In King County, in 2023, 85% of shooting victims were male, 22% were between 18-24 years of age, and 73% were people of color. Gun violence is the number one killer of children and teens. The growing trends as it relates to gun violence are so alarming that Public Health Seattle-King County has declared it a public health issue.

In communities across the country, families are striving to give their children a good start in life. They share a common desire for their babies to be healthy, happy, and secure. Yet far too many families face considerable obstacles.

I listened to every word of the United States Supreme Court Hearing in the past few days. My mind went back to years ago when people seeking justice would say the words “We will take this to the Supreme Court” because we truly believed we would receive some measure of justice there.