Drafter
Clerk 05/04/2023
Title
A RESOLUTION recognizing June 2, 2023 as Regional Community Safety and Wellbeing Day, as part of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and recognizing the work of Public Health - Seattle & King County and its regional partners in reducing firearm violence and injury in our county.
Body
WHEREAS firearm violence and injury are a multifaceted problem requiring a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach, and
WHEREAS, gun violence in our neighborhoods, cities, and county impacts public health and public safety and deserves to be addressed through a robust public-health approach that enlists multisector supports, broad investments, and lasting commitment, and
WHEREAS, public health and law enforcement data show a continuing disproportionate impact of firearm violence in south King County, in lower-income neighborhoods, among young men, and in communities of color, and
WHEREAS, on September 21, 2017, the King County Board of Health adopted Resolution 17- 09, which called on lawmakers to take meaningful action to address firearm tragedies, and
WHEREAS, on June 18, 2020, the King County Board of Health passed Resolution 20-08 declaring racism a public health crisis and committing to work to advance a public health approach in addressing institutional and systemic racism, and
WHEREAS, firearm violence and injury contribute to individual, family, and community trauma that is part of the public health crisis of racism, and
WHEREAS, Public Health - Seattle & King County is working to develop and implement local strategies to reduce firearm-related injury and violence, and to ensure all people are healthy, hopeful, safe, and thriving, and
WHEREAS, a public health approach to firearm injury prevention encompasses data, policy, research, prevention, and community programming and relationships, and Public Health - Seattle & King County's regional approach encompasses all of these solutions, and
WHEREAS, Public Health - Seattle & King County's Regional Gun Violence Program is taking a regional approach to community safety, aligning services and coordinating efforts to support and provide resources for communities impacted most by violence and racial disparities in King County, and
WHEREAS, Public Health - Seattle & King County is working to develop and implement local strategies to reduce firearm-related injury and violence, and ensure all people are healthy, hopeful, safe and thriving, and
WHEREAS, June 2, 2023, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which King County will observe with a series of safe storage giveaways and community events intended to promote safety and wellbeing;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Health of King County:
A. The King County Board of Health declares June 2nd, 2023, as Regional Community Safety and Wellbeing Day in King County, as part of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and commits to attending and publicizing Public Health - Seattle & King County's Regional Gun Violence Program events for the day.
B. The Board supports Public Health - Seattle & King County's Regional Gun Violence Program's work and other efforts to create safe, healthy, and thriving communities free of the burden of gun violence, and to support communities in healing from the harm of gun violence.
C. The Board encourages building strong cross systems and community relationships to ensure collaboration and coordination to reduce risk factors for gun violence and to increase protective factors for all residents of King County.
D. Board members commit to raise awareness and share information about Public Health - Seattle & King County public-health approach to preventing and reducing youth
gun violence and creating conditions that allow all people to be healthy, hopeful, safe, and thriving.