Gang Violence
Strange as it may sound gang members seek affinity through gang violence. Gang violence is often one of the many activities that gang members need to participate in if they are to stay members within the gang. By perpetuating gang violence, a member is effectively sharing in the corporate responsibility of the gang. Even if a member is not directly involved in gang violence, he becomes a part of the notoriety of the gang if the gang violence gets attention. New members benefit from the reputation of gang violence from established gangs and no doubt many will even try and execute something worse to gain respect. Interestingly enough though, depending of the gang, certain members are not permitted to participate in certain aspects of gang violence. In this case certain acts of gang violence creates a hierarchy within gangs. These reserved acts of gang violence are also used to maintain respect within a group and members can be punished for committing the wrong acts of gang violence.
I do not believe that all members of a gang are violent, but I believe that the practice of gang violence becomes necessary if on one is to partake in the benefits. The take in this view the benefits of gang violence ironically become the sense of family, gaining respect or even feeling loved. Since gang violence is often carried out on others, the said gang violence destroys others but builds something almost impenetrable and lovely for those on the inside. I am sure some new members are taken by surprise by the level of gang violence they must participate in whether to be initiated into the gang or keeping their place within the tribe. Getting involved in gangs comes with signing up to gang violence of unfolding nature, since there is no way to find out what is involved before you actually get involved.
Looking at gang violence from these perspectives makes one sympathetic towards gang members. While gang members have to be made accountable for acts of gang violence, more needs to be done by way of psychology when they are caught. Gang members perpetrating gang violence does not necessarily see it as such. They see gang violence as justifiable acts of retaliation. Sometimes the gang violence is not in direct relation to another gang but a way of getting back at parents, and authority who have given up on or may have abused the perpetrators of these acts of gang violence. For example: raping women as an act of gang violence, may be a way of getting back at some girl who the perpetrator may have felt disrespected him. While we cannot use the past to justify the action, it helps to explain it and predict and by chance reduce the future occurrence of it.
Gang violence is also used to intimidate. Perpetrated long enough, these acts of violence can evoke fear in all levels of society including other gangs. For example: one just has to think the word mafia and it conjures up images of gang violence.
One will also hear gangs say their practice of gang violence is for defense. They do not practice gang violence unless they are attacked. As such, their practice of gang violence is justifiable and should be accepted. It runs on this premise, since we will be attacked, we have a right to defend ourselves. Whether or not that is true is another story. Whatever the case though, the incidence of gang violence must be reduced and eventually eradicated as gang violence can include anything from hijacking, kidnapping and theft to rape, torture and murder .