Firearms Lawyer

The City of Yakima has been experiencing an upsurge of gang related shootings.  The Yakima City Council has called a special meeting for 1 p.m. Friday to discuss how to deal with a recent flare-up in gang violence.  Many of the gang related shootings have put innocent victims in the line of fire resulting in several injuries.  Police officers responded to a report of gunshots early Sunday- the fourth reported gang shooting in 72 hours! 

Federal Way also experienced a gang related homicide recently.  A man was shot in front of a convenience store.

Some authorities refer to the shootings in Yakima as a “state of emergency” for the city.  Police Chief Sam Granato said gang members are becoming more aggressive in opening fire on one another.  Eighteen people have been shot in Yakima since early May.  One shooting occurred on August 2nd. 

Police say they found 23 shell casings in the roadway.  Officers also responded to the area near Domino’s Pizza at Sixth and Union streets in reference to a 28 year-old male who had what appeared to be “a bullet hole in the back of his neck.”  The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.  The shooting appears to be gang-related as the the shooters asked the victim if he was a gang member before they began shooting, police said.  Apparently the victim in Federal Way was asked the dame thing before he was shot dead.

Many folks in Yakima are concerned that these problems could inadvertently result in harassment of citizens that legally wear weapons for protection against predatory criminals in and around Yakima, an area known for cartel activities and drugs.  Gun activists and other concerned citizens have been contacting the city council and other city officials to ask questions.  The answers to many of their questions have not been forthcoming.  Sometimes it almost seems like certain politicians regard the taxpayers as more threatening than some of the worst thugs on the streets.  Ironically, many of the taxpayers feel that way toward elected officials.

Most law enforcement officers that we have talked to in Yakima, Federal Way and even places like Seattle and Tacoma are very comfortable with armed citizens that follow the rules.  The trouble is that many LEOs are reluctant to publically tell the politicians what most LEOs know, that honest citizens that wear guns are a deterrent to criminals and make law enforcement easier!  We will continue observing Yakima and reporting new developments.  Our goal is to inform the politicians that have not already gotten the message- the voters are fed up with violence in the streets and want our leaders to take a stand. 

Yakima does not need city council members attending more meetings to identify the problem.  The message from Yakima residents seems to be, “Let law enforcement do its job and start taking action to get the gang members off the streets.”

While many citizens understand the message we are articulating, I just found out that the King County Prosecutor’s Office discourages its attorneys from obtaining concealed carry licenses.  While many judges and attorneys do carry concealed pistols, the threat of retaliatory violence against judges and prosecutors (and journalists) is likely to increase as cartel violence near the Southern U.S. border increases.  Prosecutors should be demanding that the King County Prosecutor’s Office change its internal anti-gun policy and prepare to confront the violence that is moving North.

The Mexican cartel leaders have already announced their unequivocal intention of spreading their brand of violence against law enforcement across the border.