OPINION: Firearm deaths of children should sound alarm

This editorial was published in The Seattle Times.

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They hadn’t even begun to truly live when bullets ended their lives.

Amarr, 17, was killed at Garfield High School in Seattle. Xavier, 16, was found dead on an Auburn street. Jaime, 15, was killed near a school in Renton. Matthew, 13, was killed near Turnkey Park in Kent. And tiny Synsyr, just 2 years old, was shot April 4 at a restaurant parking lot in Federal Way.

They are among the 17 youths under 18 whose lives ended violently in King County so far this year, all but one by gunfire.

Juveniles and young adults ages 18 to 25 accounted for more than 40% of the county’s 63 homicide victims so far this year.

To all who care about young people and Seattle and King County’s future, this should be unacceptable.

By comparison, 14 youths were killed by this time last year. The spike in homicides of young people has those in law enforcement and social science scratching their heads, especially as violent crime in general is down in King County.

Many organizations and initiatives have dedicated missions to curb gun violence. Yet, recent numbers show that a group’s mission is not enough.

Public Health — Seattle & King County created the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention in 2023, which coincided with the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Last month Seattle and King County launched 100 Days of Action, during which the county pledged to invest $1.6 million over 100 days, including $1 million for community violence intervention programs, such as firearm safety training and lockbox giveaways. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s administration plans to put $2 million into youth violence prevention, intervention and interruption programs in the midyear supplemental budget.

Such efforts could help address one of the biggest contributing factors to gun violence: the availability of firearms. The state Legislature has done its part over the years by putting the responsibility of safe gun storage and reporting of gun thefts on gun owners, where it belongs.

When it comes to teens with guns, adults in their lives must own up to their responsibility as parents, guardians, neighbors and teachers. When they see something, they should say something. The same can be said for fellow teens.

In addition, more needs to be done by way of conflict resolution. Since many teens are more apt to listen to other teens, peer counseling can also make a difference in the decisions they make.

Gun violence prevention is not only a political issue, it’s a social and economic one as well. Formal collaboration among King County, the city of Seattle, law enforcement and local school districts could serve as a model statewide and nationally.

TNS