McMinnville crime? (Portland, Gresham, Bend: living in, price, law)

[Alice Springs]

Hello, I'm in the midst of exploring Northwest relocations, coming from upstate New York. I've driven all over your amazing state and visited Bend (which I loved, but am concerned about the imploding economy), Astoria (great, but just too grey for too long), Ashland (I felt like an uncool dweeb; just too precious), among others.

Now I'm research Mac and love what I'm reading (I'm in the arts field -- gallery management), but I'm pretty disturbed by the crime statistics. The local newspaper's blog, for one, talks about a lot of gang activity in this small community. Any thoughts on this -- whether reassurances or warnings -- from people who live in McMinnville would be greatly appreciated.

[bigdddydaug]

Yeah your probably seeing the result of all the meth heads activity.Usually mac is gruoped in greater yamhill county.which includes sheridan ,willamina.yamhill.etc.Mac has walmart safeway albertsons willamette vally medical center,so people come frome up to 50 miles away to shop ,get medical care.So alot of crime is usually by people who dont even really live in mac.and with the traffic thu the center of town(hwy99w) makes it sometimes feel like a suburb of portland.sothere ya go.

[Alice Springs]

Thanks for replying. It seems no one else dares. What's that they say: sometimes no answer is an answer. Crime must be pretty bad or else the staunch defenders of all things McMinnville would have rallied to the cause.

[sarahkate_m]

I think it's just slow on the boards right now. Give it a few more days.

This thread has a nice review by the OP: http://www.city-data.com/forum/orego...minnville.html

This page answers your question about crime:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/orego...now-whats.html

Kate

[sarahkate_m]

there are good threads here at city data... to fill you in... try the search box.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/gener...lace-live.html

the poster to look for on that thread is davefr.

relax & look around the forums: answers abound!

[Alice Springs]

Thanks so very much, Kate, for your great links. In one, a poster wrote prophetically, and even poetically, that what we're all looking for is a version of mid-20th century America that no longer exists, and the few places that come closest to it are overpriced (and thus inaccessible, I might add). Like so many, I'm trying to be hyper-diligent in researching likely relocation spots. I've lived in many and varied cities and I know only too well the power of place in my life.

Again, thank you for your reply and good advice to "relax!"

[DreamWeavin]

I don't live there but do go there; though less now than before. I live in Newberg and would go to McMinville to the Walmart when I first moved here and before I found the Super Walmart in Woodburn.
I just don't like the feel of McMinville. It lacks the charm I like and find in Newberg. I know nothing about the crime so can't comment on that. It's just not my kind of town.

[emh]

I've always felt completely safe in McMinville. Haven't ventured much beyond the downtown though.

[Sign]

Alice......

I've mainly heard that what crime there is in McMinnville is mostly just punk kids in "wannabe gangs" more than anything. Most of the "real" gang activity is in the NE Portland / Gresham area.
Yeah there's drugs (meth) in and around McMinnville, but this is true in virtually every community in Oregon......or almost.
I just don't think it's so epidemic as it was but sadly, it's still around.
Overall, McMinnville is probably a pretty safe community but theft would be your biggest concern so ALWAYS.....lock everything up and be aware of your surroundings. It does seem that Oregon in general, has high rates of property theft (burglary, car stereo's, anything of value).....or at least in a lot of communities.
If it really worries you......just exercise your 2nd Amendment RIGHT and your safe for sure. Concealed weapon permits do exist and a LOT of folks have such a permit, but I don't know if Oregon has a "Make My Day Law" like some places do.
BTW......Astoria / Seaside IS....or was, far worse for epidemic drug usage as is Kelso / Longview, Washington.
Towns to AVOID living in, IMHO!
McMinnville's OK.
Good luck to you.

[sarahkate_m]

Originally Posted by Sign

I don't know if Oregon has a "Make My Day Law" like some places do.

I've never heard of that. My understanding is that you can only defend your life with a gun, not your property.

I'm looking into this, reading: Castle Doctrine in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I had no idea this was so complicated! I thank you for bring this up!

Oregon. (ORS 161.209-229. Use of force justifiable in a range of scenarios without a duty to retreat specified. Oregon Supreme Court affirmed in State of Oregon v. Sandoval that the law "sets out a specific set of circumstances that justify a person's use of deadly force (that the person reasonably believes that another person is using or about to use deadly force against him or her) and does not interpose any additional requirement (including a requirement that there be no means of escape).")

Back on topic, in case the mod police are on my tail: the boards are warm again! You're getting responses It sounds like McMinnville is an awesome place to live!