Letter to the Editor
Act on gangs
Published Thursday, August 21, 2008
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To the editor:
I grew up in Fairbanks and now attend school in the Lower 48. I love my home and remember it fondly as any city’s son should. I was recently informed of the gang shootings on College Road. These individuals’ actions are beyond despicable, and I only hope that the violence is ceased before someone is hurt. However, there are some things Fairbanksans must keep in mind, especially knowing that this incident isn’t the first.
It makes no sense for gangs to be in Fairbanks. Looking at the history of gang activity, their origin is in decaying, heavily urbanized areas where traditional law enforcement fails to provide protection for a specific neighborhood. Fairbanksans as a whole are in no way as bad off socio-economically as some areas of Los Angeles, Chicago or New York that seem to require gang presence for safety.
Which brings me to a disturbing reality. Lt. Dan Welborn of the Fairbanks Police Department’s quote in the Saturday, Aug. 15, issue of the News-Miner stated that this recent shooting is some “... turf war.” There is no need for gang protection in neighborhoods along College Road, especially from the Bloods and the Crips. Everyone has been safe until now.
The only reason for a nationwide gang to have a “turf war” in Fairbanks is to protect a market for illegal narcotics sales. So Lt. Welborn’s “turf war” should be read “drug war.” The only information more disturbing is, as the News-Miner reported, the possibility that some of the gang members are in the military. That’s not the Fairbanks I know.
If Fairbanks isn’t at the beginnings of a war between rival drug dealers, then I’m glad. But given the nature and history of gang activity in America, it only makes sense. The residents of Fairbanks have a responsibility now for the safety and health of their city to pose questions and exact answers of our local government demanding an immediate solution. Whatever the cause, my only fear is that too little pressure will be forced on city lawmakers and law enforcement to act before someone is killed.
Community Discussion
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I bet over 1/2 the population of Fairbanks is packin' heat since the college road shootout, and hoping they can be the one to give the gang bangers "aiming lessons".
I pack always and I would love to teach these fellas how to shoot....
It's funny to see the flexing going on in the gang discussions lately.
Here's to hoping that when the time comes, your shots are straighter than theirs.
Aiming?!?
Kids these days seem only interested in rounds per minute. I think they learned that from television.
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um...I doubt retards like the ones in question can read, and I'm even more sure they don't read newspapers or newspaper blog comments. Nice sentiments though. I don't leave home without my .357 magnum and I could drop them dead from 50 feet or so if they were shooting at me, further if I could take the time for proper breathing, aiming, and follow-through. Most of us could. We just need the little wusses to come out.
The reason is that these kids are bored! They lack good goals, have no healthy support system (family, church, youth groups), and NOTHING to do with their time.
There's money, notoriety with thugs, and pistol packing ego mania with gangs.
Get rid of gangs, Give these kids some real direction.
Dove: "Get rid of gangs, Give these kids some real direction."
Thank you, Dove!
I'm worried that, in this forum, the most popular solution is anything that involves more ass-kicking, and your long-term solution won't be much considered.
Gangs meet some of people's very positive needs: community, mutual support, common cause, a sense of belonging. I'd guess (though I haven't done the research) that most gang members suffered a lack of opportunities to belong to something more positive; gang affiliation provided that, and was exciting, too.
Unfortunately, the recipe for building a positive sense of belonging among young people is complex, while the recipe for more ass-kicking -- more police presence, longer prison sentences, common citizens packing heat -- looks easy.
--Paul Adasiak
Maybe if they had parents who were around it might make a difference but do they know who their father is?? Is the mother a drug addict and not care where the kid is?? Or is she the leader of the gang LOL!!!
The reason these gangs are here is the sale of drugs. How many people in this community at all levels contribute to the financial support of these gangs when they buy drugs. Why don't the police give the community some insight who buys these drugs? I bet there isn't one person out there who even though you may not know it, knows someone who is buying drugs.
I doubt it was gangs. Probably some idiots who got in a fight and decided to have a "gangsta" style shootout rather than deal with it in a more mature manner. While Fairbanks is no place for people to dissolve issues with guns I find it hard to believe we are facing a "Bloods and Crips" Turf War. Have you heard the statement "If it bleeds it leads" when referring to journalism. It is not nearly as exciting when you drop out all the speculation and state the facts.
As someone who has been the subject of numerous gang beatings, I can assure you that the only thing that ever saved my ass was quick thinking and exteme counter violence.
People are certainly free to pontificate on the root causes of gangs, but for me, I'll let my new FN Herstal 5.7x28 do the talking.
DenaliGuy, I hope you are right. I still believe that an armed society is a polite society.
Dove and Paul, may you and you families never suffer from the blight that is gang crime.
Fairbanks does not have real gangs, they are wantabees. I dealt with real gangs growing up down south, these guys are just losers.
Still the reason for them popping up isn't drugs or urbanization, its lack of cops. Go downtown anytime between 7pm-2am and you will see (aside from all the drunks yelling) a mass of "gangsters" hanging out and harrassing anyone who stays too long, specially in winter. My first month up here I got a black eye because I sat in the park and looked at the stars, which was their "turf".
We desperately need more cops, and yes higher taxes in this city. I'm sorry but we do. The ones we have are streached thin at night. As much as I would hate to pay a sales tax, I would gladly do so if only the money would go towards doubling our police force. If they hired but three cops to walk a downtown beat, most of these problems would dissapate. Gangs dont stick together when they have no turf to hussle, and these kids are not the tough kind who would fight it.
Hire more cops! For crying out loud, the police don't even have time to do a real investigation unless its something big like a murder.
Ulises Gonzales: "I can assure you that the only thing that ever saved my ass was quick thinking and exteme counter violence."
