Gang Violence

Are you like me? Do you watch the news and wonder what is happening to the world we live in?  One thing I am particularly disgusted with lately, is the innocent lives being ruined over gang violence, and stupidity.

We should not have to wear bullet proof vests just to take a walk, go outside for a smoke, get the mail, you get the point.  When it becomes unsafe to do day-to-day activities what does that say about society?  Let me first point out to any and all gang members:  Needing an entire group, entourage, "family" to protect you, fight your battles, and prove your points, doesn't make you hard, or a gangster, or even relevant.  In fact, in my opinion it makes you look soft, like a week minded individual who can't do anything in life except negatively impact the lives of others.

I'd like to focus my anger toward one story in particular: A fifteen year old girl was walking the dog with her one year old niece, when two gang bangers opened fire, striking the one year old girl in the head.  The girl, let me rephrase, BABY  is currently fighting for her life in a Chicago Hospital.  Police say the gang members were attempting to shoot a man on a bicycle and the girls were caught in the cross-fire.

I don't care what your reasoning, what your logic, or your lack of education and respect, when a baby gets shot its just unacceptable.  It makes me sick to turn on the TV and see people shot because they wore a certain color, walked in a certain block, or just got caught in crossfire like this poor baby.

There needs to be a change.  By gang leaders and our elected officials and police.  Gangs get away with too much.  There needs to be a no nonsense policy nationwide to get these fools off the street.  People argue that society creates barriers and situations that force people to join gangs, to survive and provide.  I say that's simply a load of shit (for lack of better terms), and the definition of a cop-out.  Gangs don't have to be negative.  Young men and women can band together to form a positive group to better the community, take advantage of learning programs, take on community service projects to stay active and out of trouble.  If people took time to help build and renew the community they live in we wouldn't have as many problems that we do.  Some may say that is optimistic and not realistic.  I would agree.  I don't foresee gang members reading my post and dropping their guns and picking up a book or painting a mural instead of tagging a business, but at the end of the day the point it THEY COULD.

I challenge any and all gang members and leaders to use their power, influence, and followers to do good for the community you live in.  Put the guns down, stop killing children, stop luring our youth into such a dangerous lifestyle, stop the violence that ruins communities, and do something with your life.

I challenge elected officials and judges nationwide:  Create policies that put gang leaders in jail longer.  Crack down on violence as hard as you do on drugs.  Lets stop spending money on useless programs and funnel it to a REAL program to help keep communities safe, keep thugs in jail, and away from the children.

Please post any comments, questions, and arguments.

Phil Murray
TheDukeOfSaucingham