Rival gangs flaunting weapons on the net

[AB Asks]

After the tragic shooting of the 11-year-old Liverpool boy, gang and gun crime has been pushed into the limelight. People know it goes on in cities across the country but how can we stop it. Liverpool gangs have put videos on the net showing off their dogs, weapons and cars. Guns can be obtained from as little as �50 and the people who are using them are reckless � they don't care whether they live or die or any repercussions their actions may hold. What do you think? What is wrong with these young people to make them want to lead a life of violence? How can the police control and stop this or are they too scared themselves to act?

[Reverandfunk]

The result of many things but 2 main reasons:

A namby pamby state with no real deterrent

The underclass having kids

Unfortunately it's going to get worse and worse

[cheries]

Hello AB. This is a subject close to my heart as I live on the Sheffield / North Notts border and there has recently been footage of the "Beighton Souljas" (or whetever the hell they call themselves) on the national news. Now, anyone who knows this area of Sheffield knows that Beighton is a quiet village with a good school and good amenities. It is not the Bronx. These young people are being subjected to propaganda from rap videos and films which glamourise violence and introduce the concept of guns and other weapons to these vulnerable people. I'm not defending these little idiots as being "vulnerable " as victims, btw, simply that they are susceptible to influence.
Now, my husband works for a private military company in Iraq, before this he was employed in HM Army and completed several tours of war-torn parts of the globe; namely Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Africa. He talks about children as young as 8 or 9 fighting with guns and bayonets. So the concept of youth violence is not new; we are not actually degenerating much further as a society.
What really, REALLY gets me though is the idea that guns are glamorous. They are repulsive machines which maim and kill at the press of a trigger. It's certainly not glamorous when you've got your mates' blood and brain covering your coat. Young lads carry guns to make themselves look "hard" but as my hubby points out, if they were that hard they wouldn't need a gun to look after themselves.

[vehelpfulguy]

We critisise kids having guns but Britain makes billions of pounds a year making and selling guns, tanks, warships, fighter aeroplanes and other weapons.

Some of these weapons finish up in "poor" countries in Africa, the Middle east etc. and because of the availability of these weapons many poor countries have had years of civil war.

We are reaping what we sow I am afraid.

[cheries]

I don't think the Beighton Souljas have ever been seen driving around in a tank. Although there's time yet. It's a Friday night.

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, or maybe if the Beighton Souljas got hold of a fighter plane, then i think we have cause for concern.
As someone above states, the main reason is down to discipline.
Teachers, police, etc are so scared these days of tackling these issues through fear of being sued.
I think its about time the courts and judges were held accountable for the lenient sentences being issued to violent criminals these days.
There is just no deterent for these young people...

[Coldicote]

Someone, somewhere, must know where guns are being bought for �50, �200 or whatever. It could help towards bringing the problem under control if police had that information. If fear is stopping people saying what they know, then they could phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is a charity run by volunteers and callers are not asked to identify themselves.
http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/

[dannyday5821]

for a start, i really dont think "rap videos" make any difference. no one, and nothing makes a kid buy or pick up a gun. that whole concept basically says that theyve no control over their actions. like i said, nothing "makes" them do anything, they simply choose to. simple as. i know kids can easily be influenced, but you dont need a degree, if your 10, 12, 17, or 18, you know a gun, can and will kill. the same with knives. even carrying a gun "just to look hard" i would have thought wouldnt be very wise. if your not "hard" anyway, then when you get into a fight, if they get the gun off you, your, well, screwed...britain certainly isnt model country matrial, but im just pleased we dont have licensed gun shops, otherwise even id be scared to go to town alone! i have to say though, i wonder how much of this "gun crime" is just a "moral panic" or a fact that its really spreading

[cheries]

I really disagree Danny. Children are very malleable in their teenage years and are heavily influenced by films / videos and music. They sit and watch TV all day and become desensitised to the idea of violence and guns. I have kids in my class who come in talking about rape and violence, dressed up as rap songs. I also disagree with you that this issue is just "moral panic". Granted, nowadays any gun related violence is reported on the national news (thankfully, the masses are still repulsed by this phenomenon and so this still qualifies as headline news) but I feel that guns are becoming easier to obtain and the glamour of possessing one is being perpetuated by modern media.
I also think that whilst you may be sensible enough to think that possessing a gun isn't hard (particularly when it can be so easily used against you) the people we are discussing here are not as intelligent or moderate as you Danny.