By no means am I saying that the best reply to violence *in the moment* is an analysis of the gang members' psychological needs, or a society-wide discussion of how to incorporate youth into positive communities. In the moment, you have to save yourself.
I'm only saying that, if we want a long-term solution to the problems of gang violence, examining and addressing its root causes will be more productive than the ever-heightened threat of ass-kicking.
"Dove and Paul, may you and you families never suffer from the blight that is gang crime."
I appreciate and return your kind wishes, sir. May none of us suffer that blight.
I had said to someobody in Fairbanks that the building that used to be "Foodland" should be turned into an ice rink with restaurants, and maybe music. Now i think about it - i think its nothing worth pursuing. Afterall, the gangs will dominate. I wonder why the natives act as they do towards other race whilst 'hanging' downtown in the park. I believe that the gang related activities is a racial issue. I witness couple young native girls in the downtown area distributing drugs, or dealing, for this black guy i know so well. They are not in a gang. This guy is a loser, like the rest of his friends expecting money, not a confrontation. He doesn't care.
If i see these two native girls in my area of town - i'll shoot them.
By the way, i'm native.
gangs don't band together for protection. they band together because it is a quick easy way to make money (drug sales), impress their peers, get the best looking girls. later on, as competition grows for the drug dollar then the gangs can offer some protection. but mostly they just offer a lot of violence and early deaths. these gang members are not the disadvantaged and misguided youth from bad neighborhoods. these are just bad eggs who need to be removed from society and locked up. don't send them to iraq, don't build them a community center, don't offer new social programs. that may work in big cities where youth have little choice but to join gangs. but not in fairbanks. they are just the criminal element and chances of rehabilitation are either limited or zero.
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These "GANGS" are not kids! They are over 18, some are serving in our military. It doesn't matter why they are fighting/shooting people, they are doing it. That is a huge problem! Call these people in when you see them dealing drugs on the corner. If you see them breaking into cars, beating someone up. People give these "gangs" power, they feed off of fear. If people come together as one and stand up together and fight back, it takes away their power to inflict fear! I have seen it stomp them out of towns before! Actions speak louder than words.
outspoken,
I'm not seeing a lot of fear on here. I'm seeing a lot of angry residents ready to stand up for what they believe against thugs and punks. Something you don't see stateside, but I'm glad to see. Perhaps they don't enjoy the same right to carry concealed in other states.
How can people in the military "lack good goals, have no healthy support system (family, church, youth groups), and NOTHING to do with their time."??? it's the Army, isn't it?.
these boys (the so called "soldiers") seem to have much to much time on their hands and a foolish desire to get shot at. So send them to wherever the "heat is on" overseas and let them get shot at as we don't seem to have ENOUGH troops deployed.
You can say that these are kids and they need moral support from family, church and whatever, but your wrong. These kids are probably not kids at all, a lot of them are probably adults which is sad. They have a criminal mind because its easier to take than to earn. I agree that these so called gang members in Fairbanks are wannabes compared to where I am from, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous.
I am suprised that some of our other long standing gangs in this town haven't kept these guys in check.
Just read the article on 5 who beat someone at the Midnite, does 5 constitute a 'gang' and it has been reported that violation of probation for each. So, are these 5 considered to be members of a gang 'probation violators'?
I understand the Crips and the Bloods are franchise gangs that distribute drugs. The franchise spreads to various cities like McDonalds do. This is a result of the 38 year War on Drugs. Like Prohibition in the 20's, the War on Drugs creates organized crime. You didn't have franchise drug distribution by violent criminal gangs in the 1960's. And you'll live with it now.
Of note, prior to 1914, you could get opium and cocaine concoctions over the counter at drugstores and somehow the nation stood.
How about an slogan,...
"Are You Part of a gang? Be part of our TEAM.
Fairbanks Youth Center.
We have pool, computers, video games, youth associates to talk. We have skate boarding, home baked snacks, volunteers. We're Joel's Place currently, but we need a really cool place, bigger, nicer, We need community support to grow.
Bigger, better, more encompassing to innitiate youth to WANT to go to a youth center. It takes monry and people, who care about kids.
they said it was 10 people at first they just caught five
Can we shoot them from airplanes as an act of "predator control"?
"Of note, prior to 1914, you could get opium and cocaine concoctions over the counter at drugstores and somehow the nation stood."-batman_ak
Very true, marijuana wasn't even classified as a "drug" in those days. It was a weed and in those days if you wanted to smoke "weed" then that was about as legal (if not bizzare) as smoking fire-weed or any other plant that grows. of course it wasn't that long ago you could smoke cigarettes in a hospital too.
The entire country needs to LEGALIZE marijuana so law enforcement and prisons can focus on REAL dangerous drugs and drug dealers (people that deal just pot don't shoot each other, it's when you involve powders and narcotics (LEGAL prescription drugs) that people get stupid)
I know the Law was asking if red bandana wearing individuals were seen around McDonals on Geist yesterday.
There is also a group of people that ride their bikes around town that jump Alaska Natives if they are alone. They almost beat up someone I know that doesn't even drink just because she witnessed the beating.
Why aren't these beatings ever reported?
These kids' parents probably didn't raise them right because they were too busy buying drugs off the same people that have been "gang banging".
They are all people that should be caught on camera or even someone's camera-phone. I'm sure if the public was more involved with getting evidence against these people, it end just like that.
All I know is that the ACLU will probably defend these gangs in court and make a mockary of any trial that could reasonably eliminate them. 1 year...suspended...TOPS! These people will walk unless we're willing to demand a justice system that actually provides justice. It's up to action, not a newsmius (or snoozeminer, depending on which way you like it) blog.