Why Gang Violence Prevention Is Important
While gang violence may seem like something out of the movies to some people, it is all too real throughout the nation, especially in major cities such as Chicago and New York. Not only is the number of gangs in America disturbing, but the age of members is chilling. The FBI reports that there are around 33,000 violent street gangs active in the United States, and a recent study found that the average age of joining a gang is just 13.81.
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Some gang crimes, such as the brutal murder of 16 year old Lessandro Guzman-Feliz, have recently gained national notoriety. (James Keivom / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
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About The Author: Kevin Granfield is a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is originally from Newton, Massachusetts. He majors in criminology and criminal justice. This fall in English 101, he studied gangs and gang violence and explored the reasons why individuals join gangs.