http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614 The Californian on Sunday began what will be a continuing series on gangs in Bakersfield. Gang activity in recent years has reached out to touch almost everyone in Bakersfield, be it graffiti on block walls or&nbsp; a shooting death at Valley Plaza or a southwest neighborhood where people were playing cards in a garage. This isn't new in Bakersfield. Back when the Bakersfield Dodgers were in town, my wife wanted me to accompany my 9-year-old son to the restroom. I protested he was old enough to go by himself. But husbands obey this kind of stuff and right outside the restroom were two gang members arguing with each other &mdash; at a Bakersfield Dodgers game! My daughter was slugged by a girl gang member at the McDonald's on Ming Avenue. Both of my kids took active steps to stay away from gangs at West High School. As a reporter, I've covered my share of gang killings and gang drug activity.&nbsp; I got to be friends with Felix Cruz Martinez before his arrest and eventual conviction for killing three adults and wounding a toddler on Brown Street in 2001. He epitomized the gang culture of keeping witnesses quiet and blaming police for putting his life in danger by linking him to the homicides for which he ultimately was sentenced to life in prison. It's a tough world out there. A lot different than the great television comedy Our Gang featuring Spanky and Alfalfa that was filmed in black and white during the 20s, 30s and 40s. Have you been touched in any way by gang activity? Posted by Steve E. Swenson The Californian on Sunday began what will be a continuing series on gangs in Bakersfield. Gang activity in recent years has reached out to touch almost everyone in Bakersfield, be it graffiti on block walls or&nbsp; a shooting death at Valley Plaza or a southwest neighborhood where people were playing cards in a garage. This isn't new in Bakersfield. Back when the Bakersfield Dodgers were in town, my wife wanted me to accompany my 9-year-old son to the restroom. I protested he was old enough to go by himself. But husbands obey this kind of stuff and right outside the restroom were two gang members arguing with each other &mdash; at a Bakersfield Dodgers game! My daughter was slugged by a girl gang member at the McDonald's on Ming Avenue. Both of my kids took active steps to stay away from gangs at West High School. As a reporter, I've covered my share of gang killings and gang drug activity.&nbsp; I got to be friends with Felix Cruz Martinez before his arrest and eventual conviction for killing three adults and wounding a toddler on Brown Street in 2001. He epitomized the gang culture of keeping witnesses quiet and blaming police for putting his life in danger by linking him to the homicides for which he ultimately was sentenced to life in prison. It's a tough world out there. A lot different than the great television comedy Our Gang featuring Spanky and Alfalfa that was filmed in black and white during the 20s, 30s and 40s. Have you been touched in any way by gang activity? Posted by Steve E. Swenson en-us <p>Gang affiliation is bred by poor parenting.&nbsp; who in their right mind allows their adolescents out past 8 pm on a school night with a spray paint can, a gun, and a bunch of bald headed, hood wearing friends?&nbsp; What kind of parents does it take to ignore the gang affiliation signs?&nbsp; tatoos, scummy friends, drop in grades, drug use......etc?</p> <p>our city leaders have it all wrong, they are going after the result of the problem of poor parenting, gangs, not the root ofthe problem itself, poor parenting/lack of parenting.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>in the meantime, in my opinion, gang affiliation needs to be an immediate&nbsp;death sentence....a zero tolerance, because, as a taxpayer too, it nerves me to no end that my taxes go to coddling this type of garbage in our prision system</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>and proper thanks for this type of behavior needs to be given to all the liberals whose social programs like welfare, and anything else that allows people to sit at home, get money for doing nothing, to be spent on anything, and become disconnected with their children, have placed these types of social ills on our society.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83411 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83411 <p>Gang affiliation is bred by poor parenting.&nbsp; who in their right mind allows their adolescents out past 8 pm on a school night with a spray paint can, a gun, and a bunch of bald headed, hood wearing friends?&nbsp; What kind of parents does it take to ignore the gang affiliation signs?&nbsp; tatoos, scummy friends, drop in grades, drug use......etc?</p> <p>our city leaders have it all wrong, they are going after the result of the problem of poor parenting, gangs, not the root ofthe problem itself, poor parenting/lack of parenting.