Federal Way proclaims Gun Violence Awareness Month; survivors, health providers and mentors press for prevention and safe-storage efforts

Federal Way City Council proclaimed June as Gun Violence Awareness Month on July 2, and several survivors and community partners accepted the proclamation and urged concrete steps to reduce firearm-related harm.

Selena Taylor accepted the proclamation on behalf of her family and remembered her son Ezra, who was killed in September 2021. "Ezra's legacy lives on through the work we do in our community," Taylor said, and she urged action that promotes healing, peace and opportunities for youth.

Cynthia Motan of Virginia Mason/ St. Francis Hospital described the hospital-affiliated violence-prevention program and the services it offers, including firearm-safety education and free lockboxes, trigger locks and cable locks. Motan urged residents to "lock it up, baby. Just lock it up," describing cases of unsecured weapons being stolen or accessed in multi-generational homes.

Mike McIntyre of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility thanked the council for the proclamation and said he will advocate for state-level safe-storage law changes in Olympia next year and requested local support for funding community organizations that distribute locks and other safety devices.

Winston Bell of the Game of Life mentoring program described youth-mentoring work and said sports and community connection are part of local prevention efforts. A youth who spoke at the meeting said he has lost 14 friends to gun violence by age 18, a personal account cited by presenters to underscore the local scale of harm.

Why it matters: The proclamation was accompanied by concrete local-service offers, outreach plans and a community event announced for June 28, 2026 at Seward Park (no-cost, expected attendance of 700–800). Speakers framed safe-storage and community-based prevention work as immediate and actionable steps for residents and local government.

What to watch next: Community groups present at the council meeting requested ongoing city support for outreach and device distribution. The council did not take legislative action during the meeting; organizers signaled plans to seek additional funding and broader policy changes at the state level.

Ending: Council members thanked speakers for sharing personal stories and community resources. Organizers invited residents to the Seward Park event on June 28, 2026 to learn about services, get safety devices and connect with local prevention partners.