Title
A MOTION requesting the executive to engage and collaborate with King County youth and young adults and their family members to develop a report on gun violence amongst youth and young adults.
Body
WHEREAS, the most recent available Washington state Department of Health data show that firearms are the third leading cause of injury-related death in Washington state, killing approximately six hundred twenty-five Washington residents each year between 2009 to 2013, and firearms were involved in one in six of all deaths among youth ages fifteen to twenty-four, and
WHEREAS, the Washington state Department of Health data also show that one hundred forty-six King County residents died from a gun injury in 2015 including six children age seventeen and younger. Statewide, thirty-nine children, who are age seventeen and younger, died as a result of firearms that same year. That is the equivalent of a child or teen being killed by gunfire every nine days. King County children represent fifteen percent of all children killed as a result of firearms statewide, and
WHEREAS, between 2013 and 2015, the Washington state Department of Health data show that twenty-five youth, age seventeen and younger, died by suicide in King County, of which seven used firearms. Statewide, one hundred eighteen youth died by suicide in Washington and forty-seven of these youth died from firearm suicide. King County youth represent twenty-one percent of youth suicide and fifteen percent of suicide from firearm statewide, and
WHEREAS, the Washington state Department of Health data also indicate that ninety-five King County residents were hospitalized for nonfatal firearm injuries, including nine youth, age seventeen and younger, in 2015. Statewide, three hundred eight Washington state residents were hospitalized for nonfatal firearm injuries in 2015, including thirty children under eighteen years old. King County residents represent thirty percent of all nonfatal firearm injuries sta...

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