Gangs are a violent reality that people have to deal with in today's society. What caused these gangs to form? Why do kids feel that being in a gang is acceptable as well as a good way to live? These are two questions that we ask ourselves everyday and although the long-range answers can only be speculated upon, the short-term answer is much easier to find.

On the surface, gangs are a direct result of human beings personal wants as well as peer pressure. To determine how to effectively end gang violence we must first find out how these morals are brought on to the individual. Unfortunately these can only be hypothesized. However, by looking at the way humans are influenced in society, I believe that there is good evidence to point the blame at several institutions. These include the forces of the media, the government, theatre, drugs and our economic system.

Gangs are caused by peer pressure and greed. Many gangs will pressure peers into becoming part of the gang by making it sound really good. Money is also a factor. A peer is shown that they can make between two to four hundred dollars for small part time gang jobs. Although these are import

Once this violent mentality is installed in children they become more prone to being pushed into a gang situation by any problem at home or school. For instance, in poor families with many children or upper-middle class families where parents are always working, the child will often feel deprived of love. Children of these families may often go to a gang out of boredom and to belong somewhere. As time passes a form of love and friendship develops between the gang and the child. It is then that the bond between the two is completed because the gang has effectively taken the place of the family.

Gore in television also takes a big part in influencing young minds. Young children view gory scenes and are fascinated by what they see but are unaware of the dangers that proceed. A young child does not see blood and violence as a bad thing. Children raised with this type of show violence are more susceptible to becoming violent and thus turn to a gang for support.

So as you can see, if television leads a child to believe that violence is the norm, this will manifest itself in the actions of the child, quite often in a gang situation. This is especially the case when parents don't spend a lot of time with the chil

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Approximate Word count = 826
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)