If we ever needed CCW in NJ it is now as evidenced in the huge spread devoted to Gangs and gang violence that has perpetrated the rural suburbs of NJ. I am a "newer" gun owner (6 months) and have almost instantly become frustrated with the idiocy of only being able to have my firearm with me in my home or at the range. The article asks communities to unite and help law enforcement in perpetrating gangs. What better way than to show them we mean business than protecting our freedom in its most basic sense.

I think by "perpetrating" they mean to call them if you notice anything out of the norm. You should take a gang awareness class, they show you all the different kind of gangs and what logo's, colors, and hand signs they use and wear. If you notice a group of individuals wearing all the same color, or throwing up certain signs, or that have similar tatoo's they are probably a gang. Police can't do anything about it unless they are breaking the law, so I would just make them aware if I seen anything like that.

Agree on the perpetrating front and the education. but in this domestic war, citizens need more than a phone to be able to stem the growth of suburban gangs. the article asks why the masses are not creating an uproar about it. the problem is we really can't do anything about it because we have no other way to show we can protect ourselves except calling the cops, which, oftentimes makes the situation worse.

We have had this problem for years now. It gets worse and worse every year. 12 years in Lakewood public schools is all the education one needs for a Masters degree in gangs

Yep, it been spilling over from Lakewood for awhile now into Jackson. One house I run by in the mornings was used as a stash house for some Lwood gangsters, and there was a shooting at some apts not too long ago.

Its been creeping into my area too, though its normally suburbanites looking for some trouble because they're bored. There have been some distributors busted by the police a few times, but nothing too series (/knocks on wood). Then of course, not to sound condescending, this is the greater Princeton area, and if there was actual gang violence in these parts, I'm pretty sure the deck of cards that is NJ would have fallen before that point.

 

With that said, I mean habitual gang violence. There have been issues of people getting jumped with weapons, and cars and houses being broken in to. But nothing like Trenton or the part of Hamilton that borders Trenton... though that is only a few miles down Rt. 1.

 

Personally, when I watch shows like Gangland, it really does make my blood boil. While I do not advocate breaking the law [ever] for the sake of keeping the law (aka vigilantism), something more has to be done before the scum overtakes the last bastions of decency. I would be the first person on this forum to talk about solving it from the social aspect (haha, I think I've created that image of myself)... but to some point, action must be taken. Personal responsibility and accountability are long term solutions... gang violence/influence/affliction spreading exponentially is a short term issue that must have been addressed yesterday.

I'm not 100% familiar with RICO, but could it ever apply to street gangs? Has the law tried too? I'm not judging here, I'm just curious. While I do advocate action, I do not advocate taking away personal liberties (as hard as it is to swallow that down when applying it to scum like gangsters)... and pushing the boundaries too far is just as bad (seeing how the law always leaves things open for interpretation to screw everyone at the end of the day).

 

Unfortunately, all I can do for now is, "speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves [myself] armed and ready."