GANGLAND: Ice Cold Killers (Anchorage: crimes, movies, mold)

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by Glitch

When I see those droopy drawers I am sorely tempted to give them a swift kick in the posterior and then run away hoping they will try to chase me. With their crotch around their knees they will take about two steps and fall flat on their face. Then their friends can see how "cool" they are as they spit teeth and gravel.

I don't condone wearing pants halfway down the posterior region, but what about the teenagers who have tons of piercings in their ears and other unsightly places, the persons who wear dog collars?

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I don't condone wearing pants halfway down the posterior region, but what about the teenagers who have tons of piercings in their ears and other unsightly places, the persons who wear dog collars?

Too bad they aren't the shock collars...

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I don't condone wearing pants halfway down the posterior region, but what about the teenagers who have tons of piercings in their ears and other unsightly places, the persons who wear dog collars?

If they are into self-mutilation, well, it is their body. Who am I to tell them what they should or should not do with their own bodies? If they are doing it for the "shock-factor", it is not working with me. I think it looks stupid and I'm inclined to think less of their mental capabilities, but it is still their choice.

As to the seeming paradox of a rise in the number of gang members and a reduction in crime, the samething happened in Los Angeles. It turned out that the LAPD began identifying more and more people as gang members simply by the style or color of clothes or other articles they were wearing. It was not like they actually asked anyone if they were gang members, they just assumed based upon a certain profile they created and printed that statistic.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by Glitch

If they are into self-mutilation, well, it is their body. Who am I to tell them what they should or should not do with their own bodies? If they are doing it for the "shock-factor", it is not working with me. I think it looks stupid and I'm inclined to think less of their mental capabilities, but it is still their choice.

As to the seeming paradox of a rise in the number of gang members and a reduction in crime, the samething happened in Los Angeles. It turned out that the LAPD began identifying more and more people as gang members simply by the style or color of clothes or other articles they were wearing. It was not like they actually asked anyone if they were gang members, they just assumed based upon a certain profile they created and printed that statistic.

Just by style of clothes? Doesn't surprise me one bit. Many people just emulate the style of clothing based on what they see on TV(the rap videos). I don't like the clothes, but to put a legal penalty on it isn't a good thing either.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Just by style of clothes? Doesn't surprise me one bit. Many people just emulate the style of clothing based on what they see on TV(the rap videos). I don't like the clothes, but to put a legal penalty on it isn't a good thing either.

There was no "legal penalty", the LAPD just put people into the "gang" category based upon assumptions for statistical purposes. The bigger the gang problem, the more federal funding they were able to get. I do not know if this is case with Anchorage, but it seemed similar to what Los Angeles had already done decades ago, and it would explain why "gang" numbers increase while crime declines.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by Glitch

There was no "legal penalty", the LAPD just put people into the "gang" category based upon assumptions for statistical purposes. The bigger the gang problem, the more federal funding they were able to get. I do not know if this is case with Anchorage, but it seemed similar to what Los Angeles had already done decades ago, and it would explain why "gang" numbers increase while crime declines.

A few years ago Atlanta banned the wearing of saggy pants. I don't think it had any impact on the gang culture in Atlanta because the only major gang I have heard of there was LGF.

[tindo80]

Originally Posted by Glitch

There was no "legal penalty", the LAPD just put people into the "gang" category based upon assumptions for statistical purposes. The bigger the gang problem, the more federal funding they were able to get. I do not know if this is case with Anchorage, but it seemed similar to what Los Angeles had already done decades ago, and it would explain why "gang" numbers increase while crime declines.

Lets not all forget the Rampart scandal, where it turns out various members of the LAPD were behaving as if they were gang members (in some cases they were).

Crime is everywhere, and so are criminals. There is no spot in america I would totally feel safe. Not seeing any gangs or graffiti does not say safety, it just means the crime that occurs is less predictable. Serial killers, murderers, drunk drivers, rapists, petty criminals and drug addicts are everywhere. Assuming they will all be wearing baggy clothes, live in the 'ghetto' (which must mean urban, poor, and nonwhite from the description I am seeing, because I have never seen ANY real 'ghetto' in the northwest) and speak urban slang.

