debate breif gangs and juvenile violence affermative

Introduction I. -A Los Angeles family takes a
wrong turn into gang territory and is fired upon. A 3-year-old is
killed and her 2-year-old brother wounded. -A Chinese
immigrant in Brooklyn is kidnapped by a Chinatown gang which demands
ransom payments from her family. She is murdered when the
family fails to pay. -Two FBI agents and a police sergeant are murdered
inside the Washington, D.C. police headquarters by a gang
member. -A Pittsburgh police sergeant walking home with his
daughter is killed with his own gun after he stops and confronts a
gang spraying graffiti on a street.II. Resolved : that the Federal
Government should pass laws to prevent the development gang related
youth violence. Definitions- 1. Development: as
defined in Websters Dictionary is "to make more
elaborate; to enlarge"
2. Gang: as defined in Websters is "A group of persons who are
organized and work together or socialize regularly; a
group of adolescent hoodlums or criminals; gang up
on; to attack as a group." 3. Violence:
as defined in Websters is "Physical force or activity used to cause
harm, damage or abuse" 4. Youth: as
defined in Websters is "The appearance or state of appearing
young; the time of life when one is not considered a
adult; a young person" III. Our current juvenile justice system is no
longer adequate for today's hardened young gang members.
Demographics indicated this problem is not going away. In fact, only will
get worse. This is a serious problem that can not be left unchecked. If
this is not addressed it will only lead to the decay of our society. We must
take action to combat gangs in a new way. Vice President Albert Gore
recently told the White House press corps, "Gangs have been a major
cause of the growth in violent crime in the past decade." He cited a
Treasury Department report that found the presence of rival gangs, the

Bloods and the Crips, in 35 states and 58 cities across the country. At
the same press conference, Attorney General Janet Reno cited the
impact of disabling one gang in New Haven, Connecticut. Eighteen
members of the "Jungleboy" street gang were put in jail, and, according
to Reno, New Haven's murder rate fell by one-third in 1993. I. Outline of
Need ArgumentsA. Problem: Many highly rated experts warn of the
impending youth crime crisis. Youth violent crime has been rising
dramatically for more than a decade. An upward surge in youthful
perpetrators of violence is complemented by an unprecedented growth in
youth living with little or no adult supervision. Professor Dean Rojek, a
sociologist at the University of Georgia, says, "For decades violent
crimewas driven mostly by adults, with kids involved mostly in property
crime What's been changing isthat you have juveniles becoming much
more involved in violent offenses, with the use of weapons. Ifwe add to
this more babies, you could have a multiplier effect a mini explosion [in
violent crime byyouth]." Gang's only heighten this problem. California
authorities describe the youth gang as a "violent and insidious new form
of organized crime. Heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, (gangs)
are involved in drug trafficking, witness intimidation, extortion, and bloody
territorial wars. In some cases they are traveling out of state to spread
their violence and crime." According to the FBI, "The fastest growing
murder circumstance is juvenile gang killings." Almost one-third of Los
Angeles' homicides are gang related. Nationwide, the rate of
violentoffenses by gang members is three times as high as for non-gang
delinquents. "Unless we act now," says Attorney General Janet Reno, "to
stop young people from choosing a life of violence and crime, the
beginning of the 21st century could bring levels of violent crime to our
communities that far exceed what we have experienced." Reggie
Walton, a Washington, D.C. Superior Court judge who handles juvenile
cases, blames it on the disappearance of fathers. Walton says fathers

