Have you been affected by crime? If not, think again. Taxes to house prisoners in prisons and jails is very expensive. What is it like to be have a cell for a home? I worked as a jail Nurse and personally no one would want to live in one if they knew the facts. There are more HIV cases in the incarcerated population, so inmates run the risk of contracting this deadly virus which causes so much suffering.  A cell is like living in an open bathroom with bars for anyone to see what you do all the time. There is no privacy and no freedoms. The food is given to you and you eat it or not. You have no menu choices. There is much time alone to think and how many in prisons learn to reflect on what they did to be there? More often than not the blame game is played instead of accepting responsibility for placing themselves there.

Gang violence is on the rise again in america and it can be found in all states and cities, large and small. Denial of problems do not make them go away. Education and groups of persons who work towards a workable solution do.  Ages of gang members range from six to sixty.  To join, new members are asked to do the groups dirty work such as stealing your car, robbery or murder of an innocent person. There are drive by shootings and walk by shootings, spray paint and signs on property owners buildings and such. Gang members wear colors and have a soldier mentality where they guard territories that do not belong to them.  They disrespect parents, family and authority figures. Does any of this make sense? Police are called to scenes where assaults and worse happen, yet no one tells them the truth from fear of retalition.

I once was told by a wise person that there are two kinds of people on this earth. Those who build and those who destroy so I ask you to look inside of self and see what kind you are.

Mothers risk their life to place each child on this earth, so most parents desire a child to become a great person. How sad to see a son or daughter behind bars and many for the rest of their lives for the choices they made.

There are many reasons persons choose to join a gang. They may or may not understand their parents could likely receive a call from the local morgue, hospital or police department.

Denial or pretending there is no problem will not make it go away. Learn the facts and start a local group of Mothers Against Gang Violence. Join a neighborhood watch program. If your family member has friends you do not know or know about, find out about them. If your child wears colors of gangs and sometimes these are more than two, know this is one sign something is wrong. Tattoos and jewelry also represent gang affiliation.

May I suggest reading the book called Monster? It is by a former gang member who received a life sentence for murder and he earned an education while in prison. After this he wrote this short book explaining about gangs and it is a good book.

Mentors are adults who help children develop their talents. There are programs who help young persons stay out of trouble or go down the wrong path in life. They may have undiscovered talent in the arts, math, sports or with animals.

Drugs and alcohol are usually involved and so is ignorance about them. Some street drugs impair the judgement centers of the brain and cause so much brain damage, the brain will never be able to repair itself. One twenty year old had the brain of a seventy year old from using street drugs.

Research the facts and cooperate with local law enforcement for they have the largest best gang in the Nation and is is not the kind that needs too much change.

Mothers, remember, the life you gave may become the life you save.