Walk a few blocks east of division on sprague avenue in Spokane WA, you wont see bloods or crips and the people will be as white as snow, but if you assumed you were in a 'safe neighborhood' you would be in for a rude awakening.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by tindo80

Lets not all forget the Rampart scandal, where it turns out various members of the LAPD were behaving as if they were gang members (in some cases they were).

Crime is everywhere, and so are criminals. There is no spot in america I would totally feel safe. Not seeing any gangs or graffiti does not say safety, it just means the crime that occurs is less predictable. Serial killers, murderers, drunk drivers, rapists, petty criminals and drug addicts are everywhere. Assuming they will all be wearing baggy clothes, live in the 'ghetto' (which must mean urban, poor, and nonwhite from the description I am seeing, because I have never seen ANY real 'ghetto' in the northwest) and speak urban slang.

Walk a few blocks east of division on sprague avenue in Spokane WA, you wont see bloods or crips and the people will be as white as snow, but if you assumed you were in a 'safe neighborhood' you would be in for a rude awakening.

Crime is indeed everywhere. What makes Alaska stick out is that Alaska is very remote, very far north, and gun laws are lax. Most places like that would be relatively safe, but Alaska breaks that mold.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by tindo80

Crime is everywhere, and so are criminals. There is no spot in america I would totally feel safe.

I feel totally safe from any gang in Alaska. As I said before, these "gang" members are nothing like the hardcore gangs in East Los Angeles, Compton, or Watts which stretch back generations. Those gangs are serious, with life-long members. What Anchorage has is a bunch of wannabe punks between the ages of 14 and 24 trying to look tough. Slap them on their hiney and they would go running back to momma. I am not impressed, or intimidated in any way by their antics. They appear to have a serious self-esteem problem, but they are no threat.

Originally Posted by tindo80

Not seeing any gangs or graffiti does not say safety, it just means the crime that occurs is less predictable. Serial killers, murderers, drunk drivers, rapists, petty criminals and drug addicts are everywhere. Assuming they will all be wearing baggy clothes, live in the 'ghetto' (which must mean urban, poor, and nonwhite from the description I am seeing, because I have never seen ANY real 'ghetto' in the northwest) and speak urban slang.

Security is an illusion to make the self-deluded feel safe. Living a life in fear is no life at all. It is also those who worry the most that make the perfect targets for the criminals, they have "victim" written all over them.

As to there not being any ghettos in northwestern cities, I would suggest that the reason is the cities are 1) not as large; and/or 2) not as old as those cities with ghettos.

Originally Posted by tindo80

Walk a few blocks east of division on sprague avenue in Spokane WA, you wont see bloods or crips and the people will be as white as snow, but if you assumed you were in a 'safe neighborhood' you would be in for a rude awakening.

I never make assumptions about neighborhoods I have never been in, but I can tell you that I would be safe no matter where I was. Except for maybe those three days I spent in Subac Bay.

If you treat everyone as equals and deal with them fairly, they are more than likely to return the favor. If you are not looking for trouble, trouble will most likely not find you, but if it does, deal with it, don't run from it.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Crime is indeed everywhere. What makes Alaska stick out is that Alaska is very remote, very far north, and gun laws are lax. Most places like that would be relatively safe, but Alaska breaks that mold.

Gun laws are unconstitutional in Alaska. The Alaska State Constitution recognizes the INDIVIDUAL right to own and possess a firearm, and no political subdivision of the state can infringe upon that right. Which means no village, town, or city in Alaska can enact any firearm restricting ordinance. You don't even need a permit to carry a concealed weapon (Alaska still issues CCPs for reciprocity purposes with other states, but it is not required in Alaska). Literally anyone could be carrying in Alaska. And that is precisely how it should be everywhere.

You are more likely to be mauled by a bear or trampled by a moose than bothered by any gang member in Alaska.