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>in the meantime, in my opinion, gang affiliation needs to be an immediate&nbsp;death sentence....a zero tolerance, because, as a taxpayer too, it nerves me to no end that my taxes go to coddling this type of garbage in our prision system</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>and proper thanks for this type of behavior needs to be given to all the liberals whose social programs like welfare, and anything else that allows people to sit at home, get money for doing nothing, to be spent on anything, and become disconnected with their children, have placed these types of social ills on our society.</p> <p><font color="#0000ff">&quot;in the meantime, in my opinion, gang affiliation needs to be an immediate&nbsp;death sentence....a zero tolerance, because, as a taxpayer too, it nerves me to no end that my taxes go to coddling this type of garbage in our prision system&quot;</font></p> <p>Well, you sure don't know much about how the prison system deals with gang-affiliated inmates.&nbsp; It isn't &quot;coddling.&quot;&nbsp; It's creating a brutal, shark-on-shark environment that defies even the fiercest attempts to control it.&nbsp; It's inmates who smuggle&nbsp;around knives up their butts to carry out the stabbings and murders that prison gang leaders order.</p> <p>If an inmate is identified as a gang member, you get sent to a gang segregated prison -- aka the shark tank.&nbsp; One such facility is in Tehachapi.</p> <p>And they come out being better and colder killers than they ever were before.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83418 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83418 <p><font color="#0000ff">&quot;in the meantime, in my opinion, gang affiliation needs to be an immediate&nbsp;death sentence....a zero tolerance, because, as a taxpayer too, it nerves me to no end that my taxes go to coddling this type of garbage in our prision system&quot;</font></p> <p>Well, you sure don't know much about how the prison system deals with gang-affiliated inmates.&nbsp; It isn't &quot;coddling.&quot;&nbsp; It's creating a brutal, shark-on-shark environment that defies even the fiercest attempts to control it.&nbsp; It's inmates who smuggle&nbsp;around knives up their butts to carry out the stabbings and murders that prison gang leaders order.</p> <p>If an inmate is identified as a gang member, you get sent to a gang segregated prison -- aka the shark tank.&nbsp; One such facility is in Tehachapi.</p> <p>And they come out being better and colder killers than they ever were before.</p> <div class="blogcommentbody"> <p><font color="#0000ff">&quot;in the meantime, in my opinion, gang affiliation needs to be an immediate&nbsp;death sentence....a zero tolerance, because, as a taxpayer too, it nerves me to no end that my taxes go to coddling this type of garbage in our prision system&quot;</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">Well, you sure don't know much about how the prison system deals with gang-affiliated inmates.&nbsp; It isn't &quot;coddling.&quot;&nbsp; It's creating a brutal, shark-on-shark environment that defies even the fiercest attempts to control it.&nbsp; It's inmates who smuggle&nbsp;around knives up their butts to carry out the stabbings and murders that prison gang leaders order.</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">If an inmate is identified as a gang member, you get sent to a gang segregated prison -- aka the shark tank.&nbsp; One such facility is in Tehachapi.</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">And they come out being better and colder killers than they ever were before.</font></p> <p>so, the following are to serve as punishment???</p> <ul> <li>three hots and a cot&nbsp;&nbsp; </li> <li>access to medical, dental, psychological doctors </li> <li>air condtioning and heat </li> <li>getting your own cell, and not being raped by bubba </li> <li>gang affiliation in prision </li> <li>The ability to watch television...and I am sure I am missing something</li> </ul> <p>I do not see how any of this serves as a punishment for crimes committed against society.&nbsp; and btw, who foots the bill for these LOSER gang members to flourish in prision????their victims, the taxpayers.</p> <p>obviously, you have no friends that are CO's....talk to some, you'll be surprised</p> </div> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83426 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83426 <div class="blogcommentbody"> <p><font color="#0000ff">&quot;in the meantime, in my opinion, gang affiliation needs to be an immediate&nbsp;death sentence....a zero tolerance, because, as a taxpayer too, it nerves me to no end that my taxes go to coddling this type of garbage in our prision system&quot;</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">Well, you sure don't know much about how the prison system deals with gang-affiliated inmates.&nbsp; It isn't &quot;coddling.&quot;&nbsp; It's creating a brutal, shark-on-shark environment that defies even the fiercest attempts to control it.