The gang situation nationwide is even worse than what is happening in Hawaii. According to The National Gang Crime Research Center, (NGCRC) it is getting so bad that even some school colors and symbols are being mistaken for gang colors and symbols. This shows just how wide spread the gang problem is, when completely innocent things such as a color, or combination of colors, can lead to violence. The National Youth Gang Center (NYGC) has data showing that the gang problem may be more concentrated int the larger cities and more suburban areas.
Below is a video of a fight between two of America's most well know gangs, the Bloods and the Crips.
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Annual Maximum Number of Gangs, 2002–2005 Number of Gangs
Larger Cities Suburban Counties Smaller Cities Rural Counties
No Data Reported 2.7% 9.6% 9.2% 5.9%
3 or Fewer 13.0 26.0 48.3 56.3
4–6 20.5 19.2 26.7 23.5
7–15 30.8 21.4 12.9 10.9
16–30 15.4 8.9 2.9 3.4
More Than 30 17.6 14.9 0.0 0.0
The Violence Prevention Institute also has staggering facts about gangs:
Gang Statistics
Facts at a Glance:
· 100% of cities with population greater than or equal to 250,000 reported gang activity in 2001
· 85% of cities with population between 100,000 and 229,999 reported gang activity in 2001
· 65% of cities with population between 50,000 and 99,999 reported gang activity in 2001
· 44% of cities with population between 25,000 and 49,999 reported gang activity in 2001
· 20% of cities with population between 2,500 and 24,999 reported gang activity in 2001
59% of all homicides in 2001 in Los Angeles and 53% in Chicago were gang related, there was a total of 698 gang related homicides in there two cities combined where as 130 other cities with population of at least 100,000 with gang problems reported having a total of 637 homicides between them.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, National Youth Gang Survey Trends from 1996 to 2000, by Arlen Egley, Jr. and Aline K. Major.
The History Channel also runs a series about gangs, to view a few clips from different episodes click here.
The gang problem is growing at an almost uncontrollable rate, read on to see what can be done by the government, and what you can do to help.
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It is interesting how color of bandannas are parallel to the color of skin. What would happen if you were wearing the wrong color late at night? It is amazing that it got so intense that school colors got mixed up with gang colors, for school should be teaching them otherwise.
I understand how it started with "kill or be killed". But it got far out of control, for revenge, anger, pride, strength were qualities that man faced. Would you kill if you were going to be killed? I understand the need for protection, and their "fearless and ruthless images" were honored, therefore stuck to American culture. But enough is enough. Where do you draw the line to stop?
Latinos, African Americans, Asians and others formed street gangs just like their Irish and European gang ancestors. Colors of material articles, colors of ethnicity and skin...what do we do to make people feel comfortable around and with each other? What do we do to rid of the feeling of superiority?
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