Showing posts with label guns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guns. Show all posts

King County, City of Seattle and community leaders unite for 100 Days of Action against gun violence

Sunday, July 14, 2024


On July 10, 2024 County Executive Dow Constantine joined Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and community leaders to launch 100 Days of Action against gun violence. This initiative, which comes as the U.S. surgeon general declared gun violence a national public health crisis, will expand community resources and promote safe gun storage.

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 impacted by gun violence through the Harborview Medical Center hospital-based intervention program.

“Gun violence is a public health crisis that demands urgent action,” said Executive Dow Constantine. “This 100-day, intensive initiative to confront gun violence will expand vital community resources and intervention programs to pave the way for lasting change."

Today’s launch is bolstered by Mayor Harrell’s recently announced investments in youth mental health and safety. This includes $10 million in funding for a coordinated approach to youth mental health and safety resources for students and families, of which $2.4 million will be allocated to expand access to telehealth services and $2 million for violence prevention, intervention and interruption services.

“There have been too many instances of gun violence in and around our schools and throughout our city. Keeping our young people, families and community members safe requires regional alignment and bold action from everyone. The city cannot solve this issue alone, but we are committed to convening partnerships and leveraging our resources to make sustainable progress,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. 
“Together, with the County and our community partners, our 100 days of action will help us deliver on calls for action from our students, educators, parents and community members, not just for the summer, but this upcoming school year and beyond.”

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Community safety – Twin threats of firearms and fentanyl

Friday, January 26, 2024

Some of the blue fentanyl pills seized in the district.
From Report to the Community
By U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman
Dept of Justice - Western Washington District

Federal law enforcement works tirelessly to stem the flow of potentially deadly fentanyl pills into Western Washington. 

The Western District of Washington filed 63 drug prosecutions in 2023, involving some 135 defendants. 

That is 14% more drug cases and a 27% increase in drug defendants over last year. 

Our cases focus on cartel connected organizations, violent drug dealers, and those having a dramatic impact on our communities.

Fentanyl pills
The Criminal Enterprises Unit leads investigations of organized drug trafficking groups. 

Whether the traffickers are operating in the urban core or in our rural communities, law enforcement makes stopping the flow of deadly fentanyl a top priority. 

Some of those trafficking these drugs have clear connections to Mexico based cartels such as CJNG – a group known for its violence. 

Two leaders of that drug trafficking organization were sentenced to 17 and 12 years in prison.

The influx of fentanyl tainted pills into Western Washington continues to wreak havoc on our communities with fentanyl overdose deaths at an all-time high in King county.

Some of the firearms seized in a raid
In March 2023, we indicted 24 people connected to a white supremacist prison gang for trafficking fentanyl, meth, and other drugs. 

Law enforcement seized nearly 2 million doses of fentanyl and more than 225 firearms – some shown at left.

As part of our commitment to public safety and interdicting gun crime, federal prosecutors joined with the Seattle Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration to prosecute those who were dealing drugs in key downtown Seattle hot spots while carrying firearms. 

Our Terrorism and Violent Crime Unit prosecuted nine people who were selling narcotics – primarily fentanyl pills (such as those at right) -- at 12th and Jackson (Chinatown/International District) and at 3rd and Pike/Pine. 

These vibrant parts of Seattle have become a magnet for crime with open air drug dealing. Ongoing efforts by the city and federal partners are aimed at returning a sense of safety to these sections of the city. In one of the cases we prosecuted from this effort, an armed drug dealer from the downtown area was sentenced to five years in prison.


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Residents line up to sell guns to police at Gift Cards for Guns second event

Tuesday, October 24, 2023


All photos by Steven H. Robinson

On Saturday, October 21, 2023 King County, and the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), in collaboration with the cities of Shoreline and Kenmore, hosted a Gift Cards for Guns event.

This was the second event in a program that received a $100,000 allotment from the King County Council in July 2022.

People got in line early

It is a voluntary program that provides the public with a viable alternative for disposing of firearms and ammunition. The program was initiated by the King County Council County and King County Executive’s Office and aims to reduce gun violence and promote public safety.

The program aims to address the increase in gun violence in King County by implementing a voluntary firearm and ammunition return program that residents can easily access. 

Pull up, police will unload the guns

By reducing the number of guns in circulation, the program hopes to decrease the number of accidents, injuries, and deaths caused by firearms. The program also offers residents a safe, consistent option for returning unwanted guns and ammunition.


The event was held as a drive-through at Shoreline Community College, located at 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline, WA, 98133.