&nbsp; It's inmates who smuggle&nbsp;around knives up their butts to carry out the stabbings and murders that prison gang leaders order.</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">If an inmate is identified as a gang member, you get sent to a gang segregated prison -- aka the shark tank.&nbsp; One such facility is in Tehachapi.</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">And they come out being better and colder killers than they ever were before.</font></p> <p>so, the following are to serve as punishment???</p> <ul> <li>three hots and a cot&nbsp;&nbsp; </li> <li>access to medical, dental, psychological doctors </li> <li>air condtioning and heat </li> <li>getting your own cell, and not being raped by bubba </li> <li>gang affiliation in prision </li> <li>The ability to watch television...and I am sure I am missing something</li> </ul> <p>I do not see how any of this serves as a punishment for crimes committed against society.&nbsp; and btw, who foots the bill for these LOSER gang members to flourish in prision????their victims, the taxpayers.</p> <p>obviously, you have no friends that are CO's....talk to some, you'll be surprised</p> </div> <p>Funny, I live right next door to a correctional officer.</p> <p>Go get locked up sometime and tell me how coddled you feel.</p> <p>Tell me where my facts are wrong, rather than just blustering.</p> <p>Meanwhile, here's one of yours: &quot;getting your own cell, and not being raped by bubba &quot;</p> <p>You're clueless if you think that 1) most inmates in gang segregated facilities live one per cell, and 2) prison violence&nbsp;only takes place in cells.&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83432 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83432 <p>Funny, I live right next door to a correctional officer.</p> <p>Go get locked up sometime and tell me how coddled you feel.</p> <p>Tell me where my facts are wrong, rather than just blustering.</p> <p>Meanwhile, here's one of yours: &quot;getting your own cell, and not being raped by bubba &quot;</p> <p>You're clueless if you think that 1) most inmates in gang segregated facilities live one per cell, and 2) prison violence&nbsp;only takes place in cells.&nbsp;</p> <p>who said anything about violence in prision only occuring in cells...&nbsp; taking my post, and making it fit into your agenda..typical liberal</p> <p>and then the typical liberal response to inflamation, is the personal attack, </p> <p><font color="#0000ff">You're clueless if you think that </font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">I wouldn't expect anything less of you.</font></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83437 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83437 <p>who said anything about violence in prision only occuring in cells...&nbsp; taking my post, and making it fit into your agenda..typical liberal</p> <p>and then the typical liberal response to inflamation, is the personal attack, </p> <p><font color="#0000ff">You're clueless if you think that </font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">I wouldn't expect anything less of you.</font></p> <p>Once again, no refutations of my facts at all.&nbsp; Personl attacks and namecalling are your meds.</p> <p>The best reason to support the Second Amendment is the thought of a rampaging government manned by people like you.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83443 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83443 <p>Once again, no refutations of my facts at all.&nbsp; Personl attacks and namecalling are your meds.</p> <p>The best reason to support the Second Amendment is the thought of a rampaging government manned by people like you.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Yes , I think we need a death sentence for gangs, and for suspicion of being a gang member as well as for thinking of becoming a gang member.<br /> Obviously they should not get all the perks as Anny points out, all those incarceration perks we envy. But along with that deny them education such as HAD is planning to do, don't let them learn to read or write or count that drug money.<br /> And don't give the a chance it doesn't pay keep all those recreation programs in the good are like the Southwest and Northwest where they are appreciated. Just send those swat teams to these areas and keep harassing them day and night, and if they try to get jobs, work to make them lose that job they don;t deserve. and don't let up on the publicity get every naive reporter you can find for a pre-set ride-along but don't let them inside , they might see how you really work these guys over.<br /> Come to think of it , we should have a law that declares a paint van as a weapon and have the penalty set at death to save money it should be winning situation as our heroic Ed Jagels can convict a ham sandwich.