Open Discussion: Are you an Eastwood? Would you stand up to a gang?

"Would you stand up to a gang?"

Who doesn't like to think they would?

But the honest answer is, I don't know if I could. I'll ask overly aggressive people to simmer down on the bus, but from my front lawn? The cops might be on speed dial in that case... gangs are a tough question. It is a bad loop of instilling fear to better distribute fear.

Hey Julia. Thanks for the comment. I'm not sure I understand your last sentence, though: "It is a bad loop of instilling fear to better distribute fear." Could you explain that a little more?

I think I'm with you. It seems a little difficult to imagine myself standing up to a gang on my front lawn, considering death is something readily toyed with in gangs and I wouldn't want to put my family at that kind of risk.

What about anyone else? Would you stand up to a gang?

Well isn't a gang effective at their business by employing fear? Fear = control of a territory for distribution / activity... which leads to more pervasive fear.

Gotcha. Makes sense. Thanks!

I’m not familiar with the gang crowds here in St. Cloud. However, in LA I am a bit familiar with some of the people that are or were gang members.

Territory is all important for the gangs. Usually the people that live in the gang territory, if not used as a benefit of theft fodder, will be protected by the Gangs, as they do protect their own. At least the gangs that don’t deal so much with drugs. However, maybe those also continue to do so.

Gangs are like a boys club on steroids. When the Gang members grow up, if they are not killed, or in jail, will leave the gang when they get a decent job.

However, with the drugs, which brings in the money, all things have changed.
Therefore, as that is and has been going on, more and more and as the organized gangs are run like a company more and more, I don’t know anymore.

I guess that I should add that I worked with several folk that were members of the Bloods or the Crypts when I worked at Kaiser.

I also lived in the territory of the Brown Brotherhood when I lived in Whittier, and my kid was good friends with a few of them. BBH was written in front of our house in the road and no one ever bothered or stole anything from us at all when we lived there, which was over 17 years.

To me, crime is crime and if I am a witness and asked by the DA or police to testify, I would. It's very risky, though, because in some areas, gang members are often people's neighbors, children of friends, or go to your kid's schools. I can totally understand why people don't want to work with the police on these matters. A lot of people who live in these areas don't have the means to move to someplace better and have to "live" with these people.

Hey Richard and DesertDarlene. It sounds like you're both hinting at the idea that we're kind of stuck when it comes to what to do about gangs. Because of drugs, gangs are getting stronger and becoming more viable lifelong careers for their members, and because of where we live and inadequate resources to move to safer neighborhoods, we're stuck with them. Interesting. It's a catch-22 of sorts. Is there anything we can do to proactively protect ourselves against gang violence? Is that a foolish thing to even consider?

All drugs should be sold over the counter or by prescription in your local drug store available to anyone over 21 and be taxes also.

It's time that people take control of their own lives and we don't need the government to tell us what we can or cannot take. That's what education is for.

'Is there anything we can do to proactively protect ourselves against gang violence? Is that a foolish thing to even consider? '

Be friends with your neighbors.

'...we don't need the government to tell us what we can or cannot take.' Are you alluding to theft, Richard?

'All drugs should be sold over the counter or by prescription in your local drug store available to anyone over 21 and be taxes also.' How can we be sure that this happens?

...we don't need the government to tell us what we can or cannot take.' Are you alluding to theft, Richard?

no - pills or drugs that can be bought.

'All drugs should be sold over the counter or by prescription in your local drug store available to anyone over 21 and be taxes also.' How can we be sure that this happens? '

Elect the appropriate people, intelligent people that would know that education will help folks understand the issues with drugs.

Then with all things 'drugs' available trust that people will take care of their own bodies.

If not then we would need to shelter those people that can’t take care of themselves. That would be very similar to what is done today as we jail most of them now.

No, I'd use treachery to fix their wagons permanently. And they'd never see it coming.

I have to say that if I'm angry enough, I probably would. I once chased and caught a thief who was stealing things from our car in our driveway. I called 911 and the creep was arrested and prosecuted. He had a whole Jeep full of stolen stuff. On reflection, my actions seem unwise or at least unsafe. I was just so angry that I didn't think about safety.

Several years back... I was an Asst. Manager at a housing complex.... These drug dealers swept into our community and we never saw it coming... Before we knew it, they were taking over, they set up lawn chairs along the roads leading into and by our complex. They were bold, they stopped vehicles and asked them if they wanted to buy crack.....
We had some residents who harbored them.... we started evicting on other reasons because until they are busted and found guilty by the law, they are considered innocent... so we had to go by other means which were legal to start getting the people who were attracking them there.... We worked closely with the police dept. and encouraged the residents to help us.... which some of them did just that...they kept watch, wrote license plate numbers down and called it in... We allowed the police to set up in vacant apts. and zoom into the street activity...
The manager was threatened by some Jamanican men but for the most part it turned out for the best... A major drug bust was done in this town... an article was printed in Readers Digest... We made news in a major paper around the DC area....
In answer to your question, yes, I most likely would get into it with the gang, especially if they were a problem in the neighborhood....
Thanks, for inviting me to this article....

A few years ago my city street was gangs and hookers for a whole summer. They totally ignore you. They only care about rivals and customers. Once they had a fight and threw bricks. Luckily nobody seemed to have a gun. A stray bullet is what you worry about with them guys.

Let's hope your safety never comes into question, Jan. Way to be brave, though. That's something to be proud of. :)

They do sound bold, Vickey. I hope everything turned out okay. Wow - you got national press coverage?

You're right, Peter. The biggest concern is accidental death. Good they didn't make your life difficult!