Los Banos, CA Violence

[Ripon83]

A friend of mine from Los Banos corresponded with me this morning. I guess they had two shootings there over the weekend and the tally is now 14 for the year. To those in big cities, Los Banos is not a big city, and its in the middle of the country side by itself in central, CA. I'm not from there, just empathizing with my friend, and looking for thoughts.

The rash of violence in the community is largely gang related though a biker group was apparently part of the last two shootings. I guess that is gang related as well. There is little doubt that people will be "calling" for action from the City and maybe the County. I hope they don't call out for gun control (my friend thinks they might) as a solution. We brain stormed and had few answers.

One thought I had was to affirm open carry in town so that people can protect themselves, and by that I mean take the gloves off and allow open carry of loaded weapons. If the community is thinking "gun control" then I doubt they are thinking gun proliferation. Just a thought, and would welcome some ideas?

[Sub95]

Authorities say two men have been killed after a fight near a nightclub in Los Banos.

looking at there 2010 crime report and only having less then 36k people, not good at all.

[erik_26]

I used to live there. I always disliked that town. It really attracted undesirable people as the house prices have plummeted.

All the gangsters from Salinas and San Jose moved there because it was cheaper to live and yet within driving distance of their old turf.

When I first moved there, it was very much a farm community. In a matter of 6 years in turned into a slum. I am so glad we moved out of there.

[Backcountry]

This is mostly due to illegals and problems with south of the border gangs.

[Untamed1972]

What do expect from a city that when translated means "The Toilets"? LOL

[monk]

This is mostly due to illegals and problems with south of the border gangs.

Can you show proof to back this up or is this your perception?

[Ripon83]

Los Banos was largely a migrant labor community in the past decade. Correct me if I'm wrong, I did not ask my friend, but the decision by politicians to curb water supplies to central valley farm interests south and west of Los Banos really hurt the community and farm industry. My friend said the city was down to 10,000 in population and was once more than 25,000. Many of those left were farm workers.

Someone posted a lot of people from Salinas and Fresno have moved in - I was not told that - so don't know if its true or not - it is feasible. Most of the violence he did tell me was "gang" related but if these are south of the border gangs it seems odd they'd be operating in Los Banos - 400 miles North of the border.

[gh0stface]

Thanks for posting the information, OP. I'll be extra careful when I gas up and eat at Split Pea Anderson's, in Los Banos. The communities around that area have become commuter towns. I don't about the bay area gangs moving there, but I would say it's quite possible. I don't think migrant workers are the problem.

[ldivinag]

hopy carp... i was just there last week for an interview (dos palos to be exact...)

[Never Convicted]

This is mostly due to illegals and problems with south of the border gangs.

Source ?

[paulo57509]

I think there are gangs in most, if not all Central Valley towns large and small.

BTW, Anderson's is in Santa Nella, not Los Banos. When you're at Anderson's, don't forget to pick up a tub of their cheddar cheese.

[Moto4Fun]

Most of the violence he did tell me was "gang" related but if these are south of the border gangs it seems odd they'd be operating in Los Banos - 400 miles North of the border.

I believe there are "south of the border" gangs operating much further north than Los Banos due to the drug trade. It would not be inconceivable. The location on HWY 5 might be advantageous for trafficing.

[Ripon83]

I guess that is true about the gangs from Mexico, I don't follow that much. Los Banos isn't on Highway 5 though or 99; its kind of in between on a less traveled highway going between the two. I dont' go there much, haven't been there in years, but just have a friend who's really bugged. Hoping maybe an idea might come out that he can mention when he goes to the community meetings on the topic.

[RudyN]

Los Banos is less than 20 minutes east of Highway 5. My next door neighbors live in Los Banos and they wish they had never moved there from San Jose as the gang problem is bad.

[m98]

My coworkers live in los banos and he and his wife says the mexican gangs there is bad. So bad that his hk is located near the door and if he has a knock on the door at night the hk will come out.