It was scheduled to run from 10am to 2pm or until all gift cards had been distributed. Participants were paid from Zero dollars for ammunition, pellet guns, toy guns, etc. to $300 for AR-15, AK-47, and machine guns.

As expected a variety of weapons were brought in

By 12:30pm about 265 guns had been collected and $28,200 of the $35,000 designated had been given away.


For more information about the KCSO Gift Cards for Guns Program, including event dates and locations, visit the KCSO Facebook page.

Our county councilmember Rod Dembowski said that 

"These events are a result of legislation I passed last year establishing King County’s firearm and ammunition return program. Similar efforts across the country have proven successful in allowing not only a place for secure disposal, but also ensuring firearms owners can know that their unwanted firearms will not fall into the wrong hands if resold in the private market. 
"I appreciate the professionalism and service to our community from the Sheriff’s department and their team who are managing this important program, and value their work using a range of law enforcement strategies to keep our communities safe. 

"Studies have repeatedly shown that guns in homes are more likely to lead to accidental shootings, assaults, or suicide attempts than to be used successfully in self-defense. Voluntary buyback programs can be effective at decreasing that risk. 
"While other public safety strategies are meant to address guns used in crimes, this particular strategy is about safety at home and reducing the risk of firearms injuries and deaths." 


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Second Gift Cards for Guns event Saturday at Shoreline Community College

Wednesday, October 18, 2023


On Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 10am - 2pm (or until all gift cards have been distributed).King County, and the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), in collaboration with the cities of Shoreline and Kenmore, will host a Gift Cards for Guns event.

Where: Shoreline Community College, located at 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline, WA, 98133.

This will be the second event in a program that received a $100,000 allotment from the King County Council in July 2022, that aims to reduce the number of firearms in circulation and promote public health and safety.

Gun Values:
  • ZERO for Toy Guns, BB/Pellet Guns, Homemade Firearms, Non-Firing Objects That Look Like Firearms, Ammunition, Magazines, Other Ammunition-Feeding Devices, and Firearms Accessories, Including Scopes, Optical Sights, Lights, or Other Accessories Attached to a Firearm
  • $25 for antique firearms, junk guns, firearms that appear inoperable, receivers/frames only, and bump-fire stocks.
  • $50 for muzzle-loading firearms manufactured after 1941.
  • $100 for rifles, shotguns, .22LR weapons firearms, and revolvers.
  • $200 for pistols.
  • $300 for AR-15s, AK-47s, and machine guns.

The KCSO Gift Cards for Guns Program is a voluntary program that provides the public with a viable alternative for disposing of firearms and ammunition. 

The program was initiated by the King County Council County and King County Executive’s Office and aims to reduce gun violence and promote public safety.

The program aims to address the increase in gun violence in King County by implementing a voluntary firearm and ammunition return program that residents can easily access. 

By reducing the number of guns in circulation, the program hopes to decrease the number of accidents, injuries, and deaths caused by firearms. The program also offers residents a safe, consistent option for returning unwanted guns and ammunition.

The KCSO Gift Cards for Guns Program offers gift cards to residents who turn in their unwanted firearms and ammunition, with no questions asked. The program is open to all King County residents, regardless of age or legal status.

The King County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to public safety and reduce the risk of gun violence in our communities.

For more information about the KCSO Gift Cards for Guns Program, including event dates and locations,   visit the KCSO Facebook page


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Gift Cards for Guns October 21, 2023 at Shoreline Community College

Saturday, October 7, 2023


On Saturday, October 21, 2023 join King County and the King County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the cities of Shoreline and Kenmore, for our second Gift Cards for Guns event.

The program, dedicated to reducing the number of firearms in circulation and enhancing public safety, invites community members to exchange firearms for Visa/Mastercard gift cards.

The Drive-Through event will be held from 10am to 2pm at Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133

--Dow Constantine, King County Executive
--Shoreline Police Department

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AG Ferguson defeats third attempt to block Washington’s ban on the sale of assault weapons

Monday, September 4, 2023

OLYMPIA — A Thurston County Superior Court judge agreed with Attorney General Bob Ferguson and rejected another attempt to block Washington’s new law banning the sale of assault weapons. 

This is the third time in less than three months a judge has ruled that the ban should remain in place while legal challenges continue.

On Friday, Judge Allyson Zipp rejected a request in Guardian Arms v. Inslee for a preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of House Bill 1240

Judge Zipp rejected a similar motion for a temporary restraining order that would have blocked the law in the same case on June 23.

On June 6, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Bryan also rejected a request to block the law in a separate case, Hartford, et al. v. Ferguson, et al.

Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee jointly requested HB 1240 during the 2023 legislative session.

Ferguson first proposed a ban on the sale of assault weapons in 2017 in the wake of the 2016 mass shooting at a Mukilteo house party. The shooter used a military-style assault rifle and a high-capacity magazine. The 2023 legislative session was the second time Inslee joined Ferguson to call for a ban on the sale of assault weapons.

The new law went into effect immediately after Inslee signed it on April 25. Legal challenges began the same day.

“My legal team remains undefeated against the gun lobby in court,” Ferguson said. “This common-sense gun reform will save lives by restricting access to the preferred weapon of mass shooters.”

Judge Zipp delivered an oral ruling denying the preliminary injunction today. A written order will be filed at a later date.

The new law prohibits the sale, manufacture, and import of assault weapons in Washington state while allowing reasonable exemptions for manufacture and sale to law enforcement and the military. The law does not prohibit the possession of assault weapons.

Washington is the 10th state to adopt legislation restricting assault weapons. Multiple federal courts have upheld these public safety laws as constitutional.

Guardian Arms was originally filed in Grant County, but Ferguson successfully had the case transferred to Thurston County. In addition to Guardian Arms and Hartford, there is one other challenge to HB 1240 pending in federal court in the Eastern District of Washington, Banta v. Ferguson.

The Attorney General’s Office is undefeated in defending state law from attacks by the gun lobby:
  • Northwest School of Safety v. Ferguson: Plaintiffs including the Second Amendment Foundation challenge to Initiative 594, which required background checks on all gun sales.
  • Mitchell v. Atkins: Plaintiffs including the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation challenge to Initiative 1639, which restricted the sale of assault weapons to individuals over the age of 21, and imposed background check requirements.
  • Slone v. Washington: Plaintiffs including Gun Owners of America challenge to I-1639.
  • Silent Majority Foundation, et al. v. Jay Inslee, et al.: Plaintiffs including the Silent Majority Foundation challenge to House Bill 1705, banning ghost guns.
  • Hartford, et al. v. Ferguson, et al.: Plaintiffs including the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition challenge to House Bill 1240, which bans the sale of assault weapons in Washington.
  • Guardian Arms v. Inslee: Plaintiffs including the Silent Majority Foundation challenge to House Bill 1240, which bans the sale of assault weapons in Washington.
The Attorney General’s Office has also successfully brought cases to enforce firearms safety laws:
  • State of Washington, et al., v. U.S. Department of State, et al.: Defendants including Defense Distributed and the Second Amendment Foundation, sought to distribute 3D-printable gun files.
  • State of Washington v. Federal Way Discount Guns: Defendants represented initially by the Silent Majority Foundation sold high-capacity magazines in violation of Washington law.

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Update on Justice Department ’s ongoing efforts to tackle gun violence

Saturday, June 17, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – On June 14, 2023, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco convened a meeting with the Criminal Division, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service, and all 93 U.S. Attorneys.

Discussed were ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime and combat the gun violence that fuels it. 

These efforts include implementing the landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) passed by Congress and signed by the President last June; 
  • addressing the proliferation of untraceable and unlawful “ghost guns” that threaten public safety;
  • surging resources to federal, state, local, and Tribal law-enforcement partners on the front lines; and
  • adopting other common-sense reforms that keep guns out of the wrong hands.

Main topics 
  • Focusing U.S. Attorney Resources on Gun Crimes: During the meeting, the Attorney General reiterated his February 2022 direction to U.S Attorneys’ Offices to prioritize combating gun violence.
  • Expanding Background Checks: BSCA expanded background checks to include juvenile criminal and mental health records and local law enforcement contacts for prospective purchasers under the age of 21.
  • Narrowing the Boyfriend Loophole: BSCA also narrowed the so-called “boyfriend loophole” by expanding restrictions on firearm purchases by those convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence to include those convicted of assault in a “dating relationship.”
  • Fighting Illegal Trafficking in Firearms: BSCA created new criminal offenses for unlawfully trafficking in firearms and for straw-purchasing a firearm on behalf of a prohibited person, and it expanded the definition of “engaging in the business” of dealing in firearms.
  • Funding Evidence-Based Interventions: grants that will fund state crisis intervention programs, such as drug, mental health, and veterans’ treatment programs. Grants to fund school-based violence prevention programs.
  • Cracking down on ghost guns
  • Enhancing Firearm and Ballistics Tracing Efforts
  • Holding Gun Dealers Who Violate the Law Accountable



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DOJ leaders meet in Seattle to discuss strategies to combat community violence

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

U.S. Attorney Nick Brown
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Nick Brown is hosting the Attorney General Advisory Committee’s Violent and Organized Crime Subcommittee in Seattle this week to share what is working in communities across the country to combat gun crime and enhance community safety. 

