Stiefbold+Gang+Violence

** Startling and informative opening ** Imagine you’re taking a walk in your neighborhood. You’re wearing your brand new Nikes and, overall, you’ve just had a good day. Looking to your right, you see a young group of boys glaring at you, yet, thinking nothing of it, you continue to walk. Then all of the sudden, out of no where, “BOOM!” and you’re lying on the ground. “Why? Why me,” you’re wondering as you’re lying there taking in your last couple minutes of life? Was it because you gave one of them a bad look? Did you do something to one of them in the past that finally made them loose control? Right before your eyes blink for the last time, you realize what happened. They simply didn’t like your shoes...  Sadly, shootings like these occur everywhere these days and more and more innocent lives are taken from gang violence everyday. Gang violence is at its highest point ever with about 3,000 people dying from it every year. In fact, 30% of homicides in the United States are due to Gang Violence. Living young in this world today, with all the peer pressure, “thrilling” violence, and a sense of belonging; it is more likely then not to get wrapped up in a gang. That includes the violence that comes with it. Police are working day and night to keep gangs off the streets, but there is more we can do. Working together, this country may find a way to vastly reduce or completely end gang violence.
 * Research Paper Quick Check **


 * Quick summary of main question that I mean to answer or reason I think this topic is important **

The main thing I want to answer in my research paper is that there is a way to crack down on, or completely stop, gang violence. More harsh punishments, stricter rules and laws, and discouraging gangs and gang violence are just a few of the many ways that we can use to vastly start putting an end to gang violence.

· 30% of homicides in America, in each year, is due to gang violence · 3,000 INNOCENT victims are killed from gang violence every year · Gangs kill for any reason.
 * Two or three most interesting things I learned from research **


 * Confirmation or rejection of one or two commonly held beliefs about this topic **
 * 1) Gangs take to many innocent lives because they believe violence is the answer to all problems
 * 2) Gangs feel like they have the ultimate power which could lead to rebellions against innocent people, the law enforcement, or other gangs.

Have you ever like you don’t belong where you are? Like there is nothing and no one out there for you to have or be a part of? Then, finally, you find something. Something important to you and something that makes you feel like you belong. You find yourself willing to do anything to hold on to that feeling. Well what exactly are you willing to do? Are you willing to steal, fight or even kill? Almost every member of a gang feels that exact same way. They join a gang to belong, not knowing that the violence would take over their lives.
 * Something to connect the topic to the reader's life so that he/she will care **


 * A closing surprise...intriguing fact, quotation, or discovery from my own research **

With gang violence being the way it is, you’ll never know when it COULD be you. Just walking out of your house could get you shot, or even talking on your cell phone. It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3 to a gang member. If they don’t like something about you, you’re dead, and that’s the way it is. An interviewed boy stated, “Anybody could shoot you, for the wrong look you could get shot. You could get shot for wearing Nike; you could get shot for anything.” I don’t know about some people in this world but what you wear or how you act shouldn’t be a reason to die. By working together this country can start to put an end to gang violence once and for all. Harsh punishment, strict laws and the discouragement of gang violence is a good start to its vast ending.

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