Worked for cigarettes, right? (Image: CDC/ Debora Cartagena)

Efforts to combat gun violence as a public health crisis have inspired a push to require signs posted at King County firearm retailers warning of “the increased risk of suicide, fatal acts of domestic violence, and unintentional deaths to children in homes where a gun is present,” according to an announcement on the King County Public Health proposal.

The King County Board of Health is slated to take up the proposal in its meeting Thursday.

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The legislation from King County Council member Joe McDermott would require stores selling firearms to post warning signs at entrances and cash registers.

If approved, the signage will join efforts to provide information to consumers about the possibly unforeseen dangers of firearms. I-1639, the recently approved statewide gun control measure, includes a change to gun purchase applications in Washington that will add a warning about the risk of death to the form. The initiative also will require increased background checks, training, age limitations, and waiting periods on semiautomatic assault rifles, and will criminalize negligent storage.

Earlier this year, King County joined Seattle in implementing its own negligent storage ordinance.