The group will hear from a variety of speakers on community programs working to end the cycle of gun violence, particularly among youth. 

Additionally, the Director of DOJ’s Project Safe Neighborhood program will lead discussions on the technical training and assistance available to support districts implementing anti-violence programs nationwide.

“This is an excellent opportunity to learn from other districts about strategies that are successfully promoting community safety,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. 
“We are also highlighting some of the community partnerships here in Western Washington that are working to get firearms away from those who shouldn’t have them. We’ll also spend time learning directly from community stakeholders about their perspectives on violence prevention.”

The King County Prosecutor’s Office will present about the Extreme Risk Protection Order program developed in Washington State. This “Red Flag” law has been a critical tool for getting firearms away from those with behavioral health or domestic violence issues or other violence risk factors. 

An Extreme Risk Protection Order (“ERPO”) was utilized in a federal case during the investigation of Atomwaffen leader Kaleb Cole. 

Cole had numerous firearms removed from his residence north of Seattle under the ERPO. The Assistant United States Attorney who prosecuted Cole will present to the group about how the law was an important tool in the investigation that ultimately led to the federal prosecution and conviction for hate crimes.

The AGAC Violent and Organized Crime Subcommittee is led by United States Attorney Andrew Luger of Minnesota and the Vice-Chair is United States Attorney Jacqueline Romero of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 

U.S. Attorneys or their representatives are attending from New York, Illinois, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, Colorado, Louisiana, Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Georgia, Maine, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Iowa.



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#WearOrange activists lined the 145th overpass to bring attention to gun violence

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Photo by Bev Harrison

On June 2, 2023, members of Moms Demand Action and other #WearOrange activists lined the 145th overpass to shine a light on the gun violence that takes the lives of 43,000 people and devastates countless others in the U.S. every single year.

145th overpass. Photo by Bev Harrison
They waved signs and orange sticks at cars on I-5 and on 145th.

Photo by Bev Harrison
The signs called attention to the toll on young lives. Gun violence is one of the top causes of children's deaths in the United States.

Photo by Bev Harrison

Moms Demand Action (for gun sense in America) members from Shoreline and Edmonds all wore orange.

"Like our nation’s gun violence crisis, orange is a color that can’t be ignored."

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DOJ: Marysville man who ran fentanyl pill mill from his garage sentenced to 15 years in prison

Friday, June 9, 2023

A Marysville, Washington, man was sentenced June 7, 2023 in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 years in prison for three federal felonies connected to the fentanyl pill manufacturing lab in his rental home, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. 

Jose Eduardo Garnica, 34, pleaded guilty in March 2023 to conspiracy to manufacture and deliver controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, “This is one of the largest fentanyl seizures in the district. Mr. Garnica had so much fentanyl a hazmat team had to be called in.”

“This case weaves together all the strands that make fentanyl trafficking such a dangerous business,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. 

Mr. Garnica was manufacturing fentanyl pills with deadly powders that could make each pill lethal. His activities contaminated the home he rented, and he had 27 guns – many of them high powered assault weapons – adding to the danger. This is a significant prison sentence, but appropriate due to the risk he posed to our community.”

According to records filed in the case, Garnica came to the attention of law enforcement on June 17, 2022, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Los Angeles inspected a package shipped from China to Garnica’s Marysville address. 

The package was labeled “furniture parts,” but in fact it contained dies for use in a pill press that would make pills that appear to have the markings of oxycodone pills. 

Further investigation of Garnica and Wilson revealed numerous unusual cash transactions and the purchase of 11 firearms in a three-month span of 2020. 
In fact, when law enforcement searched the home, agents seized 27 guns and 25 kilos of fentanyl. Law enforcement also seized 50,000 rounds of ammunition.

On July 21, 2022, agents with Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI executed search warrants at the Marysville residence and seized the pill press and other materials for making fake oxycodone pills in the garage. 

Officers called a hazmat team to secure the lab due to the potentially deadly nature of fentanyl powder. Investigators determined that fentanyl residue had spread from the manufacturing location in the garage, throughout the house. The spread may have been caused by the HVAC system. Garnica has agreed to pay more than $71,000 to the owner of the home to remediate the residence.

In addition to the pill press and fentanyl powder, law enforcement found kilo sized bricks of fentanyl pills that appeared to have been smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico. 

