What is a Gang

WHAT IS A GANG

A gang is a group of individuals who share a common identity and , in current usage , engage in illegal activities . Historically , the term referred to both criminal groups and ordinary groups of friends , such as Our Gang ' 1 We have all heard the common expression , Well , the gang 's all here ' at the beginning of a celebration or event

The word `gang ' to me means any group of males who are continually associated with each other for the purposes of what they believe to be their own protection

, protection of their `own ' territory , for the purposes of conducting illegal activities , with disregard for anyone outside of their group - especially the police

It does not matter to me if the `gangs ' in my city are the smaller units , or the intricate , syndicated , `Daddy ' of the offshoots or smaller gangs . If the criminal activity is involved , it is a gang . In fact , this is commonly what happens . A gang with much economic power (drug , prostitution , sex slave , gun , etc , money ) infiltrates other large , and many times now rural , communities with their brother gangs

It is common knowledge that criminal activity abounds in gangs , and that is one of their primary purposes . The lack of morality already established , add to this the ideal that the greater or bigger the crime the more prestige and respect a particular member will get . Murder is not taboo it warrants the most respect of all the criminal activities

So , particular gangs may be conceived here in the United States or they may exist elsewhere and send their tentacles into the U .S . for the money opportunities . One such gang had its origins in Sicily , Italy In fact , they were the original `gangsters

It is unclear which came first for the Sicilians : the chicken or the egg . Did the mob come to America only after seeing from abroad the opportunities to be had in the Land of Milk and Honey ' or , were the opportunities discovered solely because large numbers of Italians migrated to America like other Europeans

There are many large gangs in the United States who are growing at leaps and bounds in both size , degree of violence and criminality , and economic power . Common ethnic groups whose `gangs ' have great illegal effects on society include Blacks , Viet Namese , Puerto Ricans , and many South American groups (San Salvador , etc ) who move here for the sole purpose of extending the criminal activity for the larger , syndicated gang

There are traits common to all gangs . Promises to newcomers , specific initiation rites , territorialism , and warfare exist among them all

Gang members entice other young males in their neighborhoods into the group with promises of protection , family-type bonds (many have no fathers , or no parents who care , easy money , etc . If a young male is considered to be worthy of the gang , the initiation rite is a severe beating . How he responds to the severe beating , and whether or not he survives , determine whether or not he is...