Gang Violence and Substance Abuse
Essay by review • August 31, 2010 • Essay • 1,203 Words (5 Pages) • 2,187 Views
Gangs in the United States are becoming more violent and deadly than
ever. Thousand of people are dying each year from these ill-mannered
thugs. In today's societies gang activity is an everyday occurrence
whether it includes violence, drugs, death or any illegal activity in
which they participate. The research that I have conducted will focus on
how the selling of drugs by gangs members can lead to violence/death and
how turf wars between rival gang can also lead to death.
In recent years the selling of drugs has increased in the world of gang
members. It is their primary economical way to acquire money to support
themselves and their family. In doing so, they are destroying people's
lives. Gang members will stop at nothing to sell their drugs for a
profit, even if it means that they have to hurt or kill someone. They
will sell drugs to anyone as long as they make their money.
A gang member must have street knowledge and have the skill to protect
themselves as well as their profit. This kind of activity is extremely
dangerous to others, innocent
bystanders and even the gang member themselves. There are many ways that
this activity is dangerous.
Gang members may front (give the customer some drugs in which they have
a certain time to repay the cost of the drugs back) the drug to a
customer whom they believe to be a loyal customer. This can be very
deadly if the customer
does not pay the gang member back. If the front is not repaid the gang
member or the whole gang will come looking for the person who owes
money. The gang members will hunt down and hurt or even go as far as
kill the person the first chance they get if the person is found. If
they can't find the person they will go the extra mile and threaten to
kill someone in the person family. They want to make it known that a
payment is due and soon.
If a gang or a member is jacked (drugs stolen, usually at gunpoint)from
another person, gang or junkie, it too is an automatic death sentence.
Gangs are always strapped (armed) and ready for anything that might go
wrong. Their number one priority is to preserve the drugs well being and
to alleviate their quantity of drug to make a profit. If a person
interferes with this process they are interfering
with their business. That means they have to suffer the consequences
that will follow from it.
While a gang is in the process of selling drugs they must be aware of
who they are selling it to. Gang member must have the expertise in
spotting an undercover cops or penitential crack head(junkie who will do
anything to get their fix). Most gangs do not like cops or as they would
call them pigs. If a cop is trying to break the gangs procedures in the
drug trade the police officer is a marked target (bulls eye for a
bullet). Junkies often try to pull a fast one to score(get the drug).
These people are desperate and will do any thing to get their fix. They
will rob and steal from a gang member. They know the consequence but
they still keep on trying. Their mind is so clouded from all the drug
abuse that they don't care whether they live or die trying to get the
drug. Junkies are like pest to a gang member. They are always bothering
them for a score. Gang member hate that and as a result they will knock
them off (kill them). It draws to much attention and when you draw
attention people are sure to come running over to see what going on,
especially cops.
In addition to gangs and how the selling of drug leads to death, gangs
as well as others die because of turf violation. Gangs have a specific
turf they hang out in. The turfs consist of streets, blocks and
hangouts. These turfs are well guarded and looked after and forbid
outsiders to enter unless they are a potential buyer for drugs. If any
member of a rival gang shall enter it is a ground for termination
(death). The turf is the gang's territory.
Gangs use the turfs for drug trafficking. That is one of the main
reasons why they do not like rival gang to enter. If the rival gangs
were to take over their turf they would eventually lose all of their
drug customers and that means no income. These turfs are vital for a
gang's survival.
If a gang or anyone else violate the norms of a
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