Also of great concern, some of the pills Garnica was manufacturing also contained Xylazine – a sedative used in veterinary medicine that has been linked to more deaths. In some instances, those injected with Xylazine had had tissue damage requiring amputation.

In asking for an 18-year prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi cited the unique danger of fentanyl and the heavy toll of fatal overdoses in King County. 

“…Fentanyl overdose deaths have continued to soar in the Seattle area. Overdose deaths attributable in whole or in part to fentanyl have risen from just 22 in 2016 to 709 in 2022. 
"As of May 26, more than 500 overdose deaths were attributable to fentanyl for 2023 to date – a pace that puts King County at more than 1,000 overdose deaths by year end.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI with assistance from the Washington State Patrol, National Guard Civil Service Team, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Custom and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, the Snohomish County Drug Task Force, and the Skagit County Drug Task Force.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.


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AG Ferguson defeats first attempt to block Washington’s ban on the sale of assault weapons

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Photo courtesy KCSO
SEATTLE — A federal judge today agreed with Attorney General Bob Ferguson and rejected an attempt to block Washington’s new law banning the sale of assault weapons.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Bryan rejected a request in Hartford et al v. Ferguson et al to grant a preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of House Bill 1240

Judge Bryan is an appointee of President Ronald Reagan. Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee jointly requested the bill.

Ferguson first proposed a ban on the sale of assault weapons in 2017 in the wake of the 2016 mass shooting at a Mukilteo house party. The shooter used a military-style assault rifle and a high-capacity magazine. (See previous story)

This was the second time Inslee joined Ferguson to call for a ban on the sale of assault weapons.

The new law went into effect immediately after Inslee signed it on April 25. Legal challenges began the same day.

“We remain undefeated against the gun lobby in court,” Ferguson said. “This common-sense gun reform will save lives by restricting access to the preferred weapon of mass shooters.”

The new law prohibits the sale, manufacture, and import of assault weapons in Washington state while allowing reasonable exemptions for manufacture and sale to law enforcement and the military. The law does not prohibit the possession of assault weapons.

Washington is the tenth state to adopt similar legislation banning these weapons. Multiple federal courts upheld these public safety laws as constitutional.

Two other challenges to HB 1240 are pending, one in state court and one in federal court.

The Attorney General’s Office is undefeated in defending state law from attacks by the gun lobby:
  • Northwest School of Safety v. Ferguson: Plaintiffs including the Second Amendment Foundation challenge to Initiative 594, which required background checks on all gun sales.
  • Mitchell v. Atkins: Plaintiffs including the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation challenge to Initiative 1639, which restricted the sale of assault weapons to individuals over the age of 21, and imposed background check requirements.
  • Slone v. Washington: Plaintiffs including Gun Owners of America challenge to I-1639.
  • Silent Majority Foundation, et al. v. Jay Inslee, et al: Plaintiffs including the Silent Majority Foundation challenge to House Bill 1705, banning ghost guns.
The Attorney General’s Office has also successfully brought cases to enforce firearms safety laws:
  • State of Washington, et al., v. U.S. Department of State et, al: Defendants including Defense Distributed and the Second Amendment Foundation, sought to distribute 3D-printable gun files.
  • State of Washington v. Federal Way Discount Guns: Defendants represented initially by the Silent Majority Foundation sold high-capacity magazines in violation of Washington law.


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Moms Demand Action say: Join us for National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend June 2-4

Friday, June 2, 2023

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆,
𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮- 𝟰
The Inspiration for Wear Orange

Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor when she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 — just one week after performing at President Obama’s 2nd inaugural parade in 2013. 

After her death, Hadiya’s friends and family asked us to stand up, speak out, and wear orange to raise awareness about gun violence. 

Since then, orange has been the defining color of the gun violence prevention movement.

Like our nation’s gun violence crisis, orange is a color that can’t be ignored.

On June 2, 2023, join us and #WearOrange to shine a light on gun violence that takes the lives of 43,000 people and devastates countless others in the US every single year.


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March and Rally Against Mass Shootings - Sunday June 4, 2023

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Brookside Elementary School

Brookside Elementary School

When: Sunday, June 4, 10:00am

Join us! Sunday June 4, 2023 @ 10:15am - Rally Against Mass Shootings. 

In honor of the countless lives cut short by gun violence, please join the Lake Forest Park/Shoreline community to rally and march this Wear Orange weekend. 

Family friendly rally will start at Brookside Elementary at 10:15am, followed by a walk to Lake Forest Park Elementary starting at 10:30am.

