July 27, 2026

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Doctors for America's Statement on the Seattle Food Festival Shooting

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Doctors for America (DFA) is deeply saddened by the shooting that happened on July 26th at the Bite of Seattle Food Festival.  These tragedies happen over and over, even in states like Washington that have stronger firearm laws. While those laws are important, reducing firearm violence also requires continued investment in evidence-based strategies such as community violence intervention programs, safe storage education, and policies that help keep firearms out of the hands of people at higher risk of harming others and themselves.

DFA continues to call for common sense firearm laws that aim to decrease the incidence of mass shootings. Amongst other firearms, police recovered a ghost gun at the scene - an unserialized firearm that is difficult to trace and has become more common in the US. In 2020, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the US federal agency responsible for regulating the firearms industry and enforcing federal gun laws, closed the loophole that allowed people to acquire kits to build firearms and required commercially manufactured kits to have serial numbers. Although this rule has regulated some of the ghost guns, the ATF is now proposing rules that could make it easier for those with a criminal record to acquire and use firearms. Less stringent background checks will also allow gun traffickers to purchase firearms and sell them to those unable to legally obtain them. Additionally, increasing the length of time for which background checks are valid and revising the non-over-the-counter firearm transaction requirements to become more lax will allow people to have firearms shipped directly to their door as long as they have had a background check in the past two months. These changes will only serve to facilitate further violence.

We strongly call on our community for action. Reducing gun violence in our country will require collaboration between policymakers, community members, gun violence advocates, and healthcare workers. As we move into midterm voting season, we encourage you to make sure your voting status is up-to-date and you vote in the midterm election. Check your voting status here. Look for candidates in your area who call for stronger firearm legislation, and if none of your legislators do, reach out to them and encourage them to support such legislation. Our power is in our voices - we encourage you to vote for those who promise to keep our communities safe from firearms.

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About Doctors for America:

Doctors for America (DFA) is a national nonprofit that mobilizes over 40,000 physicians and medical trainees to advocate for policies that improve the health of patients and communities. Through advocacy training and action at the state and federal levels, DFA works to expand access to affordable care, strengthen community health and prevention, and advance health justice and equity. We do not accept funding from pharmaceutical, insurance, or for-profit health care entities, ensuring our work remains fiercely independent and patient-centered. DFA puts patients over politics–and over profits. Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and on X @drsforamerica or Bluesky drsforamerica.bsky.social.

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