Does Seattle have a gang issue?

[shaylahc]

Not unless you count "gangs" of homeless people...

[RotseCherut]

Tacoma has more gangs.. There is a lot of crime in Tacoma, but people generally do not perceive the actual danger. Most of the gangbangers in Tacoma are low-key and operate in their own neighborhoods.

[Trunner]

There is gangs but its not like in other big cities. They don't commit as much crime. And if you keep to yourself you will be fine. If you don't even know about gangs chances are you don't live in a gang neighborhood. If you did you would be aware.

[RotseCherut]

You probably have more of a chance of being murdered by one of the wackos in downtown than by a gang.. Gangs more or less perform targeted killings against their rivals. As funny as it may sound, but I think most street gangs have become more professional over the years. They have realized that shooting innocent bystanders has caused them more grief and now they have taken it upon themselves to keep out of the public eye and keep their beef within their own circles.

[BellevueNative]

The tagging is what annoys me most about gangs in the area. They constantly vandalize personal property to mark "their" turf. I always felt so bad for the people who live in the houses on 145th at the Shoreline/Lake City border - their fences were always getting tagged, no matter how many times they painted over it.

[Scotty Dosent Know]

OP, here is a list of King County gangs, enjoy! lol

King County Gangs -


I wouldn't say we have a gang "problem", but they do exist. Just because we have gangs does not mean the streets are going to look like a scene out of the movie Boys N the Hood. Literally any group of undesirables who hang out together and give themselves a name can, by definition, be a gang. They dont necessarily have to be out shooting up neighborhoods.

[Bimmerfanboy]

Well I assume that every major city in America has gang problems, but Seattle is by far one of the safest cities I've ever seen. I used to live in the Detroit and Chicago area. The cities had tons of crime and gang activity. The same goes for NY, Philly, D.C., Baltimore, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, LA, Oakland, etc.

People say the worst part of the region is the South Seattle/White Center area. This region is not even comparable to Detroit's east side of south side Chicago, places I would not even enter without an armored car and gun of my own. I can drive through south Seattle without much fear at all.

[Scotty Dosent Know]

I agree with that, South Seattle is the worst as far as crime/gangs/drugs. Still though it is not as bad as a lot of other major cities.

I have spent some time in Savannah, GA and would gladly wander around South Seattle at night before I went any where near West Savannah.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Scotty Dosent Know

OP, here is a list of King County gangs, enjoy! lol

King County Gangs -

I wouldn't say we have a gang "problem", but they do exist. Just because we have gangs does not mean the streets are going to look like a scene out of the movie Boys N the Hood. Literally any group of undesirables who hang out together and give themselves a name can, by definition, be a gang. They dont necessarily have to be out shooting up neighborhoods.

It was interesting for me to see this list of "125 Seattle Gangs with thousands of members," because that's about the same count we had 20 years ago when I was working to reduce gang violence in Seattle. I even recognize some of the names. And that's why the police have a gang unit, even if it seems like there's not much problem from gangs at the moment. I'd say that's a good sign that the police gang unit is getting the job done.

We had a lot of shootings back then, and kids getting killed. I'm glad to hear the peace we worked so hard for seems to be holding.