For those that play down the existence of gangs....... (Pittsburgh: crimes, lawyers)

[belowthelights]

I read about Chicago's Black Disciples in the Book Freakonomics. Herodotus is right, Pittsburgh gangs (which definitely exist) are nowhere near as organized. They are violent though.

[FrickParkMtBiker]

Originally Posted by nikki88888

What I would like everyone to understand is that there are not gangs in western pa its just a lot of childish low level drug dealers that want to be like what they see on tv they think its hard and that it makes them cool I know I spent 10 years of my life with one. Then I grew up!! But, half of the fools out here carrying guns are to scared to use them and you can purchase any kind of gun on the street. I live in washington and people here would never believe what some people have in thier homes and how they all stand on "The Hill" (thats our drug selling area) and act like they are part of a gang thats all a front to thier friends its all about showing off to your friends I dont care if your 15 or 55 thats how they do it here.

Yeah I used to work with a guy who lives near Uniontown. Now I know for a fact that crime is high in Fayette County. I had to laugh one time when he mentioned about "gangs" in and around Uniontown. Same thing there, definitely trouble makers, but round them and bus them off to Gary Indiana for a day, and you would probably never see them again.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by guylocke

You can thank Republicans for that.

Sad but true, I agree, as well.

I don't disagree that there is gang activity in Pittsburgh. It's a place of over 2 million people, gangs are inevitable. However, it still doesn't change the fact that gangs are laughable in Pittsburgh compared to most major cities and even other cities of it's size like Cleveland and Baltimore.

This one stray article certainly doesn't prove that untrue, either.

***Gangs in Pittsburgh*** LOL, come to Phoenix, I'll show you what "real" gangs are like.....
Pitt gangs are small time compared to the ones around here in Phoenix.

[Sheradenmom]

What a horrific act and what a senseless tragedy. Parents live in fear of their children and communities in fear of the gangs. How is it that society has gone this far down the tubes. In a civilized society, things like this should not happen and everyone, black and white should be outraged. My heart goes out to this family.

[guylocke]

What a horrific act and what a senseless tragedy. Parents live in fear of their children and communities in fear of the gangs. How is it that society has gone this far down the tubes. In a civilized society, things like this should not happen and everyone, black and white should be outraged. My heart goes out to this family.

This sort of crime is eons old, it's nothing new. I'm not saying that makes it right, of course, but society doesn't change and hasn't for hundreds of years, we just have more weapons that are better and faster at killing people.

[simetime]

To Bossman----

This is NOT true, the Hill district has not been into the "colors thing" ever since the projects went down in robinson court. Many of the shootings that happens on the Hill are not from Hill district residents. The thugs on the Hill are more interested in making money then killing someone (unless it involves their money) If you will check any resources involving this matter you will find that the Hill has very few of any "innocent victims" of shootings. In other words if you are not in that lifestyle you will not be bothered by anyone.

[By~Tor]

I'd think that gang crime, and even the very existence of gangs, is not a "Pittsburgh" problem, any more than it's a New York or Los Angeles problem... it's a societal issue, and that parents neglect to keep tabs on their kids and, in some cases, even ENCOURAGE their kids to follow in the gang life that perhaps they led themselves earlier in life, I find to be entirely reprehensible.

We had gangs in Dallas too, Jamaican gangs, who were known for their ruthlessness. . . and then, Texas passed the concealed carry law, and crime has. . . . (shock of all shocks). . . NOT increased proportionately with the number of guns out there!!!

The truth is, that honest, law-abiding Americans have a basic RIGHT to arm themselves, and to use it to protect themselves, should they need to... it's the little thugs of the world who are too lazy to even STEAL without the use of a gun as a "trump card", which makes me weep for their generation... they have no idea of self-sacrifice, discipline, or any kind of delayed gratification mentality, and their lives will be shorter and less fulfilling, as a result of it.

[MarinoG711]

Originally Posted by Herodotus

There are plenty of gangs in Pittsburgh, but these gangs are basically cliques, as opposed to the structured gangs of places like Chicago. It's quite different from 15 years ago, when you basically had entire neighborhoods opposing each other (Homewood vs Wilkinsburg vs East Hills etc.). Today, it's groups of guys who hang together, opposing other groups of guys, frequently from the same area. Unlike 15 years ago, colors are not that big of a deal. Basically, the violence stems from 2 main things. The first is that all of the young toughs are armed. Young toughs have the same conflicts that they did 50 years ago (girls, machismo, etc.). The problem now, is that instead of a fistfight, you're liable to get a shooting. Guys are paranoid (I better pull my gun, before he pulls his). Then of course, the revenge factor kicks in. "He killed my friend, we're going to kill him". The second factor is drug related. The money for street level dealers is nowhere near what it was at the height of the crack epidemic. This, combined with many guys getting out of jail and trying to return to the street life, creates conflict. Those who are "not eating" (street parlance for not making any money) will frequently turn to robbing those who are making money. Of course, being involved in an illegal enterprise means that the victims can't go to the police for redress, they have to handle it themselves. Those who don't have the stomach for violence (and I've known many), either get out of the game, or become victims on a regular basis. Those who are tougher, send a message by extracting revenge on the perpetrators. Of course, this too gets the cycle of revenge going. Usually, those in the streets know the who, what, where, and why, but will keep quiet, unless the transgression is considered so grave, (like killing a child) that even most thugs are disgusted. The cops usually know who the perps are, but without willing witnesses, they can't do much. Sometimes, if an area gets too hot, it will get hit with a sweep, and the cops will try to lock up most of the shooters on other charges (previous drug buys and such). This will frequently cool down an area for a while.

I agree 100% with the above...

[Pitts10yrs]

So we have minimized the problem, saying in relative comparison to other more violent cities, we should not be too worried about what we are seeing and hearing? Our solution, according to the local news, is to meet with the criminals/gangs and tell them to tone down there more violent actions, possibly give them knives or clubs, instead of firearms?

Okay I feel so much better now that this has been resolved.

[guylocke]

So we have minimized the problem, saying in relative comparison to other more violent cities, we should not be too worried about what we are seeing and hearing? Our solution, according to the local news, is to meet with the criminals/gangs and tell them to tone down there more violent actions, possibly give them knives or clubs, instead of firearms?

Okay I feel so much better now that this has been resolved.

Oh give me a break. lol. A few bloggers on the net is not "minimizing the problem." It is being taken care of by men and women of uniform as well the feds or whatever. As well it should be.