<br /> The only negative side to the death sentence is not that it is against the Bible because as Christians we can easily override that notion, the bad result is unemployment for prison personnel and lack of cemetery space unless the take the Holocaust route.<br /> But the good part is that many of us can get jobs as executioners, now their is a JOB! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83444 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83444 Yes , I think we need a death sentence for gangs, and for suspicion of being a gang member as well as for thinking of becoming a gang member.<br /> Obviously they should not get all the perks as Anny points out, all those incarceration perks we envy. But along with that deny them education such as HAD is planning to do, don't let them learn to read or write or count that drug money.<br /> And don't give the a chance it doesn't pay keep all those recreation programs in the good are like the Southwest and Northwest where they are appreciated. Just send those swat teams to these areas and keep harassing them day and night, and if they try to get jobs, work to make them lose that job they don;t deserve. and don't let up on the publicity get every naive reporter you can find for a pre-set ride-along but don't let them inside , they might see how you really work these guys over.<br /> Come to think of it , we should have a law that declares a paint van as a weapon and have the penalty set at death to save money it should be winning situation as our heroic Ed Jagels can convict a ham sandwich.<br /> The only negative side to the death sentence is not that it is against the Bible because as Christians we can easily override that notion, the bad result is unemployment for prison personnel and lack of cemetery space unless the take the Holocaust route.<br /> But the good part is that many of us can get jobs as executioners, now their is a JOB! <div class="blogcommentbody"><font color="#0000ff">Yes , I think we need a death sentence for gangs, and for suspicion of being a gang member as well as for thinking of becoming a gang member.<br /> Obviously they should not get all the perks as Anny points out, all those incarceration perks we envy. But along with that deny them education such as HAD is planning to do, don't let them learn to read or write or count that drug money.<br /> And don't give the a chance it doesn't pay keep all those recreation programs in the good are like the Southwest and Northwest where they are appreciated. Just send those swat teams to these areas and keep harassing them day and night, and if they try to get jobs, work to make them lose that job they don;t deserve. and don't let up on the publicity get every naive reporter you can find for a pre-set ride-along but don't let them inside , they might see how you really work these guys over.<br /> Come to think of it , we should have a law that declares a paint van as a weapon and have the penalty set at death to save money it should be winning situation as our heroic Ed Jagels can convict a ham sandwich.<br /> The only negative side to the death sentence is not that it is against the Bible because as Christians we can easily override that notion, the bad result is unemployment for prison personnel and lack of cemetery space unless the take the Holocaust route.<br /> But the good part is that many of us can get jobs as executioners, now their is a JOB!</font></div> <div class="blogcommentbody"><font color="#0000ff"></font></div> <div class="blogcommentbody"><font color="#000000">your sarcasm comes on strong in the end.</font></div> <div class="blogcommentbody"></div> <div class="blogcommentbody">the bible does differentiate the difference between committing murder during peace time and killing in a time of war.&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you not think we are at war with gangs?&nbsp; bacause the gang members sure think they are at war.</div> <div class="blogcommentbody"></div> <div class="blogcommentbody">so i am to take it that you think having a prision industry is a good thing?&nbsp; taxpayer money spent on overpaid (100k a year, plus great bennies for less than a College education) babysitters.</div> <div class="blogcommentbody"></div> <div class="blogcommentbody">you point out so many things wrong with our society,and seemingly accept them.....why???</div> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83456 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83456 <div class="blogcommentbody"><font color="#0000ff">Yes , I think we need a death sentence for gangs, and for suspicion of being a gang member as well as for thinking of becoming a gang member.<br /> Obviously they should not get all the perks as Anny points out, all those incarceration perks we envy. But along with that deny them education such as HAD is planning to do, don't let them learn to read or write or count that drug money.