Gangs. What's it going to TAKE?

[hoarsewhisperer]

What’s it going to TAKE?

On my way to work this morning, more graffiti....again. It sickens me that these kids don’t have something worthwhile to pour all that negative, angry energy in to. So, always the brainstormer...what if someone stepped up to the plate and took the lead into solving this? Police? Some enigmatic outside person who will take on Dodge City’s ever growing problem of Gangs and Gang activity.

Let’s brainstorm! Not bash or be negative. Approach it with possibilities that could actually HELP.

Here is mine.

I say the City (yes, I said the City) fund a symposium that will invite these so called enigmatic speakers who hold a vast knowledge of Gangs and their psychological makeups .....invite the Gangs, speak to their hidden courage about joining together to do something with all that angst. Something that will make their parents and families proud. Something that will possibly break the cycle handed down to their brothers... A Social Call or appeal, if you will, to their honor....Let’s invite them to take all that bravado and Join the Service. If they are underage, let’s have them also be recruited to join early! More time to prepare themselves for their future and their country’s future. Why not give them A Future?

I know I’m babbling, but was just thinking. Anymore thinkers out there—> ???

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by hoarsewhisperer

What’s it going to TAKE?

On my way to work this morning, more graffiti....again. It sickens me that these kids don’t have something worthwhile to pour all that negative, angry energy in to. So, always the brainstormer...what if someone stepped up to the plate and took the lead into solving this? Police? Some enigmatic outside person who will take on Dodge City’s ever growing problem of Gangs and Gang activity.

Let’s brainstorm! Not bash or be negative. Approach it with possibilities that could actually HELP.

Here is mine.

I say the City (yes, I said the City) fund a symposium that will invite these so called enigmatic speakers who hold a vast knowledge of Gangs and their psychological makeups .....invite the Gangs, speak to their hidden courage about joining together to do something with all that angst. Something that will make their parents and families proud. Something that will possibly break the cycle handed down to their brothers... A Social Call or appeal, if you will, to their honor....Let’s invite them to take all that bravado and Join the Service. If they are underage, let’s have them also be recruited to join early! More time to prepare themselves for their future and their country’s future. Why not give them A Future?

I know I’m babbling, but was just thinking. Anymore thinkers out there—> ???

You don't need enigmatic speakers and a symposium that spends tax payers money. There are LOTS of activities to do in Dodge that good kids participate in. (Sports, theatre, college course..etc) The problem is no matter what how you profile most of these kids between their home life, what they have been taught values wise and the fact that most of them don't care about much....gang activity will not stop until you get tough on them. You will have less crime when the penalty is harsher than the risk of doing the crime. Imagine if we rounded... YEAH, I said ROUNDED UP...known gang bangers and had THEM out there in their colors scrubbing the graffiti off themselves..HOW bad would they think they were then. I would even pitch in for some of the material for them to do it. Work them from sun up to sun down, rain or shine. I know this would fire up Wordy and the ACLU but drastic times call for drastic measures. Your "social call" no offense....with gangs is like the Liberals wanting to sit down and have coffee and appease that idiot from Iran. Personally if any of my tax $ are going to be wasted on gangs I want it to be getting them off the streets...not having a symposium.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by hoarsewhisperer

Why not give them A Future?

I know I’m babbling, but was just thinking. Anymore thinkers out there—> ???

That's the problem...kids want to be GIVEN a future...you EARN your future by the mistakes you make..

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by hoarsewhisperer

A Social Call or appeal, if you will, to their honor....Let’s invite them to take all that bravado and Join the Service. If they are underage, let’s have them also be recruited to join early!

I'm not trying to be mean...but what do you think it takes to join the military? Come by my office sometime and I will give you the ASVAB test the about 50% of the DCHS can't pass. I'm speaking in generalizations here but MOST gang bangers would NOT qualify for the military at all. Hell half the kids here in school that are NOT in gangs can't pass the test. If they have ANY open law violations down to a parking ticket they cannot join. If they cannot pass the ASVAB test (and it's not given in spanish nor is it read to you), they cannot join. If they cannot pass a drug test for meth, coke, thc...you cannot join. If you have used drugs in your past you are VERY limited as to what you can do. If you have a Felony you are disqualified and in meritorious exceptions they will take you. Kids are screened and IF they are affiliated with a gang, have gang tatoo's or a gang record they are disqualified. We no not want gangs in the military. The Military is a professional organization...it is not a dump for the nations trash. What do you do? Perhaps we could take all the gang bangers and have them come work with you.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by hoarsewhisperer

Something that will make their parents and families proud.

A lot of these kids either don't know who their father is or are in one parent families. Their families have no values and that goes straight to the kid. Some parents are probably proud their kid gets away with something by beating the system...because that is what they do. These are the same parents that come here illegally and milk the system...steal from you and me...Make them proud?!?

[hoarsewhisperer]

boy do i feel stupid

[Army_of_One]

It's not to make you feel stupid...I apologize. That one just hit a nerve. (I have a few) If those are your beliefs that is fine I just disagree but I don't want you to change your beliefs. I just feel the measure you suggest wouldn't work and cost wasted money. If you think it will then it's your right to lobby for it.

[Army_of_One]

Detector...you have lived in Dodge awhile. What's your take on gangs? What do you think it would take?

[Tee]

If you are talking about Dodge City's gang problem....
Hell, that's simple!

enforcement of immigration laws

We send a daily message that our laws aren't really that important to the parents. You think the kids don't know that?

[hoarsewhisperer]

it's just frustrating to not know how to motivate or challenge these kids to a higher standard...