I'm concerned

[Blackdog]

We moved here from Portland OR to Zillah WA 20 years ago. It was fine until just recently. Got robbed a year ago. Lost $40,000 in tools and equipment. They took my restored IH Terra. They took all this from our shop (20' away)while we slept. We found out who did it, 4 white guys all meth heads. Cops never did anything, one of the thieves later stole a car and hit another car killing a child.

Hispanic gangs have taken over Sunnyside and Toppenish, towns about 20 minutes away. Gang related killings are common, at least 2 in each town a week. They normally kill other gang members but occasionally a bystander gets killed.

We got gas in Toppenish last week. A Hispanic got pissed and flashed a gang sign at the wife.

You cannot go for an evening walk in these towns, you will be killed.

Drive to town and you'll get blasted with loud rap music by assholes driving cars with all their windows down even when it's only 30 degrees out.

Zillah is still safe for now.

Plan is to move to The Dalles Oregon in a year or so. You can walk through town at midnight there no problem. Drivers stop when your trying to cross the street. When your trying to load something at Home Depot you'll have 5 guys trying to help.

For now I sleep with a 40 cal under the pillow. Is there any safe places left where normal people can live? What about 20 years from now?

[Boxerboy]

99% of Australia is safe.
Never camp by a river way up north though.

[Sir Limpsalot]

What a dreadfull picture you paint of modern America. I'm sorry for you. I'm sorry for anyone who has to live in conditions like that.
England is no longer all pretty thatched cottages with roses growing around the door, and I don't doubt that we have some inner City areas that are fairly grim, but on the whole it's a lot like that place in Oregon. Long may it remain so. Good luck, stay safe.

Cheers,
Si.

[Griffon]

Blackie, it sounds like you're talking about downtown Reading. I know there are places, but they are getting fewer as more and more places get developed. Dave frequently says it, but a lot of the problems come from over population. I don't think he's off base with that.

My dream is that some day, I'll be able to live far enough away from the densely populated areas. It's not looking real likely right now since my business is dependent on museums and galleries which tend to be in short supply in the hills and deserts.

If the past 20 years are any indicator, the next 20 should change more and faster. We need to figure out how to manage our burgeoning population and dwindling resources. I think one of the best ways is to try to make as much of the communities we inhabit, whether they be work, neighborhood, or here on the internet. I believe the Golden Rule will win out in the end if the good people can temper their frustration with hope, but we have a hard ride ahead of us.

[Rchop]

You should visit some of the small towns here in the Heartland. Norman Rockwell paintings look like current pictures of the town, people wave when you drive by and will stop and offer help if you look like you need it. Churches have more cars in the parking lot than Home Depot all day Sunday and every holiday usually means some kind of parade downtown or gathering in the park.
What a relief from Southern California...have I said how much I like it here:eusa_clap:

[Donson]

We need to take off the kid gloves with the gang bangers.In My opinion,they are a lower life form,be they white ,black or green. They dont deserve to exist in the same universe as decent Human Beings.They understand only kill or be killed.I am all for helping along their way.Whoops, I guess I am getting pissed off,sorry....Even here in My hometown of Canyon,Tx,We are starting to see gang activity,though not on the scale of larger cities. These gang kids are 10-15 yrs old,may be time to kick their asses and turn them around.....

[Deans BMW]

What Randy says about heart land America is true, our area up here is a good example. What we are seeing is the rapid erosion of, again what Randy called, Heart Land America values.

Several examples, no longer is the term terrorist exceptable with this new administration. They are even starting to put the full weight of the Justice department on Sherriff Joe Arpiao down in Pheonix for being one of the few in this country attempting to deal with the rampant illegal immigrant problem down there. Can't possibly have "racial profiling" you know. Unfortunately both the east and west coast are developing into a hot bed of this kind of think. We need to clone a whole passel of Sherriff Joes.

[DarthRider]

There are still places...islands really, of relative peace & sanity. The ones I know are in the heartland, the middle ground where rampant population growth still has somewhere to go instead of just piling up on one another.
I hope your move to The Dalles cures those problems for you.
Our move 2 years ago solved most of them for us. One of the reasons we moved back here is the Amarillo, TX area is one I've always described as "Mayberry RFD, 1959", and to a degree it still is, at least in comparison to the big city shit holes we have lived in or seen the past 40 years. It has changed and continues to though, and not for the better. The common denominator seems always to be population growth & size.
Look at Randy's place, and Dean's, and ours. Relative peace, safety and calm. The common denominator of those places...low population size & growth rates.
But it is changing.
I told Betty last night that on my last day, I will be glad it is not my first. I am optimistic by nature, but I don't see how the overall situation can ever get better. Too many rats scrambling for too little cheese.

