Gangs have been around for a long time, but recently they have become worse. Unfortunately, there are many different types of gangs. For example; there are street gangs, prison gangs, motorcycle gangs, and neighborhood gangs. According to Federal Bureau of Investigation, there are more than 33,000 gangs in the United States ("National Gang"). Gangs cause a lot of the violence in America. In Illinois alone there are six or more gang members per 1,000 people ("National Gang"). Not only do gangs cause many deaths in the country, they also effect many situations. Gangs effect the property value of homes in cities, innocent people are at risk with presence of gangs, and young adults are likely to be more violent. Gangs have been more of an impact on today's society.
When gangs are on a rise they harm the real estate market. Due to gang violence, the property values of homes have decreased. Gangs also hurt businesses as well. As stated by the Los Angeles Police Department, "gangs create even more damage on a regular basis to local property and businesses" ("What Gangs Do"). Agents have a struggle selling properties because gang members like to damage property that is abandoned. Even though the home or building is abandoned and the other homes that are around it may be very nice, because of the damage of that property the value of the nice homes decrease. A big problem that gangs like to participate in is graffiti. They think it is cool and looks neat, but they do not realize how much destruction it does to buildings. Most gang members do not contemplate property value when they commit this crime, nor do they usually care. Not only does damaged property hurt the real estate market, the presence of gangs themselves reduces the value of homes. When people learn that there is an increase of gang activity in the area that they are looking at to buy a home, they either want the price of the property reduced or they instantly become uninterested in purchasing the home anymore.
When gangs are present in a local community innocent people are immediately at risk. There are numerous people that die every year because of gang violence and many of the individuals are innocent people. "Gangs will order you to commit crimes, like selling drugs, robbing people, or stealing cars" ("What Happens"). For example, if a gang was in the middle of committing one of these crimes there could possibly be a drive by shooting. When there is a drive by everyone is at risk not just gang members. Some gang members know what they are doing is wrong, but if they go against their leader then their life or their family's lives are at risk. They go through with the crime and harm innocent people. Members do not weigh out the options; they automatically commit the crime because their boss told them to. When they do this the outcome is never good.
A big thing that gangs do is get teenagers involved. When young adults get involved with gangs they become more violent. Most adolescents do not know right from wrong and they like to go with whatever the crowd is doing. If their friends get involved with a gang more than likely they will too. Young adults believe it is a cool to join a gang and they think they can leave the gang whenever they want to, but usually that is not the case. According to the Goldsboro Police Department, "When you join a gang, you lose all personal control and you can't leave when you want" (Gang Information). When children join gangs they feel like they belong to a group which is why some people join. Also, they get money from being in a gang. When gangs sell drugs or rob a place the members get money from these crimes. Some young adults are raised in homes where they do not receive much respect and they feel that gangs provide that respect and appreciation. Children do not fully realize all the mess they will be involved in when they join a gang. Most gangs are into drugs, so that means the children will begin to use drugs. While young adults feel like they are finally a part of the group when they join, they do not understand the consequences of joining a gang.
As people look into gangs they need to look at all aspects before joining one. Most of the time the only way an individual can leave a gang is if they die. A person needs to look at every feature of becoming a gang member. Hopefully they will grasp that gangs cause more harm in society than they do good. Gangs effect property value on homes, kill innocent people, and persuade young adults to join gangs and get them on the wrong path for the rest of their life. Gangs have a huge impact on today's society as they continue to grow.
Works Cited
"Gang Information." Goldsboro Police Department. 2008. Web. 9 Apr. 2013
"What Gangs Do." _The Los Angeles Police Department._ Jan. 2013. Web. 9 Apr. 2013
."What Happens If You Join." _My Gang Free Life._ 2009. Web. 9 Apr. 2013
"2011 National Gang Threat Assessment-Emerging Trends." The FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2013
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