Reason for gangs is to rule over other gangs and areas, so causing conflict as they strive to be the best!

kinda...the only reason is to be a criminal... nothing else...

Hmm, My mommy & daddy told me, "Tommy, You will NOT be playing with Frankie because he is a bad boy,His mommy and daddy don't care about him, play with Johnny, because his mommy and daddy love him too".

Gangs are comprised of people that have a power complex. Not all gangs are destructive. The destructive types have leadership ladders similar to a military unit. The gang 'soldier' is usually someone that is vulnerable and easily manipulated. Loyalty is rewarded. The destructiveness of a gang is usually determined by how twisted the leaders are. They know how to push their underlings buttons and know which rewards gains the highest loyalty.

In the service, I served with many people affiliated with a multitude of gangs. In boot camp they were the easiest to break. If they made it to their separation date, they had learned something about themselves that many would not have learned in a gang. They could 'think' for themselves.

You can persuade anyone to limit their behavior based on a reward system. The true change won't happen until the individual learns how to make the right choices to control themselves. That is why parenting is so important to changing the path we are on. Teaching our children to think for themselves and make the right choices eliminates a gang's ability to recruit them (for the most part).

It is the parents job to teach morals and values.
It is the parent's job to teach patience and understanding.
It is the parent's job to teach acceptance to societies rules and ideals.
It is the parent's job to teach how to make a proper change when change is needed.
It is the parent's responsibility to be a parent.
Not the school, not the church, not the TV, not the community, not a gang leader, not a city council, not a state law, not the federal government. The Parent.

there is another reason called SURVIVING ones environment.

in an environment scarce with other options, sometimes the only game in town to 'get ahead' or to even just 'stay safe' is to make sure you are 'belong' to a family that can protect you from harm

still boils down to a choice...either be a criminal gangster or not...once they are in a gang, it's nothing but a life of crime, regardless of what you think or how you wanna sugar coat it...

everything is a choice

if someone puts a gun to your head and tells you to cluck like a chicken or die,,

you can always CHOOSE to die, but if you CHOOSE to cluck, they call that duress,,,which is more about the TRUTH than it is sugar coating

many kids have no protection from death without that sense of a gang that has their back, they are still kids, so not only are these 'choices' made under duress but by CHILDREN who are naturally inexperienced and uninformed

so what is the harm in trying to help them CHANGE direction before its too late?

so how is throwing money at them going to stop these poor kids from being "forced" into a gang? seems like they still won't have a choice, according to what you just said...

because it gives the kids and the person holding the gun a third option that may seem more desirable,,,

More desirable to be a criminal!
They tried it here a couple of years ago, not for serious crimes though, they decided they needed a holiday, so that's what the judges gave them!
So someone trying there best, little family, working etc had no holiday yet the criminal has one!

lol...the guy holding the gun gets it all, from all his subordinates...these are CRIMINALS, not doctors or factory workers with any kind of honesty or any morals...not hard to figure out...

criminals get prosecuted and jailed if PROVEN guilty

those who are still not in the system 'get' other options which those who are 'trying' were already afforded,,,

wow, no kind of honesty or morals? ALL of them huh?

guess you got it all figured out then

have you even met a gangster?

yes, Ive met people who were in gangs, if thats what you mean by 'gangster'

Ok, but think of this :
By doing this and keeping them off the "system " it alters the crime figures considerably, thus making the justice and law system look like they have things under control!

i don't believe that...even you aren't that naive..

Gary glitter asked me years ago if I wanted to be in his gang, glad I didn't now, that didn't turn out so good!

just another liberal program to line someones pocket