<br /> And don't give the a chance it doesn't pay keep all those recreation programs in the good are like the Southwest and Northwest where they are appreciated. Just send those swat teams to these areas and keep harassing them day and night, and if they try to get jobs, work to make them lose that job they don;t deserve. and don't let up on the publicity get every naive reporter you can find for a pre-set ride-along but don't let them inside , they might see how you really work these guys over.<br /> Come to think of it , we should have a law that declares a paint van as a weapon and have the penalty set at death to save money it should be winning situation as our heroic Ed Jagels can convict a ham sandwich.<br /> The only negative side to the death sentence is not that it is against the Bible because as Christians we can easily override that notion, the bad result is unemployment for prison personnel and lack of cemetery space unless the take the Holocaust route.<br /> But the good part is that many of us can get jobs as executioners, now their is a JOB!</font></div> <div class="blogcommentbody"><font color="#0000ff"></font></div> <div class="blogcommentbody"><font color="#000000">your sarcasm comes on strong in the end.</font></div> <div class="blogcommentbody"></div> <div class="blogcommentbody">the bible does differentiate the difference between committing murder during peace time and killing in a time of war.&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you not think we are at war with gangs?&nbsp; bacause the gang members sure think they are at war.</div> <div class="blogcommentbody"></div> <div class="blogcommentbody">so i am to take it that you think having a prision industry is a good thing?&nbsp; taxpayer money spent on overpaid (100k a year, plus great bennies for less than a College education) babysitters.</div> <div class="blogcommentbody"></div> <div class="blogcommentbody">you point out so many things wrong with our society,and seemingly accept them.....why???</div> <p>Last year I was on the bus and a gang member got on and was talking with some people he knew. He first admitted that the police chased him out of this side of town and told him to stay on the other side and a few minutes later he was bragging on how he decides who lives or dies. </p> <p>I read the stories of gang members who have killed innocent people for enjoyment and whatever reasons and they did not get caught by the law but were killed by their own kind. </p> <p>I read the story yesterday and got this from it. This gang member has to be careful on where to travel in this town or get stared at the wrong way or shot. Where is the benefit in that? They act all cocky but when the law pulls them over its a complete attitude and  a 3 year old could shoot better than they can. The place I live has got the gang members out and they couldnt figure out who snitched on them. </p> <p>They and drug dealers are beneath me and I grown tired of being afraid of them So I am not anymore. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83460 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83460 <p>Last year I was on the bus and a gang member got on and was talking with some people he knew. He first admitted that the police chased him out of this side of town and told him to stay on the other side and a few minutes later he was bragging on how he decides who lives or dies. </p> <p>I read the stories of gang members who have killed innocent people for enjoyment and whatever reasons and they did not get caught by the law but were killed by their own kind. </p> <p>I read the story yesterday and got this from it. This gang member has to be careful on where to travel in this town or get stared at the wrong way or shot. Where is the benefit in that? They act all cocky but when the law pulls them over its a complete attitude and  a 3 year old could shoot better than they can. The place I live has got the gang members out and they couldnt figure out who snitched on them. </p> <p>They and drug dealers are beneath me and I grown tired of being afraid of them So I am not anymore. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>I'm curious about the statistics, if there are any readily available, relating to the apparent increase in gang populations and the decrease in vocational education/hands-on classes in schools.&nbsp; Not just high schools, but at the junior high level where a lot of these kids start affiliating.&nbsp; </p> <p>I'll give you the poor parenting, to a point.&nbsp; All to often the gang affiliation is generational and that is where I would point the parenting issues.&nbsp; To be a part of a gang is being part of a family or group.&nbsp; Adolescent and teen years are times when being a part of something bigger is a driving force in these kids, whether they are aware of it or not.&nbsp; Sure we can push them to belong to clubs at school or church, but often they desire something that truely matters to them and or need something that is more physical to get the excess emotional energy out with.&nbsp; Parents need to investigate opportunities that are truely do-able, as follow through is extremely important.&nbsp; Karate and&nbsp;boxing are fantastic for getting rid of that energy, and not just for boys.