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Gangs and their effects
Introduction to gangs
Gangs and their effects
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A gang is a gathering of cohorting people or close companions with indistinguishable initiative and inner association that captivate either exclusively or all things considered in vicious or different types of unlawful conduct. Despite the fact that packs exist globally, there is a more amazing number in study and proficient data of groups particularly in the United States. Gangs are usually in the larger cities and urban areas in the U.S., also in smaller towns and suburbs, while a lot of the branches of the original gang are present in prisons or jails. American gangs originated in New York in the 1900’s. The gangs competed with one another for various reasons such as during the prohibition era for control over illegal drinks; they’d often beat or even murder an opposing gang member for attempting to sell or distribute illegal liquor on their “turf”. This resulted in a “war” between the opposing gangs. Gang members usually recruit who they want to join the gang. After they’re jumped in – which means they’ll have to go one on one with each of the already proposed gang members and succeed, or have to prove their loyalty by committing acts such as theft or violence. The potential gang member has to show that they have what it takes. In certain gangs, those who avoid the initiation are among those you call “blessed in” meaning they have a family member in the gang. Joining is basically giving up your rights to being by yourself or having to keep things to yourself. Loyalty is a key when you’re in the process of joining a gang. A gang leader is the person you would have to check with regarding anything concerning the gang. Joining a gang is a long extensive process; you could get hurt and even killed while going through it. Being i... ... middle of paper ... ...y, we have Los Zetas, a Mexican originated gang. I know that most people believe that MS-13 is the most dangerous gang world-wide but from my deep research I came across very limited footage of crimes that Los Zetas committed, including the decapitation of victims on camera. The gang recruits ex-military members and is associated with drug smuggling, kidnapping and illegally syphoning oil from pipelines, but also for their habitual mass murders. They’re one of the most powerful drug cartels in the world. Starting 2012, Los Zetas has control in excess of 11 states in Mexico, making it the pill cartel with the biggest domain in the nation. Their sheer brutality and widespread criminality has managed to land them with the World’s Most Feared Gang title, and I’m pretty sure the leaders are very excited about that, because in the gang world “reputation is everything”.
Did you know gang's first started off as a way to help stop police brutality? Some gang members are “jumped in” or have to prove their loyalty by committing criminal acts. In the 1960s many gang organizations joined the Black Panthers. The Black Panthers wanted blacks to control businesses, education, employment, and the media in their area instead of having these businesses controlled by white people. They wanted to act as a community army so they can stop police brutality and racism. The leader of this important organization was Bunchy Carter. Street gangs had completely stopped as more black empowered organizations began to form in Los Angeles. After the Black Panthers disbanded that is when street gangs began to become popular because
Recognized as one of the most fearless and violent cartels in all of Mexico, Los Zetas was brought forth by a need for personal security in the Gulf Cartel. This former hit man/security style operation, active since 1997, has since grown into its own ruthless and violent organization becoming the second most powerful cartel and easily the most feared in all of Mexico. Heavily trained and armed, members of Los Zetas are set apart from other cartels because of the level of brutality they are willing to administer to those who cross them, though they had initially hoped that by being more intimidating they would have to fight less. It is their command of the drug market, their lack of fear in using violent tactics, and the sheer level of brutality used by their members that sets this cartel apart from all others. It is their disregard for human life and their ties to the United States drug markets that cause Los Zetas to pose a significant danger to border communities across the southern border of the U.S.
Gangs have been in existence since the beginning of the Roman Empire. There were speeches made by Roman orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero, which references groups of men who constantly fought and disrupted Roman politics (Curry, 2013). The history of street gangs in the United States begins with their emergence on the East Coast around 1783, as the American Revolution ended. Though many believe the best available evidence suggests that the more serious street gangs likely did not emerge until the early part of the nineteenth century (Sante, 1991). Although our country has had their share of feared gangs like in the 1980’s with the turf war between the Bloods and Crips, back in the 17th and 18th century the Mohocks of Georgian, England were one of the most feared gangs. What draws juveniles to the gang lifestyle? Many people will say that most gang members are children from impoverished communities, single family homes where there was no father present, or maybe there is a more psychological/sociological answer? By appearance and presence most gangs cause fear, crime, and disillusionment in the communities they occupy. Throughout history joining a gang has been perceived as a life without any reward, yet by joining this lifestyle many juveniles are able to gain the needed stability and security in their lives.
Our team presentation focused on three Latino gangs, MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha), the Mexican Mafia and the Los Surenos gang. My part of the presentation was to provide information on the type of crime these three gangs are known to commit. The crimes committed by the MS-13 gang are varied, violent, and take place all over the country. The FBI even put together a task force called the MS-13 National Gang Task Force in December of 2004 to try to put a stop to this gang’s activities. (www.fbi.gov). Los Surenos or Sur-13, originally based in Los Angeles, has also branched out from turf wars with rival gangs to “for profit”, violent crimes across the country. The Mexican Mafia has a similar story to tell as well in regards to gang crimes, which again range from respect crimes, and retaliatory violence to crimes for profit.
