Gangsters Don’t Die, We Multiply

Gangs are growing everyday in our society today and youth don’t just get in a gang for a color. It is for drugs, money and human smuggling. All the local and state authorities think all these gangs and violence need to stop soon because it’s getting out of hand. Youth join gangs because they want to fit in. They are lonely, and they need to join a family. Some factors that influence youth are poverty, education and problems at home. If the youth is poor or doesn’t have a parent that’s there for them, they might want to join a gang.

All these kids just stay on the street all day smoking, drinking and just looking for trouble. According to police, Tucson had 21 or more gang related homicides last year. Over the last five years Tucson averaged about eight gang related homicides per year. In Tucson there are three main gangs. They are the Bloods, CRIPS, and Hispanic Brown Pride. That’s a silly thing to get killed over: a color. More gang members need to realize that their life is more important than any color, money or drug.

The government works to get all those youth off the streets and tries to help them get a better life that’s fair, right, and good. Some programs that are in Tucson to help youth stay out of trouble and gangs are after-school programs, Boys and Girls Clubs and the YMCA. I myself used to play for the boys and girls club and the YMCA. These programs kept me on track, off the street and away from gangs.

Most of the kids that join gangs are homeless, runaway, or out on their own kids that replace their family with a gang, just to make them feel they are bad and no one can tell then what to do. I wonder sometimes how do all those kids feel: happy, angry or confused? Most of them try to hide their feelings from other people just to seem like a tough gang member.

A good life to a gang member is having nice cars, clothes and jewelry. Some gang members would never get a job because of their behavior and police records from the past that show most of them have criminal records. That’s the reason drug dealers and gang members sell drugs. Many kids are in prison 25 to life or something for that activity. All of those prisoners are gang members who didn’t feel loved at home. They felt like they needed to join a new family that loved them and protected them. When the new family fell apart, that person has to still represent the family or gang; that’s when all the protection is gone. That’s when every man goes for their self and most of them get killed or kill someone and go to jail. That’s how most of them end up behind bars. Health wise, most gang members are not in good condition. Most of them do drugs, drink and smoke tobacco.

I stay away from all these things by playing basketball. It is the sport that I would choose to do over anything because it’s my dream, life, and career. Basketball helps me so much. It keeps me in school, away from gangs, drugs and firearms. I hope all kids follow my steps and get involved in a sport that they would choose over any gang activity that would get them killed or in jail.