[Blackdog]

We live out in the country about 3 miles from Zillah. We are "up on hill" and are surrounded by vineyards and wineries. We have a nice view of Mt Adams and Mt Rainer.

We are located in one of those nice little pockets of nice homes and people.

The problem is we are a target for thieves. The gangbangers and meth heads are only a short distance away.

[Donson]

RX: 12 ga. pump,#4 shot.Administer as needed.You have the right to defend Yourself,Your family,and Your property.

[mnnden]

A sad and but not uncommon commentary, and with the government focusing on the economy, I wouldn't look for help anytime soon. I like many of the others live in an area with a relatively low crime rate, (which is a little odd, considering our proximity to the twin cities), I think what others have said about small town America is true but it is changing, and gangland is spreading into the "Heartland" at a fast pace. In my opinion much of this gang activity is a fueled by the drug trade, and our inability (or desire) to stop it, I have always been an advocate of providing free drugs to the addicted, My thoughts being that if there is no profit in it why would anyone produce it. I don't think the farmers around here would grow corn if they couldn't sell it. I have read all the posts and would like to "quote" from all of them, they are so true!! Blackdog, I wish I had some advise, That 40 cal might give you some security, and make your wife nervous, how about a small dog (a yapper) give you some warning. Or move to the midwest, we got room, can ya swim? Den

http://msnden.smugmug.com/photos/493345579_xpf2Z-M.jpg

[Deans BMW]

I think that this area has another method of handling such a problem...........

Its called the "the Three S method"

Shot, Shovel and Shut up.

[DarthRider]

Den, your comments on the drug problem recalled something I read last week.
With the drug cartel wars spilling (way) over into the US, the Mexicans are under a lot of pressure to control it.
Paraphrasing here, but the Mexican President's response was something like, "Strange request coming from America as you are the number one customer for the drugs and the number one supplier of weapons to the cartels."
You said "...In my opinion much of this gang activity is a fueled by the drug trade, and our inability (or desire) to stop it,..."

Sometimes truth really hurts...

[Griffon]

I'd go a step further Den. Make drugs legal and tax them all to High Heaven. It would generate revenue and bring the business of drugs into government regulation. I think there are a good many parallels between this era of prohibition and the one that fueled so much gangland drama early in the 20th Century.

[Nail24]

RX: 12 ga. pump,#4 shot.Administer as needed.You have the right to defend Yourself,Your family,and Your property.

That doesn't float on the "left" coast. This is the results you get when you get an anything goes philosophy. How are the gun laws up there?

BTW Gangs take the place of a family environment. However, they are also supported by the violent crime they foster.

[socalrob]

As wierd as it seems I am becoming of the opinion that cities are on their way to becoming safer than rural areas with their meth heads. Very few areas of Los Angeles approach the danger level described here. Looking at theft statistics in rural areas it looks like all small town folks do is steal from each other (ok, only the meth heads, I know).

I also suspect that the rural gangs are still in flux and have not matured into their stable niches like in the big cities. Violent crime is down substantially in LA. What violent crime there is, almost 100% is gang on gang. Stay out of a few neighborhoods after 4pm and if you are not black or hispanic it would be very unlikely to be a victim.

My oldest daughter was thinking of going to University of Oregon in Eugene. I googled up the crime statistics and was shocked to find violent crimes and property crimes to be very high, so high in fact that the only parts of LA that compared were places like South Central. This was not why she decided against UO, but I was happy she ended up in UC Irvine, being in Irvine, CA, probably one of the safest cities in the US regardless of size.

[jamming]

I refuse to be afraid in my own town. The gangs feed off of fear and I refuse to feed it. Its time people let it be known that we won't stand for this BS anymore.

BD, on to your original question. Where is the local LEO's? Are they aware of the problem? If so, is the Chief or Sheriff an elected official? Vote them out.

Don, I think you and I are going to get along very well. I'm direct and straight forward and don't believe in dancing around. Neither did my Father and he raised me right. I come from good Texas stock.

[Donson]

I know We will get alnong well. I dont mean to go out and hunt these Guys down,I just meant to say that if they come to My door for money or intimidation-they will bleed-a lot. Texas has a good Castle Doctrine.I just hope I never have to deal with that situation. But My loins are girded(sp?) Smiley Face!