leave children to be raised by young mothers who themselves are often
struggling with mental or emotional problems, limited education, poverty
and addiction. Walton labels these children "walking time bombs." This
time bomb has been in the making for some time. Today, and historically,
young males commit far more crimes than other age groups. Teenagers
commit the largest portion of all crime in America. More than one-third of
all murders are committed by offenders under the age of twenty one.
More murders and robberies are committed by eight-teen year old males
than any other group. (Paul McNulty, "Natural Born Killers? Preventing
the Coming of Explosion of Teenage Crime", 1995) No matter the type
of gang, most gang members are male. A Chicago study of four police
districts found that only 2 to 5 percent of gang arrested were female.
These females are typicallyauxiliary gang members. Gang members
range in age from 8 to 22 years old, but there are exceptions where
tenure is often well beyond 22 to perhaps more than 40 years old. A
counselor in a juvenile detention facility in California said: "(If) you find a
gang member who comes from a complete nuclear family, a kid whohas
never been exposed to any kind of abuse, I'd like to meet him a real
'gangbanger' who comesfrom a happy, balanced home, who's got a good
opinion of himself. I don't think that kid exists." Sydney Harris, a
nationally syndicated columnist, said, "Gang members tend to be chronic
losers, who can accomplish nothing individually, or who live in so
depressed an environment that only bybanding together can they
exercise any influence over their lives. In both cases, they are as much
tobe pitied as condemned."B. Significance: Young males belonging to a
gang have been proved to be much more violent than non-gang
members: Orange County, California probation statistics indicate that
gang-related youth had significantly higher law-violation rates
(55.1 percent) than non-gang affiliated youth (26.4 percent). A
study of 20 years of data collected by Philadelphia's police gang

unit shows that "gangs engage in more violent behavior than do
delinquent non-gang groups." A study in Wisconsin found that most
violent crimes by youths were committed by groups of three
or more. This "pack" behavior, not surprisingly, seems to be at the core of
much of the rise in youth crime. A study of New York City
teenage gunshot victims found that 40 percent were shot during
school hours. Another study found that of children and teenagers
wounded in drive-by shootings in Los Angeles, 71 percent were
"documented members of street gangs."Not only do gang members tend
to be more violent than non-gang members, but gang membership
appears to prolong one's criminal career. One study found that a "large
portion of persistent and dangerous juvenile gang offenders become
even more serious adult offenders." Another study inCalifornia found that
previously-incarcerated gang members continued their lives of crime after
beingreleased. Gangs are spreading across the country and are not
just limited to major cities. Bernard Friedlander, a University of Hartford
psychology professor and a violence expert, says, "This is an American
problem, not an inner-city problem It's spreading slowly On one level
it's simple fadimitation but on another level the isolation of youth is just
as profound in some of the more stable areas as in the inner city." The
spread of gangs can be attributed to at least three factors. First, parents,
desiring to protect their gang-culture-saturated children from the
hometown gang's influence, send them to relatives acrossthe country.
Sometimes this strategy works. But many times this back fires and helps
transplant the gangculture into a new community. The drug trade has
created entrepreneurial gangs which fan out across the country to expand
their markets. Franchises of the Bloods and the Crips are now in most
metropolitan centers. With their expansion, they have introduced
collateral, gang-like violence, reminiscent of the Mob earlier in the
century. To an extent the entertainment industry contributes to the

spread of gangs. The gang culture, value system and mentality are
sprinkled across the country through movies and "gangsta" rap music.
These cultural amplifiers educate young audiences to gang values and
attitudes. They denigrate women, promote exaggerated manhood or
"machismo," and glorify violence. They also pass on gang language,
symbols, activities, and traditions.According to Justice Department
estimates, the United States has some 1,436 gangs and 120,636 gang
members. They exist in all size communities and in rural areas. The
Justice Department figures are disputed by the National School Safety
Center, which in 1993 estimated that the Los Angeles area alone has at
least 959 gangs with approximately 125,000 gang members. There
are many types of gangs. Some are black, white, Asian, Hispanic or other
ethnic-centered gangs. Others are structured around territory, commercial
activities, corporate businesses, political agendas, religion, music and
special types of crime. Race/ethnic-based gangs: Larry Rawles,
deputy director of Philadelphia's Crisis Intervention Network,
says, "When any ethnic group was at the bottom, they formed gangs
the Jews, the Irish, the Italians." Gangs offered status, a
sense of self-worth, and protection. Today, most gangs are
racially segregated (54.6 percent are African American and 32.6 percent
are Hispanic). Blacks and Hispanics constitute the
largest numbers of youths arrested for gang offenses today.
The all-black rival gangs, the Crips and the Bloods, have an
estimated 70,000 members in Los Angeles County alone. They
have franchises in most states and metropolitan communities where
they tend to dominate the crack cocaine trade. Darlyne
Pettinicchio, a probation officer in Orange County, California, says,
"(White gangs are) punk rockers and heavy metalers (who)
come from all socio-economic classes. They're of average
intelligence and they're capable youngsters. They have very little

