Questions about street gangs.

Apr

8 Questions answered about street gang members

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This from Bro Mike

BASIC 8 QUESTIONS ON Modern Street Gang MEMBERSHIP & GANG ACTIVITY

The following questions were asked by a HS Student working on a paper on gang activity.
I was interviewed by the student for his research project.

1. Who or What influences teen gang violence?

A) Let’s take this from the top…gangs of today are Modern Street Gangs. MSGs are established as criminal enterprises. MSGs started in full force after 9/11. They are not ‘set up’ to protect their turf or ‘help’ their hood. They are set up to steal, kill, and destroy PERIOD. MSGs are the new incarnation of gang activity, which has wiped away many of the old gang models many have come to rely upon. Gang membership is also heavily influenced by; 1) a desire to be cool and with it; 2) peer pressure, and; 3) sometimes spur-of-the-moment criminal activity by juveniles. Gang membership is also influenced by the entertainment and sports media, the hip-hop/rap culture, as well as the music industry.

2. What is the age that a teen gets interested in a gang.

A) Depends upon the type of gang they may be interested in. Kids as young as 7 have been involved in gang activity around the world. Boys as well as girls. Evil does not decrease with age and neither does the ability to sin. God is NOT mocked; whatsoever a man soweth (does) will usually come back to him (or her, as there is a rise in girl gangs).

3. Where did teen gang violence start?

A) Started in the Garden of Eden with the first murder by Cain of his brother Abel. Read the Bible. Those without Jesus Christ or a consistent family presence or an affirming positive adult in their lives will reap the negative. Broadly, gang activity comes and goes in waves. Every few years, new gangs come on line to replace the old gangs going off line due to death, prison, jail, juvie, or walkaways.

4. What is the average age of teens in gangs?

A) Hard to say. Gang activity exists for both boys and girls. There is no ‘set’ age. Long ago, gangs started with kids as young as seven or eight. The ‘little’ gangsters grew up to be big gangsters. Check out the bios of Al Capone, Bugsy Segal or Lucky Luciano.

5. Why do teens get into gangs?

A) In my view, because they are rebellious and want to ‘stretch’ their wings, so to speak. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Sin is real, and God’s laws are not meant for man to mock. Many gang members have turned their back on faith in Jesus Christ and family, and are too prideful to admit that they are wrong. That’s why many of them get really hurt badly and lose a lot when they come to themselves (as the Prodigal Son did) and take a GOOD hard look at their choices and want to come back to the right side of the street. There are four basic reasons as to ‘why’ kids and teens get involved; thrills, money, power, covetousness. Bonus: What will get gang members OUT of gang activity? Jesus Christ, strong home situation, strong desire of youth to value themselves above criminal activity, and application of common sense to apply use of
talents, skills and abilities to become tax providers rather than tax stealers.

6. How often do teens get killed because of gang activity?

A) According to one private sector think tank study, a kid in a gang has a twenty five percent INCREASE in their ability to get killed. That’s in the broad sense. If one continues to get involved in risky activity, the likelihood of serious harm or death is a reality. Gang membership kills not only the body; the time in prison kills education opportunities, employment opportunities, etc. Few people will take a risk on teens who have spent a lot of their lives involved in criminal acts, especially when they have had chance after chance to ‘do things the right way’ like stay in school.

7. What is the average amount of teens who gets killed in gangs?

A) Also hard to say. Depends upon the location of the gang, the items of criminal activity involved, and the number of enemies the gang has.

8. Usually what is the teens home life like?

A) You’d be surprised. I have found that there are MORE bangers coming from the suburbs and rural areas. Gang membership cuts a broad swath; more kids are coming from affluent homes and good schools. They ‘see’ something on MTV or History Channel, or Youtube and think they can emulate it and copy it for their own without consequences. In the end analysis, one cannot be involved with criminal activity at ANY level and get out unscathed.

Bottom line? Gang activity is NOTHING worth entering…but will cost you a LOT of grief the longer you remain in it!