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Free handgun lockboxes available around King County on National Gun Violence Awareness Day

KING COUNTY, Wash. — On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Public Health - Seattle & King County is offering free handgun lockboxes on Friday.

“Studies done here at Harborview have shown that safe storage of firearms can reduce the risk of accidental shootings and suicides by teenagers by 70% to 80%,” Dr. Fred Rivera, a pediatrics professor at UW, said. “People think only about the mass shootings and the assaults. They don’t realize about the suicides.”

Here’s where and when health officials are offering free handgun lockboxes:

  • Seattle Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Community Passageway

-Friday June 2, 2023 I 10:00 am to 11:30 am I Parking lot at 23rd Ave & Jackson Street, Seattle

  • Skyway Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Urban Family

-Friday, June 2, 2023 | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | Grocery Outlet parking lot – 11445 69th Pl S, Seattle

  • Kent Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Community Passageways

-Friday, June 2, 2023 | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | City Hall Square – 220 4th Ave S, Kent

  • White Center Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with YMCA Alive and Free

-Friday, June 2, 2023 | 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm | Greenbridge Plaza – 9800 8th Avenue SW, Seattle

  • Rainier Beach Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with Rainer Vista Boys & Girls Club – SE Safety Network

-Friday, June 2, 2023 | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Safeway parking lot – 9262 Rainier Ave S, Seattle

June 2-4 is also “Wear Orange” weekend, where communities nationwide are asked to wear orange to amplify gun violence awareness.

‘Wear Orange’ will hold events nationwide, including the following in Western Washington:

Friday

  • Shoreline: 451 N 145th St (4 p.m.)

Saturday

  • Edison: 5800 Cains Court (10 a.m.)
  • South Seattle: Othello Park (11 a.m.)

Sunday

  • Lake Forest Park: 17447 37th Ave NE (10 a.m.)
  • Bellingham: 2401 Cornwall Ave (11:30 a.m.)