Sign up or just show up!



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Orange the Overpass at N 145th on Friday, June 2, 2023 for Gun Violence Prevention

Sunday, May 28, 2023

2021 Orange the Overpass

Orange the Overpass, Friday, June 2, 4-6pm - 145th St and I-5 overpass  Family friendly. 

Volunteers will spread the word of #wearorange to Friday afternoon traffic on June 2 at the N 145th I-5 overpass on National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Bring signs, wear orange, and make sure National Gun Violence Prevention Awareness is seen and heard.
RSVP here or just show up! 


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Shoreline Police make arrests in two incidents of suspects brandishing a gun

Friday, May 12, 2023

Weapons and ammunition removed from home of Shoreline suspect who threatened neighbor with an assault rifle. Photo courtesy Shoreline Police.

In the first reported incident, an individual threatened a neighbor with an assault rifle (location not provided). Officers responded quickly to the 911 call, obtained a search warrant and removed multiple weapons and ammunition from the suspect’s residence.

The suspect was arrested and charged with assault in the first degree. 

We couldn’t have done it without the diligent and extraordinary teamwork of our Criminal Investigations Unit, Special Emphasis Team detectives, and Patrol Officers.

Guns, ammunition, and drugs were confiscated from the vehicle of a man who was brandishing a gun at a Shoreline bar on 15th NE. Photo courtesy Shoreline Police.

In the second incident, Shoreline Police officers responded to a call about a man brandishing a gun at a bar in the 14500 block of 15th Ave NE. 

Thanks to the quick response and coordination of Shoreline officers, they were able to arrest the suspect and impound his vehicle for further investigation. With the assistance of the Criminal Investigations Unit and a Patrol Officer, a search warrant was executed, and the following items were seized:
  • 2 handguns (1 stolen)
  • Ammunition
  • Crystal Meth
  • Fentanyl Powder (59 grams)
  • Heroin
  • MDA Powder
  • 60 Fentanyl Pills (M30’s)
Police arrested the suspect and impounded his vehicle.


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Shoreline, Washington, man sentenced to 51 months in prison for illegal possession of ammunition

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

FMK Model AR-1 photo courtesy Spotter Up
Defendant in mental crisis possessed arsenal, including sniper rifles, on high floor of downtown hotel

Seattle – A 45-year-old Shoreline, Washington man was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 51 months in prison for unlawful possession of ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. 

Rustam Yusupov pleaded guilty in February 2023, following his arrest in March of 2022. At Tuesday’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said the prevalence of guns on the streets is leading “to a bloodbath in this country.”

“Washington State is a pioneer in Red Flag laws designed to keep firearms out of the hands of those who pose a danger,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. 
“We will never know what motivated Mr. Yusupov to bring high powered firearms and sniper rifles to a downtown hotel. This prosecution means his arsenal has been surrendered to police, and he remains prohibited from purchasing more firearms in the future.”

According to records filed in the case, Seattle Police Officers were called to a downtown Seattle hotel room on March 10, 2022, with reports of a distraught man asking the hotel staff for assistance. When the officers went to the hotel room, they noted that furnishings had been over-tuned, with the mattress moved to block the door. Police found two firearms in the room – including a “ghost gun,” -- a firearm without a serial number.

Due to his agitated state, Yusupov was transported for medical attention. As officers were preparing to leave the hotel, a staff member working in the garage alerted them to weapons he had seen in Yusupov’s car. 

In the car were multiple firearms – including two additional “ghost guns.” 

In all, police recovered:
  • FMK Firearms Model AR-1 Extreme 5.56 NATO caliber rifle.
  • Aero Precision Model X15 5.56 caliber pistol.
  • Ruger Model 5.7 5.7x28mm caliber pistol.
  • Ruger Model 18029 Precision 6.5mm Creedmoor/.308 Winchester Caliber rifle.
  • Kel-Tec Model Sub 2000 9x19mm caliber rifle.
  • A North American Arms Corp. Derringer .22 revolver.
  • Two Polymer80 9mm caliber pistols with no serial number.
  • A skeletonized AR-15 5.56 NATO caliber pistol with no serial number.

In his plea agreement Yusupov admits that he is the subject of a domestic violence protection order. He had been ordered by King County Superior Court to surrender all his weapons. In March 2020 and again in May 2021, Yusupov was ordered to surrender his firearms and had signed paperwork and informed law enforcement that he no longer possessed any firearms.

When law enforcement went to search Yusupov’s home, they found the walls smeared with blood. Testing revealed that it was the blood of a dog. A dog was also found in the home in a kennel, badly malnourished. It was taken to a shelter for care.

