tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409432869035063001.post5524491684230625562..comments2008-11-23T10:58:49.610-05:00Comments on The Ruins of Trenton: Anti-gang bills leave committeeGreg Foresterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11832948159087085111noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409432869035063001.post-29268874095669457602007-12-14T01:40:00.000-05:002007-12-14T01:40:00.000-05:00These proposed anti-gang bills are strictly fluff,...These proposed anti-gang bills are strictly fluff, simply an illusion that the people we have elected to office are actually doing something about the gang issue. Giving an ex-gang member a piece of paper that prevents an employer from denying employement due to his criminal history does not prevent the same employer from denying employment for various other reasons. You cannot legally discriminate against people of color, does that mean employers don't find other "legitimate" ways to deny employment under those grounds. And, if you want to argue that this bill does help reformed gang members, does this bill initially get them out an environment that probably lead to their decision to join a gang. If these "rehabilitated" gang members are simply going back to poor and dangerous neighborhoods, while either looking for a job or trying to save money to get out, the same pressures that forced them to join the gang initially are still present. Are there any real deterrents to prevent them from going back?<BR/>The bill intended to heighten penalties has been a trick legislators have used for years to try and solve the gang problem. But the reality is changing the grading for a crime, really has done very little to solve the gang issue.<BR/>The truth is both these bills will do very little to actually help the gang problem. It's just another way to send a false message to the rich, white people living in the suburbs that we are taking steps to combat the gang issue in our inner cities.nabila.saeedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12007029878173801994noreply@blogger.com