Is there a rise in gang violence in the U.S.?

Answer 1

I heard that the gang calling itself M-13 has international ties. Here in Columbia, SC, we have 3 gangs being watched:Crips. Bloods and Hoods. They are certainly making the news more.
Gangs have a good component, for all these young men who feel alone, they develop loyalty know someone always has their back. They lack direction though. Wouldn't it be great if instead of trying to break up the gangs, (which quite frankly, won't happen, we could help them gain a bigger goal besides hold a territory.

Answer 2

Crime statistics (FBI and others) throughout the past few decades have shown a constant rise in :

1) the number of gang-related violent incidents of crime.
2) the severity of violence in these incidents (they are more violent, someone is more likely to die, there is more torture and cruelty, etc.)
3) the number of youth who identify themselves as gang members.
4) the number of females who identify themselves as gang members.
5) the number of gang members in cities and towns across the country, where there was not previously gang activity (example: Des Moines, IA just for one).
6) the sophistication of weapons used by gangs
7) the sophisitication in networking with drug cartels shown by gangs
8) the incidence of younger and younger persons convicted of violent gang-related activity such as carrying weapons and killing.

Given all this, it's obvious that the answer is "yes". :(

Answer 3

WELL THERE SURE ISN'T A FALL ------