Gangs as domestic terrorists...

Wichita State, for my BB in Int'l Business, then to AMU for my MA in Disaster relief and Emergency Management.
Hooyah

 

yes they are both scum and a menice and both should be exterminated.

 

This has to be wrong. Im pretty sure thousands of people havent been killed this year in chicago.

 

I did a paper similar to this and I would have to say no, because of the above, particularly B (all of it). They aren't, to my knowledge, trying to influence policy or affect the government rule but they are intimidating and can cause a population to act differently.

 

I think they should...I mean whats the difference honestly

You don't have to have bombs strapped to your chest to be a terrorist...although it does help on the resume

 

x10000000

 

But to what extent do you define them as terrorists if we were to. I mean kid vandalizes a store. Suspected of being in a gang perhaps. Now we are looking at some troubled kid who lacks supervision being a suspected terrorists.

What about people who are not a controlling political party and say something that doesn't agree with that controlling party. Are they terrorists because they think policy should be different. Not to mention lack of first amendment rights, but to what extent do these gangs have rights. After all, we have the right to gather.

I am just playing devil's advocate but I think we must be careful with changing the way we treat our countrymen.

 

"Damn it feels good to be a gangstah, uh I mean terrorist"

 

Largely, I would say 'no' that most gangs do not qualify as domestic terrorists, because their goal is not to insight terror into the population to further their agenda.

However, that being said, certain groups like the KKK could be labeled as domestic terrorists, because their actions (and intent to a degree) are to instill fear in minority populations using violence and subversion to achieve a political goal (segregation and immigration policies).

The big determining factor are the goals of the organization, and the methods that organization uses to accomplish them. I would say that all terrorist organizations are gangs or mobs of some sorts, but not all gangs and mobs are terrorist organizations.

---The clear distinction must be made, because I fear that the word 'terrorist' is being used too interchangeably with the word 'criminal'. The word 'terrorist' evokes a must stronger public response, and politicians could use that (or currently are using that) word to justify legislation that restricts basic American rights (perhaps like the Patriot Act?) all in the name of 'combating terrorists/criminals'.

just my 2 cents though



----also, take a look at the 'new' concept of "home-grown terrorists"

 

Gangs also put fear in the minds and hearts of people and that is what Terrorists do all over the world Gangs are just as bad.

 

I said no previously and I got this when I got into the office this morning, I had it saved as a favorite (I get to work on papers at work when we aren't busy)
try http://www.fema.gov/hazard/terrorism/info.shtm for information

 

The boss lady has been wanting us to visit Chicago for a four day getaway weekend for a couple of years now. I told her any city where I'm not legally permitted to carry my concealed pistols, I'm not going!

 

yes, gangs do put fear into communities, but that is a byproduct of their criminal action, not necessarily the means to their ends. Most gangs' activities are drug related or gang-on-gang violence. The goal of pushing drugs is to attain as much money as possible, and gang-on-gang violence is a power struggle for control of different areas or lines of supply. Though both goals are wrong, and socially unacceptable, that does not align them with a terrorists goals.

Gangs are not 'just as bad' as terrorists. Gangs are bad, but I defy you to explain how the Bloods, or the Crypts are as bad as Alqaeda in Iraq, or the Ba'athists, or the Alqaeda in Afghanistan.

 

I voted no, because I feel gangs are targeting other groups of people for whatever reason. Primarly, I would think gangs are fighting over drug territory. I don't feel that gangs are attacking America for the values that it stands for. Domestic terrorism is, I feel ,when someone is attacking the values of and what America stands for or the government itself. I would bet that not too many gangs even keep up with politics or the government function. Maybe the KKK and other large "gangs" as the KKK, but I'm not sure I would classify the KKK as a gang or domestic terrorist group, more of a hybrid of the two.

 

IMHO, a terrorist is someone who tries to enforce their will on everyone through violent means. Killing rival drug dealers doesn't fit that mold to me. Killing the entire police force or seizing control of city hall does. Anything smaller than those two scenarios is just simple criminal activity.

 

While "gangs" as they exist now, should be eradicated as threats to public safety, I am concerned that any legislation denoting a "gang" as domestic terrorists will be equally, if not more forcefully, on organizations with a charter to restore government to the American people.

 

Gangs control people with fear. Sounds like the definition of Terrorist.

 

Are we going to classify the ATF as domestic terrorist too?

 

i'm amazed there are as many "no" votes as there are

 

What about gang initiation? It often involves crime against society. My friend's cousin was shot at a stoplight in Los Angeles about 3 years ago, police believed it was a gang initiation.

I voted yes.
Gangs obtain their money through robbery, extortion and drug trafficking;
They instill fear into the hearts of good people.
They are a menace to society.
They are armed to teeth and always looking to stir up a problem.
Courts pack them into jails like sardines.
Gang members should be hunted as terrorists.