of gun violence in King County have decreased since the second quarter of 2024, and these decreases have continued into the first quarter of 2025. Compared to the past five years, the first quarter of 2025 saw the lowest numbers of homicides and injuries involving firearms. South King County, in particular, saw the largest decrease – 37 percent fewer shots fired incidents in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

"This recent reduction in incidents of gun violence is encouraging," said Eleuthera Lisch, Director of Public Health’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention. "But rates of gun violence are still far too high and we have more work to do. Everyone has a role to play in preventing gun violence. If you own a firearm, it’s vital that you store it locked whenever it’s not in use. This will help prevent your gun from being stolen and contributing to community violence, in addition to helping prevent curious kids or loved ones experiencing a mental health crisis from misusing your gun."