Gangs
A street gang is a group of individuals who may have control over a certain area in the community or commit crimes and felonies. If you look at Penal Code Section 186.2 a gang member is:
A person who participates in a street gang with known members who engage or have engaged in criminal gang activities, willfully allows, furthers, or assists in any felonious criminal conduct by that gang.
In other words if you're a gang member you're a criminal. Most of the times to get into a gang you have to commit a crime. The actions range from drive-by shootings to drug dealings or even murders. Gangs want people to fear them, so, they commit crimes.
WHAT GANGS DO!
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The way gangs affect our lives are they sell drugs, export drugs, burglarize homes, make fun of minorities, and steal drugs. Gangs purposely vandalize and destroy private and public property in order to get the reputation they want.
WHY PEOPLE JOIN GANGS!
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Kids (9-18) join gangs for all different reasons. The first one is probably peer pressure but there are many more: protection, attention, $money$, or even as a family tradition, though most of the time their parents don't know they are in a gang.
GANG NAMES
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Gangs are normally named after "their" street or a rapper or music group they normally follow.
STREET GANGS
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Gangs are pretty much territorial. Each gang has it's own terrain and graffiti areas. If a non-gang member is in their area the non-gang member will normally be attacked, brutally injured, or maybe even murdered.
DRESS
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Most gangs dress in the same attire. Most of the time it is easy to recognize a gang member.
LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS
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1) White T-shirts
2) Baggy Pants
3) Black or blue knit cap
4) Same type of pants, shoes, and hats
5) Sometimes they have their gang symbol written on their attire
*** Some gang members choose not to wear their gang's attire so that they don't get in trouble with the cops. But others will freely admit to being in a gang.***
LEADERSHIP
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As in a company, the one who starts the gang is normally it's head. The head could also be the one with the most money, has the gun, or sells the drugs. Usually the leader doesn't live long.
NICKNAMES
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Most of the time a gang member will have a nickname (moniker). It fits the person, for example "shorty" for height.
WHY NOT TO GET INVOLVED
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Do you ever want to have a business job or live in a nice neighborhood? If you do then Iwouldn't get into a gang. This web site was to show you that don't expect great things in a gang. I can't run your life or force you not to go into a gang but I know I've been there and you don't want to have to go through it.
If you're in a gang you're always watching your back for cops and other gang members. Remember it's YOUR life don't let someone else run it for you.
If you want to give some info to us then write to trappermark@yahoo.com and address it to Whitney Grant . We will try to post your idea or anything dealing with this subject on our web site.
You can e-mail us for ideas on this site at nyc_gangs@yahoo.com!