Gangs are a violent reality that people have to deal with in today’s cities. Definitely not a new phenomenon, but yet a huge problem that needs to be addressed. Gang violence in Los Banos continues to rapidly increase, especially among youth, influencing negatively and leading to lives of crime. In 2014 statistics show Los Banos having ten active adult gangs, two youth gangs with a total of about five hundred seventy-five active gang members with numbers rapidly increasing (Inside Prison). 40 percent of which are juveniles (under18) (Arturo Hernandez). The most common age that youth join gangs are between ages thirteen and fifteen but have been known to recruit children as young as the age of ten. People often overlook communities as being
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On a regular basis violence fills the news stations and social media; drive-by-shootings, theft, graffiti, assaults, home invasions, car jacking’s, fights, stabbings, even murders. Majority of these violent crimes are acts driven by gangs. Just over a year ago a young gang affiliate was shot and killed in a public park near Ward and San Luis (abc30 action news). Shortly after, another incident directly across the street on Ward was another gang related murder of a young teen boy. Gun shots and sirens are heard quite often. It’s devastating. The words are spoken often, “what is this town coming to?” It is clear, gangs are taking over the city and the youth of Los Banos. The key solution is understanding why youth join gangs to begin with and take preventative …show more content…
If not dealt with properly this issue will continue to bring Los Banos a wreath of issues to come. Understanding the leading factors of gang affiliates is crucial, then taking preventative measure following. Having extracurricular activities would greatly benefit this small town. Not only would it help in reducing gang violence, but also help bring families together. What youth truly need. So much money is spent on the damages gangs have caused. So why not put money into these ideas, hopefully to help decrease the rapid rise in youth getting involved in the violent gang
On a regular basis violence fills the news stations and social media; drive-by-shootings, theft, graffiti, assaults, home invasions, car jacking’s, fights, stabbings, even murders. Majority of these violent crimes are acts driven by gangs. Just over a year ago a young gang affiliate was shot and killed in a public park near Ward and San Luis (abc30 action news). Shortly after, another incident directly across the street on Ward was another gang related murder of a young teen boy. Gun shots and sirens are heard quite often. It’s devastating. The words are spoken often, “what is this town coming to?” It is clear, gangs are taking over the city and the youth of Los Banos. The key solution is understanding why youth join gangs to begin with and take preventative …show more content…
If not dealt with properly this issue will continue to bring Los Banos a wreath of issues to come. Understanding the leading factors of gang affiliates is crucial, then taking preventative measure following. Having extracurricular activities would greatly benefit this small town. Not only would it help in reducing gang violence, but also help bring families together. What youth truly need. So much money is spent on the damages gangs have caused. So why not put money into these ideas, hopefully to help decrease the rapid rise in youth getting involved in the violent gang