</p> <p>What I'm talking about is preventive measures.&nbsp; As far as how to deal with kids who are already trapped in the gang system, I haven't a clue.&nbsp; If it was just about them acting out by wearing certain clothes, or shaving their heads, or even tattoos, it would be easy.&nbsp; Perhaps it's about truely educating them about what the gangs they are affiliating are about.&nbsp; There is a romantic notion about being in a gang and sometimes that's all they know and all they hear about from friends.&nbsp; </p> <p>I was lucky to have attended a scared straight type presentation held at Wasco Prison.&nbsp; It was excellent and though it didn't directly impress all who attended, it was obvious that it made an impact on some of them.&nbsp; Perhaps that's what we need to do, maybe putting juvenile offenders into a special program at an adult prison, where cooperating inmates, give them a taste of life at that level of incarceration as the gang members that they are.&nbsp; A week or two would probably make a pretty good impression, as the brief scared straight&nbsp;program doesn't have a chance to really get into their longterm memory nor is any physical impression possible.&nbsp;True, they may get beat up or injured in one way or another, but they would be facing similar odds if they continued on their present path.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83463 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83463 <p>I'm curious about the statistics, if there are any readily available, relating to the apparent increase in gang populations and the decrease in vocational education/hands-on classes in schools.&nbsp; Not just high schools, but at the junior high level where a lot of these kids start affiliating.&nbsp; </p> <p>I'll give you the poor parenting, to a point.&nbsp; All to often the gang affiliation is generational and that is where I would point the parenting issues.&nbsp; To be a part of a gang is being part of a family or group.&nbsp; Adolescent and teen years are times when being a part of something bigger is a driving force in these kids, whether they are aware of it or not.&nbsp; Sure we can push them to belong to clubs at school or church, but often they desire something that truely matters to them and or need something that is more physical to get the excess emotional energy out with.&nbsp; Parents need to investigate opportunities that are truely do-able, as follow through is extremely important.&nbsp; Karate and&nbsp;boxing are fantastic for getting rid of that energy, and not just for boys.</p> <p>What I'm talking about is preventive measures.&nbsp; As far as how to deal with kids who are already trapped in the gang system, I haven't a clue.&nbsp; If it was just about them acting out by wearing certain clothes, or shaving their heads, or even tattoos, it would be easy.&nbsp; Perhaps it's about truely educating them about what the gangs they are affiliating are about.&nbsp; There is a romantic notion about being in a gang and sometimes that's all they know and all they hear about from friends.&nbsp; </p> <p>I was lucky to have attended a scared straight type presentation held at Wasco Prison.&nbsp; It was excellent and though it didn't directly impress all who attended, it was obvious that it made an impact on some of them.&nbsp; Perhaps that's what we need to do, maybe putting juvenile offenders into a special program at an adult prison, where cooperating inmates, give them a taste of life at that level of incarceration as the gang members that they are.&nbsp; A week or two would probably make a pretty good impression, as the brief scared straight&nbsp;program doesn't have a chance to really get into their longterm memory nor is any physical impression possible.&nbsp;True, they may get beat up or injured in one way or another, but they would be facing similar odds if they continued on their present path.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="Armed Neighborhood Watch" src="http://people.bakersfield.com/file/picture/24093/1/0/" /><a href="http://people.bakersfield.com/file/picture/24093/1/0/"></a></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83464 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83464 <p><img alt="Armed Neighborhood Watch" src="http://people.bakersfield.com/file/picture/24093/1/0/" /><a href="http://people.bakersfield.com/file/picture/24093/1/0/"></a></p> One thing that nobody here mentioned is the imprisoned gang-bangers who <em>run their gangs from behind bars!</em>  They have enough "brothers" on the outside who continue to do their bidding.  And when they get out, it's business as usual.  Prison time changes nothing. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83466 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83466 One thing that nobody here mentioned is the imprisoned gang-bangers who <em>run their gangs from behind bars!</em>  They have enough "brothers" on the outside who continue to do their bidding.  And when they get out, it's business as usual.  