Salt Lake Gangs And Mormon Gangbangers

[Garden Girl]

Oh but church would be so boring if everyone was perfect!

I'm not suggesting I think everyone is or should be perfect... I'm certainly not... but one thing I do know is that I'm not out on a Saturday night engaging in questionable activities and then in Church Sunday morning taking the sacrament. I would at least have the courage to simply attend and not be hypocritical and take sacrament... it is this I've heard about, in fact just today...

GG

[tyler90az]

Tacenda & Tyler,

Actually, according to the gangmemebers and former gangmembers anyway, you are both wrong. Most of them have their own families, wives and children. They actually said that one of their street rules that is different from gangs in other areas is that they will leave you alone if you have your family with you. Its a big deal to them to disrespect someones family. One of the guys they interviewed had family that was trying to get him to quit gangbanging and come back to the church.

Their situation when they joined the gang is what matters.

Most people, I have to imagine, join a gang for a reason. Not just because they want to join a gang. The two reasons I can think of are money and community. Which is interesting since the Church should fill both of those needs.

[tyler90az]

It's easier for some people to "compartmentalize" than others. Though none of us is perfect, most of us are who we are, more or less, 24/7/365. Some of us, however, are one person part of the time, and another person the rest of the time.

I think it is the other way around.

[Buzzard]

An ex-BIL told of arresting a young Polynesian man back in the 80's when the gang problem was just getting started. As he was snapping on the cuffs on the young man who was being arrested for armed robbery, the arrestee turned to him and asked if this would affect his going on a mission.

[Damien the Leper]

If only the gang activity were limited to missionaries riding their bikes and throwing Books of Mormon at people and calling them to repentance. It might work for me after I got over the pain and shock of getting hit by the damn thing.

[Saints Alive]

If only the gang activity were limited to missionaries riding their bikes and throwing Books of Mormon at people and calling them to repentance. It might work for me after I got over the pain and shock of getting hit by the damn thing.

Drive-by proselytizing you say... I like it!

[savedbygrace]

I watched on the history channel a story about the KKK. I guess it's an even bigger group now than ever in history. They had former members that have come forward. They discussed their method of recruitment. They targeted people who were down on their luck, singles, and people that didn't have a family structure to lean on. The former members said that people that joined need a family. Maybe these gangbangers are the same, they need family. Especially the hispanics where they've come across the border leaving their families behind. It's just sad if these gangs start believing one human being is better off without the other just because of skin color or nationality etc. Boy oh boy, things really never change do they? From the beginning of time, they never change. Except goodness will always prevail.

This sounds very much like the recruitment of disaffected, and poor achieving muslims, who for all the above reasons are looking for a place to belong, and are so vulnerable to predatory terrorist groups, hence London 2007, and many other atrocities, 9/11, and maybe Boston, God must be weeping

[juliann]

I watched on the history channel a story about the KKK. I guess it's an even bigger group now than ever in history. They had former members that have come forward. They discussed their method of recruitment. They targeted people who were down on their luck, singles, and people that didn't have a family structure to lean on. The former members said that people that joined need a family. Maybe these gangbangers are the same, they need family. Especially the hispanics where they've come across the border leaving their families behind. It's just sad if these gangs start believing one human being is better off without the other just because of skin color or nationality etc. Boy oh boy, things really never change do they? From the beginning of time, they never change. Except goodness will always prevail.

Stereotyping is what never changes unfortunately. "Hispanics" coming across the border tend to get jobs and work hard to support those families. They aren't all criminals. Good grief.

[Tacenda]

Stereotyping is what never changes unfortunately. "Hispanics" coming across the border tend to get jobs and work hard to support those families. They aren't all criminals. Good grief.

Juliann, did I say all of the hispanics were criminals? My son-in-law came across the border, he and my daughter have two sons and he works very hard to support them. Below are some reasons that I found on the website put out by the governer of Utah. Maybe it's not all about not having family and looking to belong somewhere.

http://gangfree.utah.gov/parents/why-do-kids-join-gangs

Why Do Kids Join Gangs?

Dec 8 2011 4:27 PM

Although every young person is unique, there are some common reasons that young people may become involved with gang activity. Parents should be aware of these reasons and help their children find positive alternatives to fill these needs.

