Last year, in a simple FaceBook post, we asked parent readers what their top three concerns were as parents. The vast majority of more than 100 respondents said school gun violence and gun control were at the top. During the 2023 session of the Washington State Legislature, lawmakers passed some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, and lawmakers promised they’ll return in 2024 and keep that momentum going.
With elections just around the corner, you may wonder which school, city and county candidates have committed to continuing gun safety work at a local level.
Washington State-based Alliance for Gun Responsibility, a nationwide gun safety advocacy organization, recently released its endorsements for candidates who have put the issue front and center in their campaigns or, if they are already in office, made it a principal part of their legislative agenda. There are 58 candidates from across Washington State vying for school district, city council, mayor, or county council positions on the Alliance’s list, including those running for positions in numerous areas of King County.
To review the list, visit the Alliance for Gun Responsibility 2023 endorsements page. Elections take place Nov. 7.
As 2023 draws to a close, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Seattle-based Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, the statewide Children’s Alliance, and other gun safety and child welfare organizations will release their agendas for the 2024 session of the Washington State Legislature.
Along with gun safety, identifying and finding funding for solutions to the growing youth mental health crisis in Washington is expected to be a key priority for child and family advocacy groups. Learn more about a survey conducted by Children’s Alliance in August on this is issue on the organization’s blog.
Keep up-to-date on these issues and other efforts on behalf of kids and family in the Take Action section of Seattleschild.com.
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