Want to survive?-lose your identity.
Only followers have a chance of surviving in a gang. You will have to follow stricter rules than you ever would at school or home.
Here are the facts:
a top gang leader is usually one whom the others fear the most
gang rules and the leader’s orders must be obeyed-no questions asked
you get “promoted” in a gang by staying in it and by carrying out violent acts-like robbery or murder
“wanna-bes” act and dress like gang members.
Break gang rules-the punishment is death:
The day you join a gang you have to swear a “blood oath”-a promise to obey all the rules.
What happens if you break your promise? The punishment could be death. In fact, when you join a gang you will be told to plan your funeral in advance.
Gangs force people to break the law. Gangs peat up people. Gangs kill people. They are not there to help you.
There are no good reasons to join a gang:
1) Everybody is in a gang;
Wrong. At least 93 percent of all teenagers are not in gangs.
2) It’s a good way to make money:
Wrong. Gang members usually don’t get and education, so they can’t find well-paying jobs. They often end up in prison. And employers don’t like to hire people who have arrest records. Over a lifetime, gang members make far less money than those who are not in gangs.
3) It makes you more popular:
Wrong. Most other kids will think that you are too dangerous to hang out with. And the only friends you may have will be some of the kids who are in your own gang. You will have lots of enemies - all the members of rival gangs.
4) You have to join a gang for protection.
Wrong. Being in a gang increases your chances of being injured or killed. For example, last year in Los Angeles, 70 percent of the teens who were shot were gang members.
When you join a gang:
1) You commit to a life of crime and violence.
2) You gain instant enemies -- the members of rival gangs .
3) You won’t do well in school -- which means you will not be able to find a good job as an adult.
4) You will receive a final reward -- an early death.
A gang is not a family.
Why do teens join gangs?
Gang members are from both poor and wealthy neighborhoods and from big cities and small rural towns. What causes some teens to join gangs?
Most teen gang members have been forced to join. They have no choice -- they either join a gang or get hurt or killed.
They may come from broken homes and are looking for more family security.
They may be looking for acceptance. They don’t think anyone values them as human beings.
They are bored.
They think gangs will provide them things they value most -- expensive sneakers, leather jackets, gold rings, etc.
Gangs take advantage of all this. Gangs promise teens that they will take them in and take care of them – just like a family.
Gangs only offer false promises.
Here are some real things gang members are often asked to do:
Hurt or kill innocent people.
Perform heterosexual or homosexual acts, or both.
Allow yourself to be beat up in order to join the family.
Put yourself in danger of injury, disease, prison, and death.
Would a caring family ask you to do these things?
Gangs affect everyone.
Communities.
Gangs harm communities by:
Dealing drugs in their neighborhoods. Rival gangs fight for control so communities turn into war zones. Innocent people are injured or die in gang shoot-outs.
Threatening local business owners and forcing them to pay money for protection.
Defacing buildings with spray paint. Gang members often use graffiti to warn rival gangs to stay out of the area.
Beating up or killing people in their neighborhoods.
Schools.
In some places, gangs operate in schools. Gang members may:
Force other kids to join gangs.
Make kids pay protection money or face being beat up
Steal or destroy school property
Create a climate of fear to intimidate students and staff
Start fights and beat up kids
Gangs are always trying to get new members.
Gangs must expand into larger areas in order to thrive. As gangs expand, they force innocent people to join
Gangs need new members to replace ones that go to jail
Some gang members move out of the cities to look for new places where they can carry out their illegal activities. They still sell drugs and recruit new gang members.
Stay out of gangs.
Here are some things you can do to keep from being involved with gangs.
If you are threatened by gang members, don’t overreact. Stay cool and try not to act scared.
Ignore their threats or state that you have no argument with gang members.
If the threats continue, tell your parents, the police, or school officials. They can – and will – take steps to protect you.
Don’t dress or act like you want to join a gang.
You may be able to use peer pressure to oppose gangs in your school. If you can get other kids to stand with you, a group of kids may be able to keep gangs from causing trouble in school.
You have a choice.
When it comes down to it, staying out of a gang is up to you.
Think about what you really want out of life.
Involve yourself in things you enjoy: sports, after-school recreation programs, YMCA programs, summer jobs, clubs, scouts, volunteer groups.
Set goals and make plans as to what you want to do in the future. Tell others about your goals.
What is your life worth?
Joining a gang can cost you more than you think.
What do you really know about gangs?
Gangs have no good purpose. They are groups of violent youths who terrorize other gang members and innocent people. Many teens are misled into joining gangs because they think it will improve their lives.
Take the quiz below to find out how much you know about gangs.
T F 1) gangs are only located in large cities.
T F 2) to prove themselves, new members often must beat an innocent person, rob a store, or shoot someone.
T F 3) most gang members plan their funerals in advance.
T F 4) today, most teens belong to gangs.
T F 5) gang members treat each other like “family”.
T F 6) most teen gang members have been forced to join.
What could you do if a gang member tried to pressure you into joining a gang?
Source: http://www.hopefs.org/Behavior/TeensandGangs.html
