King County Sheriff under fire while city looks for answers to gun violence

While Seattle’s police chief answered new questions about
getting a handle on gun violence Wednesday, the King
County Sheriff came under fire for an upcoming campaign
event at a local gun range.

“What has to change in our our society is this belief that
when you’re out and carrying a gun it’s a good thing, is
an OK thing. That’s the thing that we’re trying to
change,” Chief John Diaz told the Seattle City Council at
a meeting to update leaders on efforts to curb the
onslaught of gun violence.

While city leaders were looking for concrete answers, Diaz
said it’s going to take a lot more than emphasis patrols
and new technology to help turn around the growing problem
that has seen assaults involving firearms climb 10 percent
in Seattle, with 22 murders in the city this year alone.

The hearing came on the same day the owner of Cafe Racer
announced
plans to reopen this week for the first time
since a massacre in the North Seattle coffee shop killed
four people.

While city officials continue pushing for new gun control
laws, gun control advocates are taking aim at King County
Sheriff Steve Strachan for planning an upcoming campaign
event at Wade’s Gunshop to “Shoot with the Sheriff.”

“I’m trying to figure out, why now? The timing doesn’t
seem quite right,” questioned Dan Byrne with Washington
Ceasefire.

In an interview with KING
5, Byrne argued the event is
insensitive to those hurt by gun crimes.

“I think in some ways it’s not sensitive to the victims,
that’s my first reaction,” Byrne said.

But Strachan defends the event and the timing.

“Timing can be difficult no matter when you hold any
event,” said Strachan. “But the fact is this is not about
firearms. It’s about an event where people are handling
firearms safely. They’re doing something that is not
illegal.”