Gang Violence in America 2
I’ve long wondered what drove people to join gangs and do harm to others.
For part one of this series, please head here.
I could never find an answer that was a real reason for people (mostly youth) to act out in such a way. Before, I thought that rap music might have been the problem. Then I thought that the answer was the presence of drugs and other mind-altering fads. My first article on the topic, gang violence in America, was a hit. To this day it has gotten nearly five thousand views. So I thought that now, nearly a year later, I’d try again.
I live in a bad neighborhood. And I see gang bangers very often, Everyday to be exact. But more recently I’ve been seeing more and more of them walking the streets. The past few weeks the violence in my neighborhood has skyrocketed. There have been cops everywhere, and more and more good people are staying inside. We’re being kept indoors by people who shouldn’t be frightening us. But it happens anyway.
My town, Las Vegas, Nevada, has almost as many gangs as California now. And it’s getting worse. I can’t imagine what living there would be like for someone like myself. But my question is this; why are so many people joining gangs? I’ve thought log and hard about this. I’ve done my reading, and I’ve seen first hand what they can do. And I’ve thought of the real answer…fear.
They are ones that are truly afraid. They only go out in large, very large groups. And they always have weapons with them. About a year ago me and my older brother were coming back from the store across the street and we were mugged at knife point. And I know that they wouldn’t have started stuff if they we unarmed.
So I know now that it’s fear that drives them. I really believe that they are more afraid of us then we will ever be of them. If not, then why do they only fight when they have so many numbers? I see it on the news all the time. Someone gets jumped my five gang bangers and ends up at the hospital. They’re cowards. And that’s what I believe makes then join gangs.
On another note, I really doubt that gang violence will ever die down. This is a problem that is killing our youth. They don’t need guns to kill each other. They manage with knifes, bats, rocks, and anything you could hurt someone with. The only good thing about them having weapons, they also kill each other. I wish I could put every banger in America in a room and have them all kill each other. Then lock up the last man standing. But you would have to put a lot of rap CDs and car rims along the sidewalk to get them to go in.
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User Comments
bob
On June 9, 2008 at 8:40 am
this sucked………….
amy
On July 4, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Im in 2nd year university in Australia and im doing a thesis on the increasing gun violence in relation to the increasing gang violence in america and i found your article really helpful.
i never thought about the factor of fear before.
sweet as.
B^LAcK RAG B^LOOD
On July 31, 2008 at 4:08 pm
REAL MATURE
Starnichey
On October 27, 2008 at 6:41 am
I really didn’t like this article very much.
I mean i learned one thing though, that a lot of kids join gangs because of fear. But ur first article was so much better. And I really hope that u find a better place to live if u haven’t done so already. Gang violence kills innocent people all the time.
Jasmine
On January 7, 2009 at 10:11 am
I honestly don’t think it’s right 4 some1 2 say disz article sucked cause if u were in a dangerous situation u would prolly wish u would have taken it into consideration. I think it was a very good article.
jenny
On January 27, 2009 at 8:12 pm
all ima sayy is ; yu dnt know shytt.
obviously yu dnt know any REAL qanqstas.
blu
On March 9, 2009 at 12:42 pm
i see some of the comments about the article and the ones who think it suck 9 times out of 10 are in a gang and the sad thing is they are scared and afraid. if it’s so right why cover your face with bandana’s and go places in packs. i bet if you took a non gangbanger and one gangbanger the gangbanger would lose. that’s fact. so those of you who thought it was stupid, get a clue. grow up. and i have one last question since they be throwing up gang signs they obviously can learn sign language fast so why dont they use those talents to help the deaf and the art work put it to good use make legal money and get off the streets.
mariela
On March 25, 2009 at 9:57 am
this article is realy great and the people that says it suck you rely must not know about gangs and what there up too right know i am doing and article about gangs and i think this article is realy great and it help me on my reshearch and i liearned alot of this article
ya momz
On May 5, 2009 at 10:43 am
whoevea wrote this is really stupid
done it all
On May 18, 2009 at 10:29 am
u know what eveyone else know but u have to hit the streets to know the truth
juicy90
On October 18, 2009 at 10:53 pm
i would like to say that what yur saying is not true, Not at all. I dont think you kno the first thing about gang bangers. if you did you would never think about writting this. Most kids join gangs for protection. They need people to care about them. & where yu stay at must be ful of fakes because running alone or by yourself a gang banger is a gang banger, and will do what they please regardless! so before all of you talk and judge these kids try to understand them, its nott as simple as it looks. the only reason these kids join is because of people like you. judging there lifes b4 yu get to know anything. and that aint coo!! not to be rude, but yu was not right what so ever!!!
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