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A. Walker
Professor Olsen
English 1301
June 22, 2012
Rate of Killings Rises 38 Percent in Chicago in 2012
A recent article written in the New York Times revealed alarming homicide statics. The murder rate has risen to an all time high of 38 percent this year in Chicago; which is the third largest city in the US. Other crimes such as rape, robbery, and burglary and auto theft are down by 10 percent. The violence seems to be spreading throughout the entire city, the wealthy parts of the city that has never experience such crime is now experiencing what the lower income neighborhoods experience on a regular everyday basis. Law enforcement agencies are working endless to gain control of the senseless killings and to restore a peace of mind back into the communities.
Law enforcement investigations found the increase in homicides stems from a rise in gang activity throughout the city. New gangs are being formed in the city to add to the gangs that are already in existence and the members are getting younger and younger. It is a known fact that gang members have no regards for human life and their activities includes, drug dealing, robbery, theft, burglary, rape and murder of course. Most gang initiations require that the new members commit crimes such as murder to be accepted into the gang. Gangs have identifying characteristic such as colors, tattoos and finger signs. For example there is a gang called the bloods, they wear red bandanas to identify their affiliation and there is a gang call the crips, they wear blue bandanas to identify their affiliation. Hand signals are commonly used as a form of communication to threaten, harass and intimidate rival gangs; any form of disrespect
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toward a gang color from a rival gang will result in some form of retaliation including murder.
Chicago is not the only city...