If we get rid of gang members, we get rid of graffiti, illegal weapons, drugs, sexual abuse, robbery, crimes and violence in general. If we get rid of gang members, we get rid of all the illegal activities that affect the everyday lives of the citizens who contribute to society. If we get rid of gang members, we are making this world a better place to live in.

The secret to getting rid of gang members can be easy to discover. We may all think about migrating to places where no gangs exist. We may all stay away from people who look like gang members. We can judge all the people around us and be authorized to kill anyone who we think are gang members. If it were that easy, then why is gang violence still a continuing problem?

Getting rid of gang members is quite a task. We can't do it individually. We can't come up to someone who is wearing a tattoo and over-sized clothing items (just because he or she looks like a gang member) and preach about the consequences of gang violence. While it is true that we need to work individually to fight this social cancer, we also need to participate in a collective effort participated in by the government, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and the family.

Reconfiguring Society

Electing Politicians - Get rid of gang members by electing politicians who deserve to be in the office. By “deserve”, we mean, public servants with enough guts and balls to enact laws. When a politician deserves to be in the office, it means that he or she is prioritizing the interest of the people who pay taxes and not just the interest of the criminal element.

By enacting the law, it also means that if gang members should be put to jail, then they should be sent to jail. There should be no excuses for this. Once they are locked up in prisons, they should not enjoy the benefits that even the poorest but noblest of people could not afford. Why would the government put up a jail with cable television and air conditioning in it if the better citizens of the country who live decent lives, live more uncomfortable than those who violated the law? If a gang member is an illegal alien, there should no excuse for deportation.

Educate the Masses – Reconfiguration is a big help when it comes to alleviating the problem of gangs in the community. How do we reconfigure a society?

It's simple. We must educate everyone. The public, especially the children who are at the most crucial stages in their lives, should be aware of the disadvantages and consequences of being a member of the gang. In school, quality after-school programs should be used as an approach to positive youth development. After-school programs are ways to incorporate assistance, guidance and support, which young people need to succeed academically and developmentally.

Increasing academic success in our schools will help us get rid of gang members. Our strategies can include sharing with everyone how it feels to be successful. It is true that nothing compares to being a contributing member of society, and if the gang members can only feel it, they will surely leave their gangs behind. Why not allow them to be at their best? Judging them before they act will be a disaster. Education should be asset-based, and this way, we all get rid of gang members in the most positive and effective way.

The Anti-Gang Initiative – How can we live in a community where fear, violence and madness reside? With this program, the law enforcement agencies are always monitored. The performance of the agencies are constantly checked and evaluated. Today, we can no longer expect law enforcement agency to do all the jobs. We all need to work hand-in-hand to see if everyone is doing their part. Remember, law enforcement agencies address drug problems, gang-related violence and fear in neighborhoods and cities.

In 1996, there were a total of 15 departments all over the United States battling gang problems. Funds were extended to these police departments to assist them in obtaining needed resources to enact problem-solving practices and community policing techniques. With a program like this, departments come up with innovative strategies and programs through building partnerships with local city agencies, social service agencies, schools and the community as a whole. With the help of technology (and the use of geographic information systems), gang hotspots are now easily identified.

Law enforcement agencies are also responsible for enforcing curfew to make sure that the community is safe at night. Truancy regulations are also made present. Civil remedies may also be used as civil abatement and code enforcement. Of course, funding is provided for the evaluation of all the strategies performed.

The Role of the Family – The family has an important role to play in the life of a gang member. First, domestic violence must be prevented. If a child grew up in a home where the father beats the mother, or where blood on the ground is normally seen, then gang violence is thought of as just another home where beating and violence exist. Preventing gang violence will help an individual understand that violence is not normal, and that it should be completely eradicated. With that, he or she will realize that joining a gang will not help at all.

Family violence contributes to shaping the mind of the youth. If a child sees threats of violences, economic deprivation, intimidation, emotional abuse and sexual abuse at home, he or she will find a way to look for another “family”. The child may find a gang as the new niche where the feeling of acceptance is present. To get rid of a gang member in the family, we should stay away from situations that invite violence in the family. It's also be best for parents to make it a point to never fight in front of the kids – a very basic but important point to ponder.

This conscious effort of each one of us in getting rid of gang members will run a mile. We all must remember that to get rid of a gang member, we must not turn our backs to gang members themselves. We must help them find their places in society.

We have to find out what the real problem is: is it really to get rid of gang members, or the violence they cause? If we know the answer, the methods are going to be a whole lot easier than they sound.