REPORT: Washington’s Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention emerging as national leader in evidence-based, community-supported strategies

REPORT: Washington’s Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention emerging as national leader in evidence-based, community-supported strategies

2023 Legislative Report details progress, recommendations, next steps in addressing gun violence in Washington communities OLYMPIA, WA — Firearm violence is a persistent health and safety threat for communities and families in Washington state, where a person is killed with a gun every 12 hours (Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Dashboard). These deaths and injuries are preventable. Three years into its work to support and coordinate the implementation…

Department of Commerce launches new Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention

Department of Commerce launches new Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention

Office will focus on community gun violence disproportionately impacting communities of color Shalisa Hayes is a mother with a mission. In August 2011, she experienced the deepest pain a mother could feel — the loss of her young son who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Billy Ray Shirley III was 17 years old. He was shot and killed leaving a party in Tacoma, WA. For Hayes,…