parental authority. They're usually angry. Their dance is
violent. Their music is violent. Their behavior is violent.
They're into anarchy." Economic-based gangs: Some gangs are
organized around a commercial activity. Members may be all
from a single race or the same neighborhood or they may be very
diverse. The glue that holds them together is making money.
They often see themselves as Robin Hoods or Bonnie-and-Clyde
types who practice their own version of free enterprise. A close cousin is
the corporate gang, which selects a type of industry or
business and dominates the field through intimidation and
violence. Territorial gangs: can be from any race or ethnic
background. They lay claim to a particular territory. They
typically "tag" their territory with gang graffiti and are willing to defend
their turf to the death. Professor Cornel West, a Princeton University
social scholar, says in his book Race Matters"The frightening result is a
numbing detachment from others and a self-destructive disposition
towardthe world. Life without meaning, hope, and love breeds a
cold-hearted, mean-spirited outlook thatdestroys both the individual and
others." The youth gang satisfies a void. It provides the child a
sense of identity, belonging, power, andprotection. The gang satisfies the
child's desire to feel secure. Living in a high-risk environmentwithout
paternal protection, the young gangster satisfies his insecurities by
aligning himself with agang, his surrogate family. The gang provides a
protective barrier against the outside forces. One gang member says,
"Being in a gang means if I didn't have no family, I think that's where I'll
be. If I didn't have no job that's where I'd be. To me it's community help
without all the community. They'll understand better than my mother and
father." This new "family" has a distinct set of values that affect
every aspect of his life. According to the Los Angeles District Attorney, "It
confronts and confounds adult authority on every level sex, work,

power, love, education, language, dress, music, drugs, alcohol, violence.
As icons of popular culture, gangs not only represent a powerful group
identity utterly inaccessible to adults, they are surrounded with an
appealing aura of outlaw danger." "Tagging" their territory with gang
graffiti is common. It proclaims the presence of the gang and offers a
challenge to rivals. It may claim credit for a crime. The denser the graffiti,
the closer one is to thegang's core territory. The Crips often mark "B/K"
for "Bloods killers."The gang problem is obviously a enormous one for
Americas youth and must be dealt with swiftly and effectively. My partner
Tom will detail our plan later on in this debate.II. Outline of PlanA.
Program: This program will detail ways of preventing some
gang violence. No plan or program could ever get rid of the gang
problem as a whole. Our plan is primarily focused on prevention but also
includes some stricter laws as a deterrent to others. Our aim is to
significantly decrease the gang problem in America.1.Higher mandatory
school enrollment age:
Higher the age a child can legally withdraw from school to
the age of 18. This would make sure all children had a better education.
It would also keep many involved in school and off the streets, with out as
much time to commit to criminal behavior. Preventing "drop out's" from
causing trouble often related to gangs. A exception to this law would be
made for any High School or GED graduate. Cost: NONE;
funding for these students is already in place Enforcement: $50
fine for any illegal absence2.More "Real World" training in High Schools:
Make vocational
and other job specific classes more available. Not all teens can or want
to, go to Higher Education. If they had a career path right out of High
School many would not join gangs for economic reasons. Computer and
other high tech training will be available and well as the traditional
Automotive, Construction, ect. Cost: Federal Government will

