Are we really prepared to defend ourselves against gangs?

[LawDog]

Gangs never quit, they will return over and over. Think before you do.

 

[LawDog]

In post #11, kidswarrior is correct. During post Nam the returning combat vets really didn't join / form gangs. True many, not most, had developed a few problems but then anyone could after living a year or so in a heavy combat situation. Back then there was a high level of the "stay out of the military" mind set.
Today it seems to be slightly different.

 

[Kingindian]

in my country there are also gangs (usually youth gang, not mafia or gangster), they will bully other youth especially if the victim is alone.
I dont have any problem with them..but if they try to disturb me, of course i will call my friends to attack them.

 

[Guardian]

Meet the street gangs of the late 2000s.

Trained by the U.S. Department of Defense, financed by the American taxpayer, hardened on the Arab street.

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Other related stories:

http://michellemalkin.com/2006/05/04/gangstas-in-the-military/


http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=local&id=4140211


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/28/eveningnews/main3107316.shtml

I guess to answer the question posed in the opening. Oh heck no, as Martial Artist in itself, we are not near capable of taking on gangs in the sense that this question is directed, even those of us with weapons experience and military training or law enforcement training as singular entities are not capable of taking them on alone.

Law Enforcement as a whole is capable for the gangs are just as much at war with each other as they are with Law Enforcement, so it makes it abit easier (not completely mind you, just abit). As far as Martial Artist or Self-Defense practioners and such, maybe one or two or even 3 or 4, but gangs don't run in 3 or 4s as a rule or not for long at least.

 

[sgtmac_46]

In post #11, kidswarrior is correct. During post Nam the returning combat vets really didn't join / form gangs. True many, not most, had developed a few problems but then anyone could after living a year or so in a heavy combat situation. Back then there was a high level of the "stay out of the military" mind set.
Today it seems to be slightly different.

Quite a few famous prohibition era gangsters were WW1 veterans.....Fred 'Killer' Burke, a likely suspect of the St. Valentines Massacre, is one off hand...

 

[LawDog]

SgtMac46,
Yes, a few even worked for / with the infamous New England rum runners.
For the most part not all of our past returning combat vets became gangsters, the percentage was on the low side.
Society is responsable for any of the personality changes of our past returning vets. Society sent them to fight in a war then when they returned they were not the given proper re-indoctrination training that is needed for their return into a civilian society. When a person enters into a war time military they are given indoctrination training so that they will develop the proper mindset that is needed to enter into combat.
Other countries centuries ago treated their returning vets much worse.
:miffer:

 

[jks9199]

Just like the majority of the general public aren't criminals, the majority of vets aren't either. But the original OMGs were formed as veteran's groups. (There was a time when you had to be a veteran to join some of the clubs.) The original founders of the KKK were Civil War vets.

Gang life, whether OMG, street gang, or organized crime, will always attract a certain mentality. That mentality is found in all walks of life -- but vets are recruited and may be slightly more heavily represented. Also, today, we have bangers joining the service, and they do just what we tell them to do -- they bring their skills home when they get out. The military remains in denial, or they have simply decided that they won't care because they need the bodies.

 

[sgtmac_46]

Just like the majority of the general public aren't criminals, the majority of vets aren't either. But the original OMGs were formed as veteran's groups. (There was a time when you had to be a veteran to join some of the clubs.) The original founders of the KKK were Civil War vets.

Gang life, whether OMG, street gang, or organized crime, will always attract a certain mentality. That mentality is found in all walks of life -- but vets are recruited and may be slightly more heavily represented. Also, today, we have bangers joining the service, and they do just what we tell them to do -- they bring their skills home when they get out. The military remains in denial, or they have simply decided that they won't care because they need the bodies.

One need not mention the James-Younger gang, former Civil War Missouri Guerillas turned outlaw bank robbers, as a prime example of the phenomenon.

A few veterans turning their war won skills in to criminal gang is nothing new....as the Visigoths, former Roman Soldiers come Roman conquerors can attest.