UW students form armed 'vigilante' patrols
SEATTLE -- Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Stan Luong has been robbed four times, even pistol-whipped during one incident.
"I have stitches right here, a scar right there," Luong said of his past injuries.
The attacks prompted the University of Washington senior to obtain a concealed weapon license. Luong now takes his gun just about everywhere, including the Ave.
And Luong's not alone. He and other students have also organized armed patrols around the neighborhood.
Of course, not everyone agrees with the tactic.
"I think that's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard of," says UW student Meagan Heier.
Nevertheless, many other students think Luong is doing the right thing.
Students say the University District can be unsafe. There have been 10 assaults and robberies in the past two months, according to campus police records.
"(We are) getting emails every week with new burglaries or robberies or muggings happening around," said UW junior Steven Mataya.
Luong reached out to other students through Facebook to form the University District Defenders -- a vigilante group, according to Luong.
"I've been getting some fan mail recently, and a lot of people are like, 'Hey, I also carry on campus,'" he said.
Washington state prohibits guns at school in all circumstances. But Luong says he knows students with weapons permits who bring firearms to class, and thinks the ban should be amended.
But not all agree. Some students believe guns at school can only lead to trouble.
"It could escalate to something drastic," said Heier.
UW police said they realize many students are worried about their safety, but officers don't think more guns are the answer.
Luong says he's learned it's up to him to protect himself, and trains regularly to be ready in case of emergency.
"You just have to know when to pull it out and when not to," he said.
Campus police said any permit holder caught at school with a gun will be asked to leave. A refusal to leave will lead to an arrest for criminal trespass.
Stan Luong has been robbed four times, even pistol-whipped during one incident.
"I have stitches right here, a scar right there," Luong said of his past injuries.
The attacks prompted the University of Washington senior to obtain a concealed weapon license. Luong now takes his gun just about everywhere, including the Ave.
And Luong's not alone. He and other students have also organized armed patrols around the neighborhood.
Of course, not everyone agrees with the tactic.
"I think that's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard of," says UW student Meagan Heier.
Nevertheless, many other students think Luong is doing the right thing.
Students say the University District can be unsafe. There have been 10 assaults and robberies in the past two months, according to campus police records.
"(We are) getting emails every week with new burglaries or robberies or muggings happening around," said UW junior Steven Mataya.
Luong reached out to other students through Facebook to form the University District Defenders -- a vigilante group, according to Luong.
"I've been getting some fan mail recently, and a lot of people are like, 'Hey, I also carry on campus,'" he said.
Washington state prohibits guns at school in all circumstances. But Luong says he knows students with weapons permits who bring firearms to class, and thinks the ban should be amended.
But not all agree. Some students believe guns at school can only lead to trouble.
"It could escalate to something drastic," said Heier.
UW police said they realize many students are worried about their safety, but officers don't think more guns are the answer.
Luong says he's learned it's up to him to protect himself, and trains regularly to be ready in case of emergency.
"You just have to know when to pull it out and when not to," he said.
Campus police said any permit holder caught at school with a gun will be asked to leave. A refusal to leave will lead to an arrest for criminal trespass.