not build one Stealth B-1 bomber plane ($1.1 billion). Funds
will be diverted to local school districts with the most need for
equipment. Enforcement:All federal funding
of schools will be revoked from any non compling local
jurisdictions3. National Curfue Law:
A 12:00
midnight to 5:00AM national curfew for all persons under the age of 18.
Exceptions would be made if the child was with a legal gardein or some
one over the age of 25. This has been very successful in reducing crime
some localities. Cost: NONEEnforcement:Any law
enforcement officer can issue a (maximum $75 minimum $20) citation
during regular patrol.4. Expand the Drug Free
School Zone Program:
Not only would drug penalties be doubled within a 1000
yard radius of any school but also any crime that could be linked to gang
activity the penalty would also be doubled. From a illegally parked car to
murder, all punishments doubled for known gang members. Cost:
Funded via. sin taxes on items such as alcohol and tobacco.
Money would pay for extra patrols of school areas
and added jail time for those convicted. Enforcement:Double punishment
for any illegal activities that could be related to gang
activities. Quadruple penalties for any gang members committing
a drug related crime in those areas.5.
"Drive by's" act of terrorism:
By labeling thing such as "drive by" shootings,
or any violence directed at the public in general, an act of terrorism they
would be a federal offense punishable by death. Committing a federal
offense normally carries a much higher sentence than that of local
jurisdictions, and is punishable by death no matter what state the crime
was done in. Cost: Negligible Enforcement:Punishable by

Death (Capital Offense); Mandatory life in prison for any adult
involved. Juvenile Mandatory 50 years. 6. Expand
programs such as Head Start:
Expand pre-kindergarden programs such as Head Start to
be avalible for all, just like public school. Will give millions of children, 2
and up, a preschool program who parents previously could not afford.
Also lets parents go to work and get off welfare programs. Cost:
The cost of the school would be offset by the amount of single
parents being able to go back to work and
therefor not relying of welfare and food stamps. Enforcement:
NONEB. Solvency: Individual programs such as Head Start, Curfew,
Real World Training, and Drug Free School zones, have all ready proved
there worthiness. Either by already partially implementation around the
country or full implementation in select cities and proven to work. New
ideas such as Drive By's a terrorist act, and increasing the legal age to
leave school are both very workable ideas but have not to my knowledge
been tested in any fashion. These two programs need to be tested for
say 1 year before being implementing for the entire county.C.
Advantages: While none of these six plans would do much to curb violent
gangs alone, all of them at the same time should make a noticed
difference. Also side benefits of my plan are: Free preschool for all
children older than 2 years of ageAllows single parents to work
Decreases gang and drug activity outside our schools Gets tough with the
most violent gang members Encourages kids to stay in schoolBetter
job training is offered for High SchoolersIII. Conclusion "We've got
so many kids out there who've lost hope, who believe in only living for
today," says John Turner, chief of police for the city of Mountlake Terrace,
Washington. "They join a gang and getinvolved in criminal activity
because there aren't any people taking them by the hand in simple
termsand pointing them in the right direction, giving them self-esteem and

positive feedback." Perhaps gangs exist because modern society has
failed to harness the male hunter/predator instinct and converted those
energies to familial provider/protector efforts. Delinquent young people
lacking values, conscience or a sense of remorse can easily find
themselves drawn to the gang lifestyle. Noted author James Q. Wilson
writes in The Moral Sense that modern society with its "rapidtechnological
change, intense division of labor, and ambiguous allocation of social
roles, frequentlyleaves some men out, with their aggressive pre
dispositions either uncontrolled or undirected. Gangsare one result."
Wilson says the profits from illegal drug sales provide gang members
economic opportunities which combine with their uncontrolled aggression
to develop a "warrior culture that under invests in family life."
Converting male energy to familial provider/protector efforts has always
been the task of the intact family. But the nuclear family is declining,
especially in predominantly black inner cities where gangs dominate life
and rain violent crime. Many of these children join gangs to find purpose,
security, and self-esteem. The gang culture gives them a sense of
belonging and remakes their value system.Partying, fighting, and vicious
gang loyalty become their primary values, thus pushing aside virtuesthat
favor family life. This is a vicious cycle and it must be broken. Given
that youth gangs account for a disproportionate share of youth violence,
their potential forcontributing to a future crime wave is enormous. A
recent decline in violent crime appears to be more a result of fewer
teenagers than better law enforcement. When the current bumper crop of
elementary-age children become adolescents, the violent crime rate is
likely to explode. Gangs are the powder magazine, they must be dealt
with before the bomb goes off. Rebuttal extensions-Population of 14-18
year oldsNow 17,620,4725 Years 18,628,635 + 6 %10
Years 20,284,601 + 15%