The search of the home resulted in the recovery of two inert grenades; a container for 120mm rocket projectiles; hundreds of rounds of assorted ammunition (both handgun and rifle caliber), including 600 rounds of Israel Military Industries 5.56mm caliber ammunition; multiple handguns and rifle magazines (some loaded); assorted pistol slides; a ballistic vest with rifle plates; a bolt-action rifle; and assorted firearms accessories and firearms parts.

Yusupov is forfeiting multiple firearms and ammunition to the government.

The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF).

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.


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Legislature passes ban on assault weapons

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Gov. Jay Inslee and AG Bob Ferguson listen to KeAnna Pickett recount the death of her husband DeVonne, shot dead outside of their family business in Seattle in October 2022

The Legislature on Thursday passed HB 1240, sponsored by Sen. Strom Peterson, to prohibit the sale of assault weapons. Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign the bill soon, along with legislation to require safety training and a 10-day waiting period, and a bill to strengthen accountability for manufacturers and retailers.

Washington will become the tenth state to ban assault weapons.

"WA does not and will not accept gun violence as normal," tweeted Inslee.

Fifty-nine Americans died in mass shootings in just five years preceding a federal ban on assault weapons in effect between 1994 and 2004. Only 53 died during its ten years of effect, and mortality exploded after its expiration. 

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma estimated that the ban reduced the likelihood of mass shootings by 70%.

"High-capacity assault weapons have no practical use in civilized society except to make it easier for people to easily kill multiple people," said Sen. Marko Liias in 2017, not long after a mass shooting involving an assault weapon left three dead in Mukilteo. 
Washington state last year passed a ban on high-capacity magazines and so-called untraceable “ghost guns.” 

Washington voters have also approved policies to strengthen background checks and implement extreme risk protection orders, also known as red flags. Such policies are helping address various forms of gun violence including suicide and domestic violence.


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Dembowski thanks Sheriff’s Department for successful Gift Cards for Guns event

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Gun buyback held in Burien April 1
Photo courtesy KCSO
On Saturday, April 1, 2023 the King County Sheriff’s Office hosted the first Gift Cards for Guns event following legislation and funding passed by the King County Council aimed at reducing gun violence. 

The program enables people to turn in unwanted firearms voluntarily and safely in exchange for gift cards worth up to $300. In total, 287 firearms were turned in Saturday, with deputies handing out gift cards totaling $36,525.

King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski worked to include $100,000 in the 2023-2024 King County budget to fund the program and applauded the success of the first event.

“Residents told our deputies over and over how much they appreciated the opportunity to safely and securely dispose of their unwanted firearms without any concern about how the guns might be used in the future if they were sold in the private market,” Dembowski said. 

“I appreciate the professionalism and service to our community from the Sheriff’s department and their team who ran this program, and value their work using a range of law enforcement strategies to keep our communities safe.”

Studies have repeatedly shown that guns in homes are more likely to lead to accidental shootings, assaults, or suicide attempts than to be used effectively in self-defense.

“Voluntary buyback programs can be effective at lessening that risk,” Dembowski said. “While other public safety strategies are meant to address guns used in crime, this particular strategy is about safety at home and reducing the risk of firearms injuries and deaths.”

"Our communities in King County, like communities around the country, have experienced a painful spike in gun violence since the start of the pandemic,” said Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. “We know that it will take a comprehensive, public health response to address this urgent crisis. Offering residents a safe, consistent option for returning unwanted firearms and ammunition is an important part of that public health approach."

Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall was also proud of the work at Saturday’s event.
“As your Sheriff, I am committed to doing everything I can to reduce gun violence in King County,” Cole-Tindall said. “The Gift Cards for Guns program is an important step in making our communities safer through a simple, voluntary process. I’m proud to support it.”

The breakdown of types of guns turned in was:
  • 11 AR-15/AK-47
  • 68 Pistols
  • 46 Revolvers
  • 70 Shotguns
  • 75 Rifles (not AR-15)
  • 8 Muzzle loading
  • 7 Antiques
  • 2 Other
Residents wishing to turn in a firearm who were unable to make it to the buyback event can call the King County Sheriff to schedule an appointment to voluntarily turn over a firearm. A second event is being planned for later this year.

Rod Dembowski represents the cities of north King county on the King County Council.



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Senate approves AG Ferguson, Gov. Inslee legislation banning sale of assault weapons

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Ban on sale of assault weapons
OLYMPIA — Both chambers of the Washington State Legislature have now approved a historic ban on the sale of assault weapons in Washington state.

