um, hello, do they need to tell them? (Pittsburgh, New Alexandria: crime, homes)

[pic-chic]

Pittsburgh-area law enforcement parleys with gang leaders - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"Officials are telling gang members they will be prosecuted if they're involved with gang related homicides."

Sorry, but this seems like a joke. Warning gangs that the city is going to uphold the law? Just do it - it's the law. Why the meeting?

[Tallysmom]

As stupid as it seems, it does let the gangs know they are on the radar. It does let the gangs know that the police know who they are, and the police, not the gangs, rule the streets.

[Aran]

Unless they actually DO something, the police can't act. Telling them you're watching will either A) Make them not act, thus needing to do nothing, or B) Give them an idea, post-meeting, who may have been involved and have a better idea of what's going on.

[caroline2]

I know nothing about the realities of gang culture, but I could see how it might have an effect on young, new recruits: make explicit that this is not a game or a way to pass time, they are being watched and monitored by living, breathing cops, and they will go to jail if they take a life.

[PittNewbie]

Are there white gangs in Pittsburgh?

[sr1234]

I am ashamed of you people. The only way to solve this gang problem is to have some compassion and empathy for these poor lost souls. They need to be treated like every other member of our community.

Therefore, I suggest that the politicians find a way to tax their criminal "corporations" to the point that they are forced out of town like the rest of the legal major corporations have been in Pittsburgh.

[raubre]

Originally Posted by PittNewbie

Are there white gangs in Pittsburgh?

I'm sure there are. A few years back,the Post Gazette ran a news story about local gangs and had a list of them in each city neighborhood (including some "white" neighborhoods.) I'll try to find the article and post it.

[Aran]

Originally Posted by sr1234

I am ashamed of you people. The only way to solve this gang problem is to have some compassion and empathy for these poor lost souls. They need to be treated like every other member of our community.

Therefore, I suggest that the politicians find a way to tax their criminal "corporations" to the point that they are forced out of town like the rest of the legal major corporations have been in Pittsburgh.

I realize you're being sarcastic, but compassion, to start with, can never hurt as a first option.

[Honest Bob]

In college they teach you that gangs only works in places where the situation is so bad that either you get protection - being a large group - belonging to a gang or that because you are in a certain gang, it allows you to live in a certain neighborhood.

I'm not really sure if there is white gangs or not. My comment about the KKK the other night was not appreciated.

But what I will say is that if a young person has a job and is not into crime or drugs, there is no reason for them to belong to a gang, other then peer pressure.

I was sitting in the parking lot of a Sheetz in New Alexandria today and there was a big sign outside the store that said that loitering was prohibited and that they would call the cops if you hung out there.

Maybe if more cops were willing to arrest kids that are just hanging out - getting into trouble, maybe the parents would get more involved and there would be less gangs and less crime.

With all the single parent homes out there right now and with all the latch key children, there is no way to stop the gang activity. Parents has to work and people other then family members are raising your kids and they are not always the best role models - just the people that you can get the cheapest.

The government ought to have some type of test that you have to take before you are allowed to become a parent - just like they do for driving a car or hunting. Some people are so stupid that they shouldn't be allowed to breed.

[Aran]

Kids just hanging out aren't by default breaking the law. What do you expect them to arrest innocent people for?

Suspicion of existence?