King County will need warning signs regarding health in gun depots and shooting booths



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The regulation is expected to come into effect next month, although Public Health – Seattle & King County does not yet have the budget to implement it.

Daniel Beekman

King County will require gun dealers and shooting ranges to put up signs warning of the danger of firearms.

The King County Health Board voted unanimously Thursday to pass the bylaw, describing it as the first of its kind on the West Coast.

The regulation is expected to come into effect next month, although Public Health – Seattle & King County does not yet have the budget to implement it.

King metropolitan council member Joe McDermott proposed the settlement. in July, he hoped it would help spread the word in the same way that health warning labels do.

"We need to be open and honest about the damage that guns can cause," McDermott said in a statement.

The signs will read as follows: "WARNING: The presence of a firearm at home significantly increases the risk of suicide, homicide, death in domestic violence conflicts and unintentional deaths of children, household members and others ".

They will also have to provide information about the national suicide prevention network.

Panels should be at least 8.5 inches by 11 inches and use at least 48 characters. They will have to be posted at the entrance of gun shops and shooting ranges and in at least one additional area.

Firearms vendors and shooting ranges that violate the regulations will receive an initial warning and will then be subject to civil fines of up to $ 100 per violation.

Board of Health regulations apply to all 39 towns in the county and its unincorporated areas.

Public health staff estimated that it would take about $ 263,000 to apply the new regulation to all 236 licensed firearms vendors, including those who do not have a virtual store.

Staff estimated that they would need about $ 218,000 to apply only to people with physical locations. Public Health currently has the budget for no option.

"Now that the regulation is passed, (Public Health) will be working on the implementation," said David Shurtleff, spokesman for the county council. "This could include a request for funding made to the board or a request to allow it to move existing resources."

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