The Rise of Gang Violence in our Community

Gang Violence

The Rise of Gang Violence in Our Community

By: R. Castellanos

Research: According to U.S Legal.com, gang violence is defined as criminal and non-political acts of violence committed by a group of people who regularly engage in criminal activity against innocent people. It may also refer to physical hostile interactions between two or more gangs. The term gang refers to two or more people organized to achieve a common objective and who share a common identity. Gangs identify themselves with a common name or sign. Since June 2016 there have been 13 gang related homicides in the city of Lynwood, CA. Many of the victims weren’t involved with the gangs, they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Gangs are recruiting young people, as young as 13.  On November 23, 2016 a young girl, on her way home from church with her family, died because of a lost bullet. It is very sad to hear stories like this, but this has to cause initiative in the community to want to do something about gang violence. It is also sad to hear that a young teen could be capable of killing someone to prove their loyalty to a gang. In the article Gang Prevention: An overview of research and programs by James C. Howell, it was mentioned that the youth is at a higher risk of joining a gang if they live in communities where they feel unsafe. The join gangs for protection, respect and money. However, there are so many things that may influence a young person to join a gang. It is very important to come together as a community to protect the youth from following into a dangerous path. It is important to pay attention to the signs and take the right measures. Not only do we need to come together for the youth but also those that are seeking a way out of this lifestyle. This way we will all be able to live in a less fearful way.  

Personal: I chose this topic because gang violence in my community has impacted our way of living. Two people in my community that you will read about also say the same thing.We no longer stay out late or go for runs around the neighborhood. We have more sheriffs patrolling the area than we did before. Last month a man walking on the side walk was gunned down by a rival gang. We always read about homicides happening in the city but have never witnessed a crime like this until last month. The community is fearful for gang retaliations; it seems like this is never ending.
When I was younger I remember the schools being on lock down because of shootings around the area. I also remember when I was in high school, there would be gang members scouting students. It slowly started to become the norm at school. People thought it was cool to be part of a gang, to have recognition and power over others. Things got so out of control at school, that Jr year I moved to another district. During that time there were rumors that their would be stabbings, and fights among rival gangs. My parents were afraid that my younger sibling and I would be caught in the middle of these gang rivalries.
I think that being in a sport occupied so much of my time that I had no time to do anything else. Now that I am older I am more aware of the things happening in my neighborhood and I hope that we will be able to live without the fear of gang violence in our neighborhood. The community is filled with graffiti from gangs claiming territory. A new family just moved into a home that is on a corner of our block and their home has been vandalized with gang graffiti claiming their territory. They paint their wall at least once a week and have installed surveillance cameras, but that hasn’t prevented gang members from vandalizing their walls. No one should have to live this way.

Others impacted by gang violence in the Community:

J. Espejo: My life has been Impacted in many ways. For example, there have been many gang related shootings happening within my neighborhood and city. I honestly believe it has changed my life, because when I'm walking to a certain place within the city, I'm always looking around or go with somebody just in case anything happens. Honestly, I am worried and afraid about the rise of gang violence and shootings, because it's something that can put people lives in danger. This is something that has caused my family and I to be fearful for our lives.

R. Cobian: Gang violence in my neighborhood has impacted my way of living. It has caused fear not only for my life but for my children, grandchildren, my neighbors, and their children’s lives. A few years back, my brother walked to the liquor store that is just around the corner, when a young man ran into the store trying to find shelter from some gang members that were trying to shoot him. My brother witnessed the shooting along with other customers, and he still has nightmares from that day. I moved my children to another district to protect them from getting influenced by the gangs surrounding their school. Many times the schools were on lock down because there was a shooting near their school. When my grandchildren come visit me, I do not let them play in the front yard without an adult because I don’t want their lives to be in danger if something was to happen. For a while, things were very calm in our neighborhood, I heard of gang shootings around the community, but until recently gang violence and shootings have risen again.

Sources:

https://definitions.uslegal.com/g/gang-violence/

http://homicide.latimes.com/neighborhood/lynwood

Howell, James C. "Gang Prevention: An Overview of Research and Programs. Juvenile Justice Bulletin." Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2010).