Prison time changes nothing. Precisely. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83467 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83467 Precisely. Whine, whine whine, you jealous fool! do you really believe that the gang problem is as simple as you are. The war with gangs like the war on drugs and the war on terror for that matter are elective wars designed to satisfy constituencies.<br /> If you do not have enough money for a certain cause, invent a war, that brings in new resources which increase the size of the empire but do little to solve the problem.<br /> If they took the money they spend on these problems and gave it directly to those who cause the problem, it would not be less wasted than building an army and would be less expensive.<br /> These law enforcement wars are well meant however, the are build in the model of a pyramid scheme where you have to give people money so that they can entice others to get money but the originators always get the biggest and longest lasting share of the take, while still producing a substandard product, so perhaps just culling them out by killing them legally is the Christian way. What is a life worth anyway when you cannot even enjoy a BBQ in your back yard without worrying about gangs and the problems they MAY cause you. These wars make careers,Carson, benefits indirectly from the breakup of homes, she is in the group home business, and Rubio, he just wants to succeeed Carson.<br /> No, these wars are not real,they are publicity stunts to gain funding not to solve the problem but to expand the empire and unfortunately they have many stupid fools who don't have a clue as to what causes gangs but who are as vicious killers as the gangs that demand the death penalty for anything that they believe makes them look &quot;law abiding&quot;. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83468 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83468 Whine, whine whine, you jealous fool! do you really believe that the gang problem is as simple as you are. The war with gangs like the war on drugs and the war on terror for that matter are elective wars designed to satisfy constituencies.<br /> If you do not have enough money for a certain cause, invent a war, that brings in new resources which increase the size of the empire but do little to solve the problem.<br /> If they took the money they spend on these problems and gave it directly to those who cause the problem, it would not be less wasted than building an army and would be less expensive.<br /> These law enforcement wars are well meant however, the are build in the model of a pyramid scheme where you have to give people money so that they can entice others to get money but the originators always get the biggest and longest lasting share of the take, while still producing a substandard product, so perhaps just culling them out by killing them legally is the Christian way. What is a life worth anyway when you cannot even enjoy a BBQ in your back yard without worrying about gangs and the problems they MAY cause you. These wars make careers,Carson, benefits indirectly from the breakup of homes, she is in the group home business, and Rubio, he just wants to succeeed Carson.<br /> No, these wars are not real,they are publicity stunts to gain funding not to solve the problem but to expand the empire and unfortunately they have many stupid fools who don't have a clue as to what causes gangs but who are as vicious killers as the gangs that demand the death penalty for anything that they believe makes them look &quot;law abiding&quot;. I totally agree with the problem of gang leaders running their business from behind bars.&nbsp; Having access to internet, phone, and visitors seems like a pretty poor decision on someone's part for these kinds of offenders.&nbsp; Unfortunately, we often hear about those individuals that work within the prison system participating in the exchange of information or in providing additional &quot;perks&quot; for the inmates.&nbsp; Isolation from the outside world would be a better way to go, but dificult to really pull off. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83474 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83474 I totally agree with the problem of gang leaders running their business from behind bars.&nbsp; Having access to internet, phone, and visitors seems like a pretty poor decision on someone's part for these kinds of offenders.&nbsp; Unfortunately, we often hear about those individuals that work within the prison system participating in the exchange of information or in providing additional &quot;perks&quot; for the inmates.&nbsp; Isolation from the outside world would be a better way to go, but dificult to really pull off. You people are so stupid it hurts, you say the gang members go into your side of town when they get run out, be serious. They go to your side of town when they sell enough drugs to live there and to get new richer clientele who do not buy on credit. save enforcement money and exposure.