[Wild Will]

http://www.pepperblaster.com/

Using a gun will mean an expensive lawyer retainer, usually. This item is effective and legal for defense.

I have a concealed carry permit. I live on the "left" Mr.Mayor. Much of it is just as "normal" as North Carolina. My area is mostly old family ranchers and they all have guns. But using a gun in self defense still means you'll be needing a lawyer. That's why I prefer Kimber's little beauty. My wife carries one with her everywhere. She'll have nothing to do with a gun.

[jpenney]

I'd go a step further Den. Make drugs legal and tax them all to High Heaven. It would generate revenue and bring the business of drugs into government regulation. I think there are a good many parallels between this era of prohibition and the one that fueled so much gangland drama early in the 20th Century.

I fully support this. This just cuts them off at the knees and would help prop up the budget! I would also think that this would have a negligible effect on the price as the commercial growers and the tax man are going to be just as greedy as the drug cartels.

I already feel like a criminal every time I buy Sudafed (Missouri makes you sign a log book to help slow down meth production ... it doesn't work), I'd like to at least buy something worth the hassle ;)

[Donson]

Squirt em in the eyes with pepper spray and piss them off?I agree with You-if You mean a purse snatching,hubcap boosting punk.....A meth freak bent on feeding His habit is not going to be so lucky at My house....My RX is one that was pressed on Me by a friend ,a veteran of 35 years with the FBI.I have rental property near Me that seems to attract...less desirable types. I began smelling the heavy chemical smells that go with meth production.His assertion was that just the SOUND of a pump gun being charged with a shell will scare of almost any drug crazed idiot-and if it doesnt----Texas Castle Doctrine--and I pray tthat never happens at My house-I dont even hunt critters-I have NO desire to kill ANYTHING.

[jamming]

I agree with Don, Pepper Spray for the punk bent on a purse or wheel snatch. Pepper spray is great to "get distance" from the attacker. My Wife carries it.

For the Meth head and we got a lot of them in AZ. My choice is a .40 CAL 135 gr hydra-shock jacketed hollow point. It won't come out the other side. Why??? Because I can put it on target, all the time, and I don't have to shoot em twice.

Shotguns are fine, but in a close quarter situation I prefer the pistol. I hope I never have to use it, but if I do, I will do whatever, to protect my family. I'll deal with the attorneys later.

[Blackdog]

Their is only one answer to this is. If you use pepper spray or shoot them in the leg they'll be on the street in weeks.

I hunt, I own guns, I shot expert every year while in the AF. Enter my home and I'll shoot to kill. If I find a thief in my shop or anywhere on my property I'll hold them at gun point until the cops arrive. If they try to rush me I'll shoot to kill.

When my shop was broken into four meth thieves were involved. My dog was outside but he was getting old and missed the action. Two thieves wiped out the shop equipment, they turned on the lights and opened the garage door. They loaded up the Terra with all my stuff and drove off. The Terra had a performance exhaust and was not quite. They did not disconnect the air from the plasma cutter and broke the line so the compressor was running full blast.

Just outside in front of my house my off-road Ranger was parked. They chiseled the lock out of the column. They stole my tools that I had in the bed box. They left a police scanner, cell phone and meth scale in the truck when they were scared off.

I'm normally a light sleeper, had I woken up there would have been a small war.

You think you live in a small crime free neighborhood? So did I. For nearly 20 years I slept with the doors unlocked. Lucky for them they didn't enter the house.

[Capt. Nemo]

Meth heads, crank freaks, whatever is the new name for them, do not call law enforcement when they are the victims.
I grew up in Vallejo, Kalifornia. When mentioning Vallejo during the 60's- early 80's one usually would have to mention Oakland, and Richmond.
Crank (meth) was A#1 in those days. Blue collar cocaine.
Anyways the rumor was that some of the more bold and brave, and some from a couple of the Sheriff's Dept. (Solano and Napa) decided it was time to put an end to a couple of the big cookers.
They burned them out.

It took some real committed men, and an incredible level of secrecy in order to not only pull it off but to keep the participants a secret all of these years.

There was a legal parallel activity going on at the time where an undercover DEA agent was targeted, and in fact survived an explosion that was set in his home or car (I cannot remember which one) and his story was made into a for T.V. movie.

Things can be done in a rural setting far easier than in the large city. However, it takes a certain mind set that perhaps some (including myself) can only access when it is far worse than it is today.
I guess for me, it would be if I were to run out of safe havens to move to (???)

I guess I'll at the time...