How can America control major league terror when we can't even control minor league gangs in the U.S.?

Question

Within the last year the gang related crimes have increased in the United States from being on the decrease back in 2003. In some cities, such as Hartford, Connecticut, gang related crimes were so bad, that the police department had to bring in state troopers to assist the department. I don't know if anyone knows anything about the bay area, but in Oakland the gang related incidents are so bad, that it's difficult for the city to recruit police officers even with an offered salary of 100k. My question is, how can America try to control terrorist and Al Qaeda, when we can't even control American street gangs?

Answer 1

Good point.

For the $300 million/day we spend on this war, we certainly could make the streets of America safer.

Sure, there are sociological causes; the answers combine addressing root causes and law enforcement.

For that kind of money, you could put 1,000 police & social service workers in each of the 100 largest American cities, and still have $275 million left over.

Evidently, the Conservatives here, need easy scapegoats. Rather than focusing on solutions, they believe that constitutional rights, and requiring obedience to the law are somehow incompatible. Lock 'em up & throw the key away is short-sighted.

This is America - and Liberals love it just as much as Conservatives. Certainly punish the bad guys, but it would be nice (maybe even smart,) to fix the problem in the process.

Answer 2

Very good question.

They answer is that gangs are not the 'enemy'.
Gangs are a cultural manifestation and should be understood not prosecuted.

If the police rounded up these thugs, their parents and pastors would be out in front of the precinct in full view of the cameras holding a candle light vigil demanding their release and vowing to never vote for another white racist again. And guess what, the judge lets them out. Would you be a cop under those circumstances?

They are just misunderstood youngsters that have been victimized by a white controlled society and forced into a life of crime to protect and provide for themselves.

Now the same goes for Al Queda. That's why we can't get any substantive help from Europe. They are blaming society for creating disenfranchised youth Muslims that are upset so they cling to Imams that want to destroy the west as the answer to all their problems. MAC10's in the Hood, car bombs in the middle east, what's the difference? Dead is dead.

So you see it's the same issue. Gangs flourish just like Al Queda because of political correctness.

Wear a vest so you don't become a 'mushroom'

Answer 3

In America, the members of gangs still have civil and constitutional rights, but, many terrorists can be dealt with outside of those protections. That difference, alone, puts a lot of tools in the hands of those seeking to reduce the success of terrorsits that are kept out of the hands of those trying to reduce gang violence.

As has been pointed out, gangs are also something of symptom. They are the result of disaffected, unemployed youths seeking wealth in illegal ventures, most notably drug dealing. If you were to strike down certain legislation, such as the criminalization of drugs (beloved of high-moraled conservatives), the over-protection of young workers (beloved of liberals), and the importation of cheap, illegal labor from other countries (beloved of both), then some of the impetus for forming gangs, in the first place, could be eliminated. Drugs would be cheaply available from legitimate businesses, so there wouldn't be mountains of money to be made importing and selling them in a gang, while demand for low-skilled jobs would be unfilled, creating opportunities for young people to get a start - a record of being a dependable employee, money for education, etc...

Answer 4

conservatives are to idiotic to realize where the money should go. I know people in the bay area, and it's bad. But they don't blame the gang members, they blame the government which ignores poverty...a government which will spend over 300 billion on a idiotic war rather then on the poor citizens of the country....image what we could of done if we woulda gave all that money to the poor and into the neighborhoods...why commit crime if you got money? simple.

And our government cannot do anything right, all they care about is money, even the common gangmember cares much more about his community then the damn conservatives.

streetlife.myfastforum.org

Answer 5

Because America isnt willing to own up to the root of the gang problem in the US which is Crack Cocaine. The US started this by allowing cocaine to flood into the US from other countries. All these gang areas are areas where crack is being sold on the streets and gangs fight over which area to control. Gang violence is bad in Oakland but its a different type of gang issue. Most gangs in Northern CA that are not latino based have nothing to do with color. The latino based gangs in Northern CA are color based. The blacks that are being killed in Richmond, Oakland, SF and Vallejo are block based violence where people from other areas try to sell their product outside of their own area. The way to fight Gangs in the US is stoppping the flow of Cocaine, and extacy. Also another way is mandatory life sentances for all gang affiliations, make it a federal crime to join or be in a gang. Make it mandatory for all tattoo shops to stop doing gang affiliated tattoos. I understand claiming your block or your street, but claiming a color to me is Seseme Street and idiotic.

Answer 6

Bad people (gang members, criminals and the type) need to sometimes be treated in a manner that liberals feel is a violation of thier (the criminals) rights. I say .. What about the rights of the LAW ABIDING CITIZEN?!?! Until the voice of the people is truely heard (and if you look at these boards you'll get a sense that probably 90% of the populus is NOT liberal minded) this will be a continued problem. In other words crime control not gun control, jails not 'club fed' institute of corrections, law enforcement not more laws on the books...well you get the idea. We tried it the liberals way and this country is in a dire state...time to speak up and act up. According to the US Constitution it is out duty as citizens to correct the government when needed. Our forefathers had great vision and wanted to ensure that the power remained with the people for the life of the United States of America.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, I don't think that the powers that be care too much about controlling inner city gang activity. As long as poor minorities are only killing other poor minorities, the government won't do much about it. I'm sorry to say that, but I believe it's true. It's an issue or race and also of socioeconomics.

Terrorism is a big deal because rich and powerful (usually white) people are worried about it.

Answer 8

Bring all military home to guard the borders and break up the gangs! The cops are scared of the gangs.

Answer 9

Excellent question, and something I've wondered about for years, given the spread of gang violence, drug abuse and sales, prostitution, murder...

What I don't understand is why law enforcement does not consider gang-related activity an act of urban terrorism. After all, that's ultimately the result of gang activity -- terrorize entire neighborhoods.

Answer 10

Excellent question. You are more likely to die from inner city gang activities than al Qaeda.