What Are Gangs Really?

Here is a short essay I wrote on current gangs. In school we had been studying The Outsiders by Hinton S.E, and this was a final prodject that I did on it.


What are Gangs Really?
   
     Many people believe that gangs are just a bunch of immature teens, looking for trouble. Many also believe gangs only appear in novels such as The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, and other fictional stories. Gangs are much, much more than that. They have reasons, they are real, and they may be closer than thought.

       First off, ten persent of America's teens have parental stress along with anger, hurt, and other hormonal issues. If teens have any one of these problems they feel that they have to prove to the world that they are "cooler" than that. Some of the things that today's teens consider "cool" include drinking alcohol under age, getting into trouble with the police, and smoking under age, along with many others. Children and teens rob stores, mug fellow students, and vandalize school property just out of peer pressure! Gangs are not always about the trouble, and they don’t like getting put in jail. That's why they run.

       Second, gangs are presented widely among novels, videos, and T.V. shows such as Bones, N.C.I.S., and The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton. This does not mean that they are all fictional characters. There are many real world gangs, like the Latin Kings, Devil's Disciples, and Los Zetas. These gangs are known for their cruel measures, and encounters with legal forces. They kidnap, mug, or even murder many real people, not just actors, as well as robing grocery stores and other petty crimes.

       In conclusion, gangs are everywhere, not just in the big cities or high schools. There are hundreds if not thousands of gangs made up of middle schoolers. Any kid can join, all they have to prove is that they are tough. These gangs may not go as far as murder, but they mug and bully younger children all the time. These small gangs may in the future be known nationwide for the same cruel acts as the current ones, but only if they are not stopped now. Gang safety is sparsely taught about around the nation, but it is underrated. Parents believe that their children are safe, that their children would never do a thing like that. How would they know better if they aren't taught differently? Understandably just telling them may not always be enough, but at least children will be warned.