Thurston County Board of Health proclaims June 2025 Gun Violence Awareness Month

The Thurston County Board of Health on June 10 read a proclamation declaring June 2025 as Gun Violence Awareness Month and heard brief remarks from county staff and local advocates about safe-storage outreach and free gun-lock distribution.

The proclamation cites state data and local surveys showing increases in firearm deaths and notes that more than half of the 4,677 firearm deaths in Washington state between 2019 and 2023 were suicides. It also states that between 2019 and 2023 there were 620 stolen-firearm incidents in the state. The board read the text of the proclamation during the meeting and moved to commemorate the month; the board then posed for a photo with invited guests.

Ramona Medalla, identified as a mental health education and outreach specialist in Thurston County’s parent–child health division, described a county program called Lock It Up that distributes gun locks and other safe-storage devices. “We are trying to educate people about safe storage for gun locks and other devices, and we are actually giving them out,” she said, adding that her group had handed out about 30 locks earlier that day at a separate event.

Ed Humble, speaking for Thurston Gun Sense, described that group as a local affiliate working with the statewide Alliance for Gun Responsibility. He said Thurston Gun Sense has distributed free gun locks at community events across the county, including rural gatherings, and emphasized suicide prevention and reducing unauthorized access to firearms.

Board members and other meeting participants spoke in support of the proclamation and of outreach that pairs safe-storage devices with education. A board member with emergency-room experience said firearm access can lead to catastrophic, life-altering injuries and thanked the advocates for their work.

The proclamation text that the board read urges residents to honor victims, participate in remembrance activities, and encourage safe storage to reduce unauthorized access and future injuries. The meeting record does not include a roll-call vote on the proclamation; the board proceeded with the planned photo and moved to subsequent agenda items.

The board also received questions and comments about safe-storage devices and distribution, including mention of larger, lockable safes that can be secured inside vehicles to reduce theft.

A copy of the proclamation and the public remarks by county staff and Thurston Gun Sense are part of the meeting record.