Should we make gangs illegal?

We made drugs illegal. Did it help? No, it didn’t. It gave criminals a lucrative business opportunity.

Define a gang? Is it a group of people hanging out? Obviously the Bloods and Crips are easy to classify, but what about the looser groups.

Gangs ARE illegal. But only illegal gangs.

What is the difference between a club and a gang? Not much until they collectively (emphasis on “collectively”) break a law.

There are cities that have secured injunctions that prohibit certain people from gathering in groups of three or more, or in certain areas.

Let’s just outlaw the mafia and the Illuminati while we’re at it.

I really don’t think it would help, and runs the risk of infringing on the right to peaceably assemble.

Especially in Florida. Like the whole internet gambling thing. You might wake up to discover the legislature made Girl Scouts illegal by accident.

Absolutely YES! I hope one day they make gangs illegal, so that people could move around freely without the fear of been shot . But I don’t know how far it would be feasible. I don’t think kids are going to say NO by just making gangs illegal because most of them join gangs to feel accepted and earn quick money by dealing in the highly profitable drug trade. As parents we need to teach our children the risks of joining such gangs. We have to make sure that our children gets involved in positive activities, like scout club or hobby clubs. To a great extent we can reduce the risk of kids joining any gang by providing them the right information and care.

I don’t know how you would get around the right to PEACEABLY assemble. How would you define a gang? I could see this being abused. Would groups of Wiccans be considered a gang in the south? What about political protesters?

People who think making things illegal is a solution are hilarious.

Gangs are fine but we should make doing bad things illegal.

You’ve probably heard of RICO prosecutions in the news. RICO prosecutions do effectively outlaw criminal gangs.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) was designed to prosecute Mob activity, and it has been widely used against street gangs.

Instead of having to pick away at lots of single violations, they can charge individuals for being part of an organized group dedicated to breaking the law.

Wikipedia – Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

When I was in high school the mall here Gateway made it illegal to be in a group of more than five people. Mostly ignored if you were white and didn’t have a skateboard.

Yes, but it could be difficult to differentiate between a gang and a clique.