In 2022, there were over 48,000 firearm related deaths in the United States. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024) Injury and death by firearms are preventable. Prevention of local firearm-related injuries and deaths continue to be a public health priority.
Benton-Franklin Health District addresses this priority by raising public awareness of firearm safety practices, identifying community risk and protective factors, and surveying local trends. Our community-based work is foundational in keeping individuals, families, schools, and communities safe from firearm violence. Thanks to collaborative support across our joint counties and the state, our area has access to numerous free resources to help eliminate firearm-related injuries and death. Explore the links below for tips on safe storage, firearm safety education, and effective communication when firearms are present.
Resources to prevent gun violence:
- Safely store your firearms.
Find out which gun storage device is right for you. Firearm locking and storage devices can be purchased wherever guns or firearm accessories are sold including gun stores, sporting good stores, firing ranges, and locksmiths. Many discount stores also carry safe storage devices. All gun safes and lock boxes are tax exempt in the state of Washington per RCW 82.08.832
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Attend a lock box or trigger lock giveaway event in the community (see our social media for events!)
- Talk to family and friends about safe storage
Asking if guns are safety stored may save lives
- Know the warning signs of suicide
Unlocked firearms are a risk to people struggling with suicidal thoughts. Learn more about resources and next steps for suicide prevention
Out-of-home firearm storage can be especially helpful to people in crisis. The businesses and law enforcement agencies listed on this map are willing to consider requests for temporary, voluntary firearm storage.
Provides acute and emergent mental health intervention services. Services include crisis intervention, information and referral, grief counseling, education, emergency assistance with psychiatric medications, and consultation.
Click here to access the FREE Washington Firearm Safe Storage Map
Click here to access the Lock it Up webpage for safety pamphlets in several languages