RB> Okay, let me rephrase it for you then. Can you explain the social
 RB> phenomenon  where kids not even old enough to work join roving
 RB> criminal gangs in poor  neighborhoods?
Books have been written about the subject, so I will hit just a few high 
points. Parents nearly always figure into the equation. There have been many 
studies done on this subject, many with the gang members themselves. Many 
lack an adult role model in their homes they can respect. If dad is a dope 
dealer and mom is a prostitute, the teen would be called "at risk" for 
joining a street gang. A lack of love and belonging is another major reason, 
and this one goes right back home with the parents again. In fact, parental 
example, control, encouragement, and leadership is usually the root problem. 
This is not true 100% of the time, but the percentage would be very high.
If we bought all of your ravings about class and poverty, every kid who lived 
in a poor neighborhood would belong to a street gang. The vast majority of 
the kids who live in the poor neighborhoods don't belong to a street gang, so 
how do you explain this? There are many street gangs who live in rich 
neighborhoods, so how does this effect your class and poverty ravings?
There are many very successful programs that target and help "at risk" kids. 
Mentorship, Big Brother, Big Sister, and many other programs help to provide 
an adult role model these kids can respect. Many other programs attempt to 
get these kids off the street and involved in constructive activities. Sports 
would be an excellent example. Tutoring to keep a kid in school would be 
another excellent example. Lack of respect is another reason given by gang 
members why they joined. If they had nobody to encourage them, serve as a 
good example, push them toward accomplishments, and praise them for those 
accomplishments, how would you expect them to have respect.
It's really not much of a social phenomenon. There's really not much of a 
mystery why kids join street gangs, just lots of reasons I didn't even 
mention here. I think that I may have mentioned some of the major reasons.
Tom Rightmer - A Victims' Rights Advocate
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