Street gangs discussion thread

[Mahdistan]

Every country has them, it seems, and between their promotion of criminal activity, sale of illegal drugs, and violent wars with rivals, they're a menace to law-abiding citizens everywhere. But there's a lot that goes in to the politics between these ruffians, and seeing as how this is a politically based game and forum, I figured it was worth bringing up as a topic. What gangs do you know of in your area? How much of a threat do you feel they are to you? And what are you states/cities/provinces/nations doing to quell them, or what should they be doing?

Here around Kansas City, we unfortunately have disproportionately high levels of criminal activity, much of it related to gang activity. In the city proper, more-so on the Kansas side, big street gangs like the Latin Kings and MS-13 have areas pretty well locked down, and passing through them is quite dangerous, near suicidal at night. Ever since Sly James was elected mayor though, things have improved greatly, but gangs seem to just have a particular attraction to our city, what with out central position in the U.S., and open routes to the meth trade coming from the surrounding countryside. Out in the rural areas surrounding Kansas City, Missouri (where I actually live), ideological gangs like the Ku Klux Klan and the Aryan Brotherhood also have a presence.

[Tolko Temnota]

If there are any gangs in the suburb of Minneapolis I live in, they're doing an awfully good job at evading not just the notice of the police, but everyone else as well. Heck, I could even say that for the whole Minneapolis area, as far as I'm aware. Our Minnesota Niceness has infected the entire population.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Shocked not to see the GDN on here, it did fracture in the 90's but plenty of groups are still very organized.

I've stated a few times I myself am a (kinda) former GD of the west coast version. I personally still know a few Crips, 13's, 14's and some other Folks affiliated groups (mainly 2-6's and IG's). I also used to know a few Latin Kings who'd broken off from the larger ALKQN to do their own thing but I fell out of contact with them. No I don't feel any of them are much of any threat to me, and nothing much is being done beyond having gang units and whatnot.

[Kisinger]

If there are any gangs in the suburb of Minneapolis I live in, they're doing an awfully good job at evading not just the notice of the police, but everyone else as well. Heck, I could even say that for the whole Minneapolis area, as far as I'm aware. Our Minnesota Niceness has infected the entire population.

Minneapolis does actually have Crime Syndicates within it.

We have a minor gang war in my neck of Virginia... Well not minor has on a weekly basis people usually get shot up.

[Mahdistan]

Shocked not to see the GDN on here, it did fracture in the 90's but plenty of groups are still very organized.

I've stated a few times I myself am a (kinda) former GD of the west coast version. I personally still know a few Crips, 13's, 14's and some other Folks affiliated groups (mainly 2-6's and IG's). I also used to know a few Latin Kings who'd broken off from the larger ALKQN to do their own thing but I fell out of contact with them. No I don't feel any of them are much of any threat to me, and nothing much is being done beyond having gang units and whatnot.

I pulled the ones I put on there off a random internet list, but yeah, they're a big one. My father when he lived in Sacramento (long before I was born) ran with both Blood and Crips just for the money. Some of my urban-dwelling members of my family also have friends among the Latin Kings in the area, who are more prevalent here on the MO side of KC than MS-13.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Shocked not to see the GDN on here, it did fracture in the 90's but plenty of groups are still very organized.

I've stated a few times I myself am a (kinda) former GD of the west coast version. I personally still know a few Crips, 13's, 14's and some other Folks affiliated groups (mainly 2-6's and IG's). I also used to know a few Latin Kings who'd broken off from the larger ALKQN to do their own thing but I fell out of contact with them. No I don't feel any of them are much of any threat to me, and nothing much is being done beyond having gang units and whatnot.

I pulled the ones I put on there off a random internet list, but yeah, they're a big one. My father when he lived in Sacramento (long before I was born) ran with both Blood and Crips just for the money. Some of my urban-dwelling members of my family also have friends among the Latin Kings in the area, who are more prevalent here on the MO side of KC than MS-13.

