Gangs

Gangs

I was watching the show called Gangland today and that sparked my curiosity about gangs. I did some hours of research about gangs, how they start, what types of symbols they sport, what the initiations to get in and out of gangs, what local gangs we have in Missouri, and how to prevent your child from being in a gang.


Gangs have been around for a very long time. Original gangs however, were formed to protect themselves and their neighborhood. Somehow throughout the years it evolved into mass numbers of people joining gangs for money, drugs, trafficking, pimping, illegal gambling, basically gangs form to create a fast money flow for themselves. Gangs create fear of the community by terrorizing innocent bystanders such as random acts of violence like stabbing, drive-by's, or just picking fights on the streets or at schools.


The leader of the gang is the most powerful, and decides how much crime the gang members will do, how much money flow he wants, he runs the gang. The "hardcore" gang members are the older people in the gang that have seen the most action and can create the most violent gang activity. An "associate" gang member is one that looks up to the hard core gang members, and wants to achieve the hard core status.  The "fridge" gang member is a drifter, that can't seem to commit to the gang. Finally the "wanna-be's" are just kids who aren't really in a gang, but they think gangs are cool and try to mock them.

Gangs will die off if they don't recruit more members. Members will go anywhere to find new, young, people to recruit. Places like schools, sidewalks, malls, stores, parties, ect. Why would anyone want to join a gang?? And why prey on kids and youth to join? There are many different techniques gangs use to build membership. The first way is by seduction. Gang members are known for dressing in a distinctive attire. They wear certain colors, or throw up gang signs, even have gang tattoos, they have money, drugs, girls, and to some kids or youth who have little or no guidance from parents, all of the material things a gang member offers looks appealing.  At parties with youth who drink and get high and want to have the world ,but want it fast and easy, they look to gangs to fulfill the emptiness or thrill they seek in their life. Another tactic used by gangs to recruit new members is call "subterfudge". It basically means that gangs will paint a pretty picture as to what gang-life is like. Some will call it a club or just friends hanging out. Cohersion is a way gangs say "you join the gang or there will be consequences". If someone refuses the offer to join the gang they will beat them, maybe kill them, and their familys.Some people self recruit theirselves because they want to feel protected by enimes or other reasons.

Most importantly we can protect our children by gang prevention. Three ways you can almost assure your child won't join a gang are by stressing manners, making them join a club at school, being involved academically, and just good ole strong parenting.

http://www.gangsorus.com/gang_history.html
http://ln1.lincolnnet.net/users/lrttrapp/http/block/gangs101.htm