House Bill 1240, requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee and sponsored by Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, passed the House of Representatives on March 8, 2023 and the Senate on April 8, 2023 in historic votes. 

Amendments in the Senate make a concurrence vote necessary in the House. The bill will head to Gov. Inslee for his signature after concurrence.

Ferguson first proposed a ban on the sale of assault weapons in 2017 in the wake of the 2016 mass shooting at a Mukilteo house party. The shooter used a military-style assault rifle and a high-capacity magazine. (See previous article) (See follow up article)

Peterson has sponsored the House version of the proposal every year Ferguson requested it. Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, also a longtime champion, sponsored the companion bill in the Senate.

“Stop and think for a moment that firearms are now the leading cause of death among children in the U.S.,” Kuderer said. 

“Not traffic accidents. Not cancer or other illnesses. Not poisoning. Firearms. To ignore the seemingly endless instances of gun violence in our country would put us on the wrong side of history. 

"These weapons of war have no place in our schools, places of worship, our streets or in our communities. Banning assault weapons marks a victory for common sense and will help us move toward a safer future for Washingtonians.”

“The Senate today put public safety above the interest of the gun lobby,” Ferguson said. “The devastation of mass shootings extends far beyond the casualties and injuries. Mass shootings traumatize entire communities. We must stop selling these weapons of war in Washington.”

“Time and again we’ve seen the carnage these weapons allow people to unleash on communities," said Inslee. 'Time and again we’ve watched the NRA and politicians defend, normalize and even celebrate these weapons. But now the time is here when the majority’s will prevails and we put the lives of our children first.”

Our nation is averaging well over one mass shooting every single day and have been for years,” Peterson said. 
“Gun violence cuts short too many lives, leaves survivors with a lifetime of trauma and forces our kids to live every day with the fear of an active shooter. We need to do more to slow gun violence and with today’s vote, we are taking that next important step to protect the people we love.”

This legislation prohibits the sale, manufacture, and import of assault weapons in Washington state while allowing reasonable exemptions for manufacture and sale to law enforcement and the military. The legislation does not prohibit the possession of assault weapons.

Washington becomes the tenth state to adopt similar legislation banning these weapons. Multiple federal courts upheld these public safety laws as constitutional.



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Salomon bills to provide more protection and support to victims of domestic violence pass in the Senate

Saturday, February 18, 2023

State capitol in Olympia
Olympia — Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-Shoreline), which will provide more protection and support to victims of domestic violence, has been passed in the Senate with bipartisan support. 

Seven Republican and 29 Democratic senators voted for passage.

Salomon’s SB 5231 would add clarity and accountability to the legal process at a critical moment – when the court is making decisions about someone charged or arrested for domestic violence. Although courts are required to order the surrender of firearms and dangerous weapons when entering certain protection orders at arraignment hearings for crimes of domestic violence, this comes too late in the process to ensure accountability and true safety for the victims.

“As a public defender, I saw how it is possible for a defendant in a domestic violence case, when ordered by a court to surrender guns, to lie and say they don’t own any,” said Salomon. 
“There is no standardized system to follow up and check on this. This bill addresses this issue by having officers remove guns at the scene of the crime with the consent of the victim and judge.”

Firearms are by far the most common weapons used in domestic violence homicides. Recent research studies reinforce the importance of effective implementation. States that, in addition to laws prohibiting firearms, also have laws specifying how disqualified abusers were required to surrender those firearms saw a reduction in domestic violence homicides. States that prohibited firearms but did not have laws specifying how those guns would be relinquished did not see the same protective effects.

“Although we’ve made important progress in recent years by enacting laws and policies that attempt to keep guns out of the hands of abusive partners, we have learned that focus on implementation and enforcement is critical,” said Casey Morris of the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Laws that prohibit firearm possession do not work on the honor system. Fatality reviews have repeatedly shown that laws prohibiting firearms for abusers are not effective without clear, specific procedures and mechanisms for accountability.

The Senate also passed SB 5006 on Wednesday to strengthen Washington’s first-in-the-nation law that provides people at risk of a psychological crisis or suicide the option to voluntarily give up their right to keep a firearm.

“This bill will make improvements to an important suicide prevention tool so people in crisis can take proactive steps and hopefully prevent a tragedy,” said Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle), the bill’s sponsor. Seven Republican and 29 Democratic senators voted for passage.

Both bills are now moving to the House for consideration.

Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, represents the 32nd Legislative District, which includes Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Seattle, Shoreline, Woodway, and unincorporated Snohomish County.



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