By, Chris Frieberg

    "Gangs are people in a group that are put together for a common purpose, usually crime." (The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2006) Lives of many innocent people are ended by violent gangs. Because America is not able to control every aspect of life in it’s own country, gangs have been rising in the past century. However, this is happening not only in the United States but also in countries overseas and bordering America. Each day that passes, gangs become more dangerous and increase terror throughout America. If our government isn’t able to control these gangs, then who will? Will they ever cease? Gangs in America corrupt lives of innocent citizens with their intolerable and terrorist-like acts. Each crime committed makes old racial and new radical gangs get more out of hand.

Criminal acts have been increasing over the past decade because of violent gang acts. Today there are at least 21,500 gangs and more than 731,000 active gang members in the United States alone. (National Drug Intelligence Center) Gangs have changed over the years and have become more violent than before; however, both old and new gangs commit extravagant crimes such as the New York Draft Riots in 1863. Gangs broke out in violence and killed many innocent people. Crimes today have changed to criminal acts such as spraying graffiti in some areas across America to horrifying terrorist acts such as the "Crips and Bloods warfare".

Gangs in the Mid-20^th century usually wore elaborate gang jackets which were known as their ‘colors’. They also used blackjacks, lead pipes and daggers for weapons. (Gang Violence) Ultimately gangs are becoming more modern and advanced in weapons and high developed tactics when it comes to large criminal gangs. Basically gangs are becoming more threatening.

There are numerous people from all different races associated with gangs. One of the first minority gangs was African Americans around the 20’s in Southern California. Statistics have shown that Caucasian Americans look at minorities as big causes of gang formations. However, when America began first forming into the 13 colonies, Caucasian gangs ran then as well as they do now.

Youth ‘gangsters’ which is the term given to individual gang members have increased in much day-to-day gang related violence. These gang members are usually involved with drug and alcohol use. Young people involved in gangs often try to imitate the dress and actions of rap artists. (Gang violence) Teenagers in schools also account for violent gang acts. In schools the degree of participation by young people joining gangs has barely exceeded 10%.

There are so many different types of gangs around America today. Gangs also include females, not just males. In California the female gang members account for less than 10% of the total gang population. One type of gang called "graffiti vandals" or tagging crews, are a gang(s) that slogan their names as much as possible in certain areas. (Youth Gangs) Knowing this, every time you see graffiti you can sense gangs are around. Gangs usually rang between several to 100 members.

Gangs play one of the biggest roles in violence around America today. Violent gangs have committed crimes at all levels of organization, social class, race against innocent people, property and/or other gangs. Usually most gang fights are organized with officers who arrange battles and prepare strategy. Street gangs may often use violence, sometimes when distributing drugs and targeting rival gangs and/or dealers who may owe money to them. Gang warfare is usually on turf boundaries between opposing gangs. A lot of Hispanic and "less criminal" gangs, (I’m not saying Hispanic gangs don’t commit crimes), mark their turf boundaries with sprayed graffiti. Gangs commit so many crimes that law enforcement cannot keep up with them. However, not all gang members can avoid justice as seen in the following example. "In November 2004 a 19 year old gang member in Fort Worth, Texas was sentenced to 50 years in prison for fatally shooting a childhood friend who wanted to leave their local street gang." ( Drugs and Gangs Fast Facts)

You have just read what proves the danger of gangs. However, not only are they dangerous to the people they target, but the people in the gangs are threatened as well by gangs. Law enforcement needs to, and hopefully will do a better job on cracking down on these criminals in the future. If gang related violence doesn’t end now, and/or if someone doesn’t take a step to ending it soon, then what is going to become of our nation in the future.