criminal Law and Defenses

Gang Laws

I think that the laws described in this video are fair and appropriate. The laws should
protect people from gangs and prevent gang violence. At the same time, some gang-related
laws are reasonable and appropriate. For example, I think it is fair to have laws against things
like gang violence and drug dealing, and the laws limit young people from engaging in
disorderly behavior. Therefore, the laws also help keep young children in school rather than
dropping out of schooling to join gangs.
The laws applied in the documentary are appropriate because they help shape society.
The laws limit criminal activity like gang murders which have led several individuals to
prison when charged with first-degree murder. To facilitate gang members and desperate
youth not to engage in illegal activities, the government and private sectors use different
programs. Many are prevention programs whereby previously convicted people share
experiences and give advice to gangs in different neighborhoods.
The video has shown raw examples of individuals who committed crimes and ended
up in prison. They have offered testimonials on how bad the experiences in prison are and
how reality has hit back on them negatively. Consequently, they have realized that their
freedom is no longer in existence, and they have detached from their families (Matt, 21: 03-
21:58, 2014). One of the ex-convicts said that if you don't want to get hit by the train, keep
off tracks, whereby he meant that anyone who doesn’t want to get into prison should avoid
gang life.
Finally, the laws set aside by the government help tame the individuals who engage in
criminal affairs as individuals or as gangs. It is proper for the government to use laws to
define the social behavior of people in a given society. The rules will help the government
catch up with people engaging in activities that threaten other people’s welfare.

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References

Matt Yoon. (2014). Life Facing Bars: A Gang Prevention Documentary,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wal5QFvTSWw.