<br /> They are still gang members but ponce you have made money why live in a neighborhood where cops make crime indiscriminate&nbsp; shopping sprees on a daily basis, when they can live next to you and they and their business never be bothered.<br /> In fact, now that they are looked on as respectable they can join the chorus and push the war machine. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83475 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83475 You people are so stupid it hurts, you say the gang members go into your side of town when they get run out, be serious. They go to your side of town when they sell enough drugs to live there and to get new richer clientele who do not buy on credit. save enforcement money and exposure.<br /> They are still gang members but ponce you have made money why live in a neighborhood where cops make crime indiscriminate&nbsp; shopping sprees on a daily basis, when they can live next to you and they and their business never be bothered.<br /> In fact, now that they are looked on as respectable they can join the chorus and push the war machine. Camsgirl, you're right about that.&nbsp; Even if we took away their internet, phone privileges, etc.&nbsp;somewhere along the line would be a dishonest prison guard who would help them out. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83478 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83478 Camsgirl, you're right about that.&nbsp; Even if we took away their internet, phone privileges, etc.&nbsp;somewhere along the line would be a dishonest prison guard who would help them out. as for running their businesses from behind bars, ask the question who can handle the millions these bosses supposedly make from the outside, a corner street dealer? No way in many cases it is respectable good guy who do not mind making a buck, the same ones who call for wars all the time, it is good for business, a lawyer, an accountant, or even a politician. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83480 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83480 as for running their businesses from behind bars, ask the question who can handle the millions these bosses supposedly make from the outside, a corner street dealer? No way in many cases it is respectable good guy who do not mind making a buck, the same ones who call for wars all the time, it is good for business, a lawyer, an accountant, or even a politician. By the way annon, why be so insulting?&nbsp; This is a discussion and not a place for personal attacks.&nbsp; Take some deep breaths and perhaps your blood pressure meds.&nbsp; Relax and participate, don't just rant. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83481 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83481 By the way annon, why be so insulting?&nbsp; This is a discussion and not a place for personal attacks.&nbsp; Take some deep breaths and perhaps your blood pressure meds.&nbsp; Relax and participate, don't just rant. You'd be amazed what prison gangs can accomplish through mail. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83483 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83483 You'd be amazed what prison gangs can accomplish through mail. It is difficult to discuss anything with goody two-shoes who actually believe that the annual round ups solve anything. As for the mail, mail to who, the corner drug dealer? Some of those actually aiding and abetting are the ones who yell the loudest to deflect inspection, but get that corner guy and be prepared to pay his 38g tuition.<br /> Most of you have never met a gang member, have never seen a gang member or even been in a situation to see what causes these problem, just computer jockeys with fast fingers is your experience. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83486 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83486 It is difficult to discuss anything with goody two-shoes who actually believe that the annual round ups solve anything. As for the mail, mail to who, the corner drug dealer? Some of those actually aiding and abetting are the ones who yell the loudest to deflect inspection, but get that corner guy and be prepared to pay his 38g tuition.<br /> Most of you have never met a gang member, have never seen a gang member or even been in a situation to see what causes these problem, just computer jockeys with fast fingers is your experience. Camsgirl, this particular individual has been showing up regularly for 2 or 3 weeks now, and all of his/her posts are angry and insulting.&nbsp; As near as I can tell, everybody just pretty much ignores this person. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83500 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/8614/#c_83500 Camsgirl, this particular individual has been showing up regularly for 2 or 3 weeks now, and all of his/her posts are angry and insulting.&nbsp; As near as I can tell, everybody just pretty much ignores this person.