Seattle’s Mayor Proposes New Law to Tackle Gun Violence Amid Sex Trafficking Concerns

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has introduced a “red flag” law aimed at disarming individuals involved in sex trafficking in local neighborhoods.

Residents along Aurora Avenue had voiced their frustrations regarding prostitution in the area, even going as far as to build a makeshift fence, according to reports from the Seattle Times. Wilson and City Attorney Erica Evans revealed plans for prosecutors to seek extreme risk protection orders to take firearms from those engaged in prostitution and human trafficking.

Evans stated, “This is a tangible strategy to remove guns from the hands of people who pose an extreme danger to our communities.”

Wilson and Evans’ announcement coincides with rising demands for action from businesses and locals along the North Seattle Expressway.

In previous efforts, Wilson implemented concrete barriers to deter individuals from soliciting prostitutes, a move that followed a troubling spike in shootings during April and May, as noted in the Seattle Times.

Alexandra Voorhees, a Senior Deputy Prosecutor with King County, mentioned that the average age for individuals entering commercial sex work is alarmingly between 12 and 15 years old.

Wilson secured her position in the November 2025 mayoral election largely due to delayed mail-in ballots, while Evans campaigned on a progressive agenda targeting crime issues. There have been conflicts between Wilson and local police unions regarding her proposed policies.

A memo from Seattle Police Chief Shon Burns indicated that many drug-related cases are now being redirected to a pretrial diversion program. Similarly, Evans issued a memo informing that all charges related to drug possession or use will be transitioned from prosecution to the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. This initiative aims to divert misdemeanor offenders in King County away from the criminal justice system and into supportive social services.