...such as this and the capture of the Zeta leader Miguel Treviño Morales in 2013 are surely some bright moments for the battle against the cartel. Although despite all the captures and the seizures the Zetas still maintain control over eleven Mexican states and continue their daily actions of violence and drug trafficking. The Zetas have become a formidable enemy, having grown from relatively humble origins to in 2012 being sanctioned by the States government as, along with the Russian Brothers Circle, the Japanese Yakuza, and the Italian Camorra as one of the most important transnational crime groups. Perhaps it will be impossible for the Mexican government to control the Zetas, and if the past fourteen years of the drug war have shown that may very well be the case, therefore the only option that may remain is to simply coexist with Los Zetas. in a new Pax Mafiosa.
Gangs are a group of boys and believe it or not girls too, that frequently get together to make all types of vandalism and actions that are not admitted by the law. Gangs have been part of the world for a very long time; they have also evolved through time. For example gangs in the 1960’s are not the same as the gangs we see today in our days. Many gangs were made before and after the 1960’s but the major gangs in this time were: The Crips, The Latin Kings, KKK, The Bloods which were enemies of The Crips, and the 18th Street Gang.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary (n.d.), a gang is defined as, “a group of criminals that work together.” Gangs are a powerful force that is a constant threat against society. As of 2011, the National Gang Center (n.d.) estimates there to be 782,500 gang members in the United States alone. Mara Salvatrucha 13, also known as MS-13, is one of the biggest and most threatening gangs. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) (n.d.) believes Mara Salvatrucha 13 to have an estimated 10,000 members in the United States and several thousand other members in Central America. Joining a gang is justified by the need for protection, money, and promoting a self image. Joining an established gang, such as Mara Salvatrucha 13, results in a lifestyle change including a harmful induction, following a strict code, carrying out assignments, and a lifetime of loyalty.
The Bloods, the Crips, the Latin Kings, the snakeheads, MS-13, are only a few examples of the many gangs that exist in the United States. A gang is characterized as a group of at least three individuals who share common interests such as a specific territory, and frequently participate in criminal behavior. The term gang is broad because it groups together street gangs, motorcycle gangs, prison gangs, and other large organized groups that commit crimes.
Across the United States and Europe, suburban gangs are growing as never before, estimations that in a typical inner city American community of 50,000 or more, there are 200 to 500 gang members. Some even larger organization called super gangs, which have more than 1,000 members spread over several states, have been known to operate in small town America. You cant say that any community is insulated from this activity," There's no restriction on where gang members can live. Gang members living in the suburbs share traits with recruits in the cities, and many of those factors have been exacerbated by tough economic times, The list of factors include divorce, separation, physical abuse, sexual abuse and having a parent with
Gangs have been around forever and there are two types of gangs which are, street gangs and prison gangs. They have the same structures that are divided as leadership and soldiers. The main difference between a street gang and prison gang is that a prison gangs are more disciplined than a street gang. Incarcerated members cannot escape their environment and therefore, are forced to comply with the facilities and gangs regulation. Gangs are always involved with criminal activity and it's difficult to control negative behavior and to lower recidivism rates for gang members.
The differences between a club and a gang, are quite distinct, but it is the connotational differences between these two words which distinguishes one from the other. The New Lexicon Webster's Dictionary of the English Language defines a club as; "...an association of people with some common interest who meet periodically..." It defines a gang as "...a number of men or boys banding together, esp. lawlessly..." This definition is traditionally slanted toward applying to male youth, and stereotypical gangsters, from the Mafia to street criminals. Persons who often have a negative attitude toward youth see gangs. Often individuals form gangs out of fear and for the protection of their members whether they are the Bloods and Crips of Los Angeles or the Sharks and the Jets of "West Side Story." Gangs may not possess a set of formal written rules, but all of them have their own sets of customs or conditions. Gangs may or may not be facilitated in a branch of higher and lower members, mimicking a military model. Gangs often have a loosely defined set of goals, and are often involved in delinquent activities.
Furthermore, there is usually an initiation into a gang that is a ritual ceremony. They do this to see if you have what it takes to join a gang. Some
...asons are for protection, for profit, to gain a family or friends, to join family or friends already associated with the gang, to gain means for something, or for retribution and power. A gang creates relationships or a feeling of family, and most important a new social bond filled with ties of attachment, commitment, beliefs, and involvement (Siegel 2012). It gives individuals, especially the younger ones, a hope for the future, a family dynamic, a form of means and income, and a place to create ties and bonds. Especially if their ties to conventional society are weak because they are not involved, they do not have many commitments in school or work, or they are not attached to his or her family or friends. Humans are social creatures, and this type of group allows humans to interact with people who have similar lifestyles, beliefs, values, needs, and experiences.
A gang is a group of people who interact among themselves. Teen violence is contributed to these gangs. Most gangs claim neighborhoods as their territory and try to control everything inside that territory. This kind of antisocial behavior is a major problem in American Society.
What is brotherhood? How does it apply to those involved? Why does it exist? Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines brotherhood as “an association for a particular purpose.” To gang members, young and old, brotherhood is an escape from society’s constant pressure to fit in, to succeed, to conform to social norms. It is within a brotherhood that gang members find peace and comfort. Brotherhood is a way of life; it is the very essence that allows a gang to thrive in the metropolis of violence.