Kansas City is actually a really interesting place for this topic. Back in the 1990's that's where the 8 Ball Alliance between the GDN and various Crip sets was formed (and promptly broke, it's amazing how people think it's still in effect nationwide) and also where Bloods started to buddy up with various People groups.

If there are any gangs in the suburb of Minneapolis I live in, they're doing an awfully good job at evading not just the notice of the police, but everyone else as well. Heck, I could even say that for the whole Minneapolis area, as far as I'm aware. Our Minnesota Niceness has infected the entire population.

That's probably because it's suburbs, they don't have any reason to go around making people notice them in places like that. There are active groups in Minneapolis though, I know for a fact there are GD's there.

[Daffyflippingduck]

Gangs are awesome, we should have one on every street corner!

[The Nuclear Fist]

There are some minor street gang activities here in central Illinois. Personally I wish the state had the sense and the resources to exterminate them down to a man, and to cure the social ills that make gang life popular.

[New confederate ramenia]

There are some minor street gang activities here in central Illinois. Personally I wish the state had the sense and the resources to exterminate them down to a man, and to cure the social ills that make gang life popular.

So, kill them all?

[The Nuclear Fist]

There are some minor street gang activities here in central Illinois. Personally I wish the state had the sense and the resources to exterminate them down to a man, and to cure the social ills that make gang life popular.

So, kill them all?

Poor choice of wording, but it was meant to be hyperbole. I just meant getting them off the streets in their entirety, by whatever legal means are available. And also working to fix the problems that make people turn to gang life, and working to make it just not worth it to join gangs.

[The Unifactor]

According to the local news in our neighborhood, two boys who were part of a gang at my school rushed into a classroom and punched a boy in there.

[Saiwania]

It is mainly just a money thing. If there were more economic opportunities in certain locations, hopefully the appeal of gaining money from illegal activities would decline. It doesn't help that crime does seem to pay (provided you don't get caught). The money that can be gotten from most legitimate jobs seems to pale in comparison to the boatloads of money illegal drugs or human trafficking can rake in. The profit somehow needs to be taken out of it if the gangs are to lose their power.

[USS Monitor]

I sometimes see gang-related graffiti under bridges and on the retaining walls along the side of the train tracks on the outskirts of Boston. I've never been involved with gangs and always lived in areas where just ignoring them was a viable option, but I guess there are some in the Boston area.

[Newfoundland an Labrador (Ancient)]

Public executions in the city center would help curtail crime.

[USS Monitor]

It is mainly just a money thing. If there were more economic opportunities in certain locations, hopefully the appeal of gaining money from illegal activities would decline. It doesn't help that crime does seem to pay (provided you don't get caught). The money that can be gotten from most legitimate jobs seems to pale in comparison to the boatloads of money illegal drugs or human trafficking can rake in. The profit somehow needs to be taken out of it if the gangs are to lose their power.

Part of why there is so much money in those businesses is precisely because they are illegal. People that are not willing to give up their drug of choice just because it's illegal have to offer a lot of money for anyone to take the risk of supplying them. It was the same deal with alcohol during prohibition.

[Big Jim P]

There were gangs in my neighborhood when I lived in Phoenix. I left them alone, they left me alone.

[Big Jim P]

It is mainly just a money thing. If there were more economic opportunities in certain locations, hopefully the appeal of gaining money from illegal activities would decline. It doesn't help that crime does seem to pay (provided you don't get caught). The money that can be gotten from most legitimate jobs seems to pale in comparison to the boatloads of money illegal drugs or human trafficking can rake in. The profit somehow needs to be taken out of it if the gangs are to lose their power.

Part of why there is so much money in those businesses is precisely because they are illegal. People that are not willing to give up their drug of choice just because it's illegal have to offer a lot of money for anyone to take the risk of supplying them. It was the same deal with alcohol during prohibition.

Pretty much the M/O of any black market.

[Al-Portug]

There were gangs in my neighborhood when I lived in Phoenix. I left them alone, they left me alone.

Same, but not in Phoenix.

