On The Solution Side

As you know from my last post, I am very concerned about the growing gang violence and crime in my community. I am also disturbed by the lack of coverage by the local news media. Now that the general public is more aware of the situation after an incident that could not be ignored, it's time to take a look at the solutions for the problem.

The first and most obvious place to start is with law enforcement. Although it has not been made public knowledge until recently, the police department in Peoria under the leadership of Chief Steve Settingsgard has stepped up to the plate and has been quietly taking the problem seriously. There has been no official gang task force, several efforts are being made to increase patrols and educate officers on gang activities and signs. There efforts have met with only limited results but not due to any fault on their part. This is where another track must be taken to help ensure these gangs are either removed from our streets by arrest or changing the lives of the members and potential members.

Economics is only a minor issue in gang membership and crime. I know that flies in the face of conventional wisdom, however during even the best of times, crime still increases. For at least the last thirty years, we have had significant periods of tremendous economic and job growth in the middle sections of each decade. During those "fat" times, gang violence, drug sales, and other crimes still increased. Membership does see an upswing in times of recession, but not to the degree that most would think. Gangs are an entirely different breed than the individual criminal.

The deeper solution is to address the social problems underlying the gang issue. Before I go any further, I want to go on record stating that I do not advocate for government action in this arena. More often than not, the best of intentions lead to exacerbation of the problems rather than solutions. There are many reasons for this, but ultimately it is the lack of a personal relationship with the people and neighborhoods that lead to the missteps. There's a reason my late grandmother always said that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

The primary draw to the gangs is not the money, although that certainly is an issue. In listening to interview after interview with gang members from all over the country as well as my personal experience with local "bangers," the common denominator for most gangs is the sense of family that the members have. These young people and often children who join do so to make up for the lack of acceptance and family at home. The real solution to this is to meet that need in a healthy way rather than the bizarre and warped version found in these criminal groups.

For some, this would be considered a radical thought. Those who try to fix things with education and economic programs will always miss the mark. For younger gang members, the older ones almost take on a fatherly role that no amount of education or a job can ever alter or break. The cataclysm of illegitimate births in the inner city in which fathers are absent often for several generations has created a breeding ground for these dysfunctional "families." Therefor, the solution is to provide these young men and women with the father figures they lack.

As I said, this is a radical solution because it requires much more manpower, if you will, than most programs. These kids need one-on-one relationships with men of integrity who are concerned about their character and lives and are willing to allow them into their own lives. Transparency with these kids is essential to teach them how problems are handled in a healthy manner. Girls needs someone in their lives that are concerned about them and give them a good father figure. Fathers are essential to the moral development of a young woman and set the pattern for all male relationships that follow.

There are some who are trying to work with these kids but enough men to actually have an impact are not stepping up to the plate. Those few who are find their impact limited simply because no matter how passionate and exceptional these men are, there is a point at which they can reach no more kids on their own. As much respect as I have for Carl Cannon, he can't do it alone.

There is a largely untapped resource from which men can come to make the changes. In the Peoria Metro area alone, there are an estimated three hundred fifty churches, all with men of varying ages in them who could share their lives with these kids and offer real hope of a better life. Not all of them can do this, but many could and perhaps should learn to drop their preconceived notions and step into the role of mentor for a young teen or kid and show them a life that is achievable.

I am not asking anyone to consider anything I would not do myself. My wife and I have been quietly impacting the lives of the young people God puts in our path for years. We let them into our home and share what little we have with them. More importantly, we genuinely love these kids and give them a sense of family that they lack. I am grateful that we are not alone. I know of several others who do the same. The impact we have on our own is relatively small, but imagine how it could be if more joined us. Perhaps, even if you did.