Los Angeles Gang Problem

It seems that the legal system has lost sight of the real issues involved in the fight against gang-related violent crimes in East and South-Central Los Angeles. In being concerned about the rights of these so-called minor citizens, the rights of law-abiding citizens have been jeopardized. No longer can citizens dress, travel, speak nor secure their funds or property. Instead they must pay higher auto, health, life and property insurance rates and live in terror.

Legally, we have been informed that anyone who willfully chooses to become involved in an unlawful act is guilty as an accomplice. Sociologically, we have been informed that these gang members come from deprived backgrounds, which cause these individuals to join gangs for self-esteem and protection. Psychologically, we have been provided with every kind of explanation to “understand” (rationalize) their behavior, the most prevalent being that these are deficient individuals whose behavior is determined (learned) by the examples of their maladjusted authority figures. Realistically, these are experienced terrorists who have willfully chosen criminal activity to support their life style of asserting their beliefs above the laws of this country.

In my 14 years of experience within the criminal justice field, as a probation officer and therapist, I have only witnessed a few antisocial personality types change their behavior. These changes usually occurred after they had spent more than 20 years incarcerated or hospitalized. At the current rate of $20,000 to $25,000 per person, taxpaying citizens are spending a minimum of $3 billion per year to house the 150,000 adult criminals in this state. Perhaps the ACLU is unable to conceptualize the fact that eliminating these criminals at any age would eliminate the need to join and would reduce the taxpayer’s debt.

PAUL MARTINEZ

North Hollywood