• To be part of a group/accepted by your peers
  
• For the excitement and risks of the gang lifestyle
  
• To find protection from other gangs
  
• To earn money
  
• To be with friends
  
• To find a replacement for uninvolved parents or a stressful home life
  
• To find a sense of belonging, respect, love, companionship
  
• Because they have low self-esteem or motivation
  
• For the perceived power and status a gang may provide
  
• For revenge on someone who has wronged them
  
• Because friends or family members belong to a gang
  
• To find relief from boredom
  
• To make up for poor academic achievement or discipline problems at school
  
• Because of drug and alcohol abuse
  
• Because of limited opportunities for employment
  
• Because of peer pressure
  
• Because their parents have low expectations of them
  
• Because of abuse or neglect at home
  

[MormonMason]

This sounds very much like the recruitment of disaffected, and poor achieving muslims, who for all the above reasons are looking for a place to belong, and are so vulnerable to predatory terrorist groups, hence London 2007, and many other atrocities, 9/11, and maybe Boston, God must be weeping

It is happening all around us and to all of us. A number of hardened gang members I have met over the years, while temporarily in Chicago, IL, and in other major cities, were actively attending Evangelicals. They'd gang-bang during the week and go to church on Sundays.

[Garden Girl]

Stereotyping is what never changes unfortunately. "Hispanics" coming across the border tend to get jobs and work hard to support those families. They aren't all criminals. Good grief.

Sorry, I'm really against illegal immigration, even though I admit many seem to be hardworking and come here to work...

Nevertheless, they are all criminals the minute they enter the U.S. illegally, start working illegally, driving illegally, etc etc etc. The majority of those sneaking into our country without consideration of our laws, our borders or sovereign nation status, or the numerous legal immigrants waiting in line to enter the U.S. according to the rules, are mainly Hispanics crossing the Mexico border. Are you aware of what happens to a person entering Mexico illegally? If caught they go to a Mexican prison... Mexico's policies against illegally entering their country are very serious... they don't sit around wringing their hands about what to do about their illegal immigrant "problem."

And I disagree with the Church about their attitude... though I understand they don't want to be in the position of "policing" who is who...

This has been discussed previously on this board... we seem to go round and round, but my stance is still the same... illegals are breaking our laws, period...

We really do need to figure this out...

GG

Edited April 24, 2013 by Garden Girl

[Saints Alive]

Sorry, I'm really against illegal immigration, even though I admit many seem to be hardworking and come here to work...

Nevertheless, they are all criminals the minute they enter the U.S. illegally, start working illegally, driving illegally, etc etc etc. The majority of those sneaking into our country without consideration of our laws, our borders or sovereign nation status, or the numerous legal immigrants waiting in line to enter the U.S. according to the rules, are mainly Hispanics crossing the Mexico border. Are you aware of what happens to a person entering Mexico illegally? If caught they go to a Mexican prison... Mexico's policies against illegally entering their country are very serious... they don't sit around wringing their hands about what to do about their illegal immigrant "problem."

And I disagree with the Church about their attitude... though I understand they don't want to be in the position of "policing" who is who...

This has been discussed previously on this board... we seem to go round and round, but my stance is still the same... illegals are breaking our laws, period...

We really do need to figure this out...

GG

[Ares]

Put down the politics and back away slowly... that's right. Good. Slooooowly.

[Garden Girl]

Put down the politics and back away slowly... that's right. Good. Slooooowly.

Sorry Ares... I try not to do that, but some subjects have related issues that are just inherently political with strong feelings... mea culpa...

from the beach on an absolutely lovely spring day... GG

Edited April 24, 2013 by Garden Girl

[Kenngo1969]

The good news is that all laws aren't created equal.

http://www.greatgourdini.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/lds-and-immigration/

[Saints Alive]

I guess as BKP might say, "some laws just aren't very useful"

[Kenngo1969]

I guess as BKP might say, "some laws just aren't very useful"

Not at all, it's simply that all laws (and all truths) aren't useful for all purposes. But thanks fer playin'!

[Saints Alive]

Not at all, it's simply that all laws (and all truths) aren't useful for all purposes. But thanks fer playin'!

6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other.

[Kenngo1969]

6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other.

Not quite, but thanks fer playin'!

[Calm]

Not at all, it's simply that all laws (and all truths) aren't useful for all purposes. But thanks fer playin'!

I believe there are some law that aren't useful for any purpose except perhaps entertainment:

http://www.dumblaws.com/

Edited April 26, 2013 by calmoriah