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http://www.king5.com/news/local/Burien-residents-post-controversial-gun-signs-95165019.html
BURIEN, Wash. - Fed up with burglars in their neighborhood, Burien residents decide to get creative. They posted signs throughout their neighborhood warning people to get out their guns.
It's happening in south Burien, near SW 160th Street and 12th Avenue SW. Pass through this part of town andyou'll see posted neon colored signs, warning residents of burglars.
"We were seeing an increase in breakins and we wanted to make sure people were aware of what's happening," says John Lee.
Stacie Lee came up with the phrase for the sign "Get out your guns if you see any suspicious activity." She even wrote it in Spanish.
"I don't want to run into somebody walking into our backdoor and that scares me,"shesays.
It was meant to send a strong message to neighbors, andto the burglars too: Some homeowners who have guns are prepared to use them.
"If I'm in my home with my wife and my dogs,I will protect my wife and my family," says John Lee.
The King County Sheriff's Office says if the signs scare off burglars,great. But deputies issuea reminder.
"You really have to know what you're doing. You have to know the self-defense laws in the state of Washington, what you can do, what you can't do, and we certainly don't want anyone with a vigilante attitude out there," saysSgt. John Urquhart.
Sandra Ekland's home was burglarized, and so were two of her neighbors'.
"It was very violating to know some strange person has been through your house and rummaged through your stuff," she says.
What does she think of the signs?
"I say whatever it takes," says Ekland.
The Lees have posted 50 signs so far. Some neighbors asked them to post more. Some kindly asked to leave out the part about the guns.
TheKing County Sheriff's Office says they're taking new steps to stop the burglaries, but declined to say what those were.
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Burien-residents-post-controversial-gun-signs-95165019.html
BURIEN, Wash. - Fed up with burglars in their neighborhood, Burien residents decide to get creative. They posted signs throughout their neighborhood warning people to get out their guns.
It's happening in south Burien, near SW 160th Street and 12th Avenue SW. Pass through this part of town andyou'll see posted neon colored signs, warning residents of burglars.
"We were seeing an increase in breakins and we wanted to make sure people were aware of what's happening," says John Lee.
Stacie Lee came up with the phrase for the sign "Get out your guns if you see any suspicious activity." She even wrote it in Spanish.
"I don't want to run into somebody walking into our backdoor and that scares me,"shesays.
It was meant to send a strong message to neighbors, andto the burglars too: Some homeowners who have guns are prepared to use them.
"If I'm in my home with my wife and my dogs,I will protect my wife and my family," says John Lee.
The King County Sheriff's Office says if the signs scare off burglars,great. But deputies issuea reminder.
"You really have to know what you're doing. You have to know the self-defense laws in the state of Washington, what you can do, what you can't do, and we certainly don't want anyone with a vigilante attitude out there," saysSgt. John Urquhart.
Sandra Ekland's home was burglarized, and so were two of her neighbors'.
"It was very violating to know some strange person has been through your house and rummaged through your stuff," she says.
What does she think of the signs?
"I say whatever it takes," says Ekland.
The Lees have posted 50 signs so far. Some neighbors asked them to post more. Some kindly asked to leave out the part about the guns.
TheKing County Sheriff's Office says they're taking new steps to stop the burglaries, but declined to say what those were.
