King County’s 100-Day Action to Combat Gun Violence

By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium

King County Executive Dow Constantine, in collaboration with local community organizations and the City of Seattle, has launched 100 Days of Action, an intensive initiative to combat gun violence.

“Gun violence is a public health problem that requires urgent action,” Constantine said. “This 100-day intensive initiative to combat gun violence will expand critical community resources and intervention programs to pave the way for lasting change.”

Since 2020, Congress has allocated $25 million to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for federally funded research on gun violence. Despite these efforts, as of February 15, 2024, the CDC reports that at least 4,994 people have died from gun violence in the United States, an average of 108 deaths per day. Worryingly, firearm deaths remain the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell emphasized the importance of this initiative, pointing out the profound impact of gun violence on young people.

“19 percent of 10th graders reported feeling unsafe in Seattle because of gun violence. 50 percent of eighth graders and 71 percent of 12th graders reported feeling anxious because of gun violence. Thirty percent of 12th graders reported feeling depressed because of uncertainty and lack of safety. How can you learn in an environment like that? It’s impossible,” Harrell said.

A 2023 study by the NIH and CDC found that firearm injuries and deaths in the United States disproportionately affect people of color. The study found that 31% of Black people and 22% of Hispanics have personally witnessed someone being shot. In addition, 34% of Black people have a family member killed by a firearm—twice the rate of white people. 32% of Black and Hispanics fear being a victim of gun violence on a daily basis, compared to one in 10 white people. About 20% of Black and Hispanics feel that firearm crime, deaths, and injuries are a constant threat to their community—more than twice the rate of white people.

King County is investing $1.6 million over the next 100 days, including $1 million to expand community-led violence intervention programs and $250,000 to support victims and families affected by gun violence through an intervention program at Harborview Medical Center. On mental health, Mayor Harrell announced a $10 million investment in youth mental health and safety, with $2.4 million to expand access to telehealth services and $2 million for violence prevention, intervention and interruption services.

“There have been too many incidents of gun violence in and around our schools and throughout the city,” Harrell said.

“Ensuring the safety of our young people, families and community members requires regional coordination and bold action from everyone.” He added, “The city cannot solve this problem alone, but we are committed to building partnerships and leveraging our resources to make sustainable progress. Together with the county and our community partners, our 100 Days of Action will help us meet the demands of our students, educators, parents and community members, not just for the summer, but for the upcoming school year and beyond.”

A month ago, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a statement declaring that gun violence is a national public health problem. The King County Health Department has allocated $1.6 million for the 100 Days of Action to address this emergency. King County’s investment will increase the distribution of free gun lockers, expand the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention’s resource guide, launch public awareness campaigns, and partner with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform.

The City of Seattle will expand safe crossings initiatives for young people, provide immediate wraparound services for young people, develop aggressive state legislative programs, and work with school personnel and other stakeholders to develop a plan to reduce gun violence. Dominique Davis, CEO of Community Passageways, assured the community that their collaboration with local government under Constantine’s leadership will help bring about not just 100 days of action, but “100 days of peace.”

“We commend Executive Constantine for calling for 100 days of action,” Davis said. “Gun violence increases during the summer months, and we will be on the streets every day doing our part.” Davis stressed the importance of community involvement, saying, “We need everyone to do their part too. During the 100 days of action, we will work with our partners to create 100 days of peace. If we want to create real change, government and community must work closely together, and this is the perfect example of that.”

The 100 Days of Action initiative is modeled on similar short-term, intensive gun violence prevention programs across the country that have shown successful results. Eleuthera Lisch, director of the Regional Office for Gun Violence Prevention, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts.

“Every individual plays a critical role in preventing gun violence,” Lisch said. “As emphasized in the recent statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, combating gun violence is not just a matter of procedure, but a collective responsibility that requires action.”

“We must mobilize with the same urgency that King County showed when it was on the front lines of responding to the COVID crisis. We must coordinate our response across government and work with the community to work together to stem the tide of this crisis. Gun violence affects us all, directly or indirectly, and we will only be able to combat it if we work together,” Lisch concluded.