[Mahdistan]

It is mainly just a money thing. If there were more economic opportunities in certain locations, hopefully the appeal of gaining money from illegal activities would decline. It doesn't help that crime does seem to pay (provided you don't get caught). The money that can be gotten from most legitimate jobs seems to pale in comparison to the boatloads of money illegal drugs or human trafficking can rake in. The profit somehow needs to be taken out of it if the gangs are to lose their power.

The big trade here is meth, and there's a lot of money to be gained from it. Like as I said in the OP, most of it comes from areas around the city, and this is one place where profiling has worked to a degree; you're generally more likely to be pulled over if you look like a hick from the surround country than a black person as is the common stereotype, and these basic sweeps have helped weaken the supply lines. But, every time meth goes down, heroine goes up, and that's a lot harder to control. And people within the city have begun to produce their own meth as well, though it's a lot more risky.

[Napkiraly]

I'll speak on my experience in Canada having lived in the street gang capital (Winnipeg) since that is what I am most familiar with.*

Overall, street gangs in Canada I'd say are not as homicide prone as their cousins down south, but that doesn't mean that they aren't violent. I'd say the focus is on getting the message through with the least amount of bodies as possible.

In Winnipeg though, we break the trend by Canadian standards. Our homicide rate, let alone crime in general, is either second worst or worst depending on each year. I think for the past twenty-five years, Winnipeg was the murder capital for nineteen of them (one of the city's nicknames is Murderpeg), and almost all of that is due to gang violence.

Now you may be asking, what the total per year? Generally, mid to high twenties to low thirties from when I started living there in 2001. But most of that violence is concentrated in an area roughly the size of Compton in population, so homicide and crime rates for that area is actually comparable to a place like Compton.

Many of our street gangs are also Aboriginal, such as the Indian Posse, Native Syndicate, Manitoba Warriors, etc. Have a number of Filipino gangs as well. A number of Arab-Black-Somali gangs too. A few white, a few multicultural. Quite diverse overall.

A number of people I went to high school with were affiliated with gangs and a number of people in my overall social circle have had family members or friends killed or injured by them. Sucks big time.

[Napkiraly]

I sometimes see gang-related graffiti under bridges and on the retaining walls along the side of the train tracks on the outskirts of Boston. I've never been involved with gangs and always lived in areas where just ignoring them was a viable option, but I guess there are some in the Boston area.

I think Boston's criminal underworld is dominated by organised crime more so than in other areas but I could be wrong.

[USS Monitor]

I sometimes see gang-related graffiti under bridges and on the retaining walls along the side of the train tracks on the outskirts of Boston. I've never been involved with gangs and always lived in areas where just ignoring them was a viable option, but I guess there are some in the Boston area.

I think Boston's criminal underworld is dominated by organised crime more so than in other areas but I could be wrong.

There is certainly a history of that. I am not sure how much it still holds true.

[Shakal]

As a Western Canadian I havent even heard of many of the listed gangs. Usually around here there is no real gangs, every so often you hear someone mumble 'Hells Angels' bull but mostly anyone here involved in crime drives to the cities for drugs and sells it on a personal level with little oversight.

[MacFee]

If there are any gangs in the suburb of Minneapolis I live in, they're doing an awfully good job at evading not just the notice of the police, but everyone else as well. Heck, I could even say that for the whole Minneapolis area, as far as I'm aware. Our Minnesota Niceness has infected the entire population.

No gangs here in Augusta, either. Just proves my theory: Germans/Scandinavians=No gangs. Blacks/Other whites/South Americans/Asians/Indians=Gangs.

[Mahdistan]

I think Boston's criminal underworld is dominated by organised crime more so than in other areas but I could be wrong.

There is certainly a history of that. I am not sure how much it still holds true.

From what I've heard, it's one of the last places in America where the Italian Mob is still going on fairly strongly, compared to its decline everywhere else. Most of the old mafias are gone nowadays, save the Russians and the Mexican cartels, if you call them mafias. In other countries though, mafias are still a big deal; I've heard a lot about the Albanian and Israeli mafias being powerful in Europe.