[RunawayJim]

Originally Posted by 68vette

Pot is the number one cash crop in the state. Is there violence involved? I could not tell you, but the issue is not what is or is not grown here. Are the gangs as bad as NY or LA? No. Are they in the state? If anyone thinks they are not here, they are living in the clouds. The misconception is they make their presece known. This is far from the truth. they want to go under the radar. Their main goal is selling drugs and making money. Look at the big arrests in Burlington, Rutland or St Albans in the past several years. Most are from NY or Boston with gang ties. They are not here to look at the foilage.
The problem was so big in Rutland with the Latin Kings, the city of Rutland started a gang task force. The only time you will ever see gang members killing and shooting one another is when it becomes territorial. The midwest is the perfect example of how gangs operate in rural areas. You can't look at NY, LA or any other city as an example.

But are gangs a problem if they're not hurting anyone but themselves? In selling drugs, they're only filling a void. They wouldn't be there if (a) people didn't want the drugs to begin with or (b) people had other, safer, easier, more legal means to get said drugs. The problem is not the gangs. The problem is the drug laws.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by RunawayJim

But are gangs a problem if they're not hurting anyone but themselves? In selling drugs, they're only filling a void. They wouldn't be there if (a) people didn't want the drugs to begin with or (b) people had other, safer, easier, more legal means to get said drugs. The problem is not the gangs. The problem is the drug laws.

I don't know, someone was beaten so severely at the local price chopper by "youths" he was sent to Dartmouth IIRC...I'm willing tow ager those are the gang members I've seen hanging out down there...

If the gangs are not fought they will get worse. They're violent by their nature. It isn't some young dumb local growing pot plants in his backyard and selling them to a few people...

I'd support legalizing the drugs but the feds won't even let us grow commercial hemp so I'm not holding my breath just yet on it...

[RunawayJim]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

I don't know, someone was beaten so severely at the local price chopper by "youths" he was sent to Dartmouth IIRC...I'm willing tow ager those are the gang members I've seen hanging out down there...

If the gangs are not fought they will get worse. They're violent by their nature. It isn't some young dumb local growing pot plants in his backyard and selling them to a few people...

I'd support legalizing the drugs but the feds won't even let us grow commercial hemp so I'm not holding my breath just yet on it...

I'm waiting to see what happens in CA.

Most violent crimes that happen anywhere are targeted and not random. There's always going to be a few outliers. I'm not saying gangs aren't a problem, but the main reason they're there is to meet the needs of regular citizens who just want the drugs.

[tkln]

I think the problems start when rival gangs start over-reaching into other territories...that's the issue in the big cities...while I don't think things would ever get as bad in VT as NY, I can definitely see it escalating. If there is money to be made, other gangs will follow and then the violence begins...

[RunawayJim]

Originally Posted by tkln

I think the problems start when rival gangs start over-reaching into other territories...that's the issue in the big cities...while I don't think things would ever get as bad in VT as NY, I can definitely see it escalating. If there is money to be made, other gangs will follow and then the violence begins...

That's the thing. Because of the small spread out population of VT, they're not going to spend a ton of time and energy. I don't think you'll see a surge in gang activity like you do in big cities.

[CD's Only Mrs. X]

I was scrolling down the cd forum list when I came across this thread and had to laugh myself. I know that drugs and gangs can occur anywhere but its just funny to think of it in beautiful Vermont. All I can imagine is gangs fighting over who is smuggling in illegal maple syrup and who can not encroach on the white powdery slopes during ski season.

I do hope that in your communities that you take an active part to nip it in the bud by voicing your concerns and making it known.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by RunawayJim

But are gangs a problem if they're not hurting anyone but themselves? In selling drugs, they're only filling a void. They wouldn't be there if (a) people didn't want the drugs to begin with or (b) people had other, safer, easier, more legal means to get said drugs. The problem is not the gangs. The problem is the drug laws.

There are other crimes that spring up with drug or gang activity. So in fact they not only hurt themselves, but they hurt family and the community. When the Latin Kings landed in Rutland, crime went up. The Fed and several state police agencies gave assistance to help with the problem. What Rutland faced was no different than the problems police departments in rural midwestern towns faced. They did not know what to do because they never faced these problems ever.
The drugs that the gangs bring to any area are the more hardcore drugs. Pot can be grown anywhere and is the gateway drug, but coke, heroin, pills, etc is where the big money is at. Legalizing pot will not stop drug activity. The number of drug overdoses we see here at work is steadily increasing each year. The state statistics also point out that the education given to children is not working as it once was. These are indicators why rural states are ripe for the picking.