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n March 16, 2008 Lincoln High sophomore student, Donnell Eric Davis was killed in a shooting on the freeway after leaving a bowling alley with friends. On December 13, 2008, Lincoln High senior student, Monique Palmer was shot and killed walking home from a party in Valencia Park. Their deaths affected many people in the community. Friends and families of both victims had to face the reality that their loved ones were gone. Nobody deserves to lose their loved ones in this manner, they were victims to gang violence.

We want to live our lives but instead gang members take lives. We have to stop talking about the violence and be ready to act on it. Although there is no easy answer to solve the issue of gang violence, we need to work together and do as much as we can to erode it throughout our communities.

According to the 2008 National Gang Survey, there are approximately 27,900 gangs, with 774,000 members. According to a recent bulletin released by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency prevention, 23 percent of students aged 12 through 18 reported that street gangs had been present at their school during the last six months. Authorities reported that gangs are responsible for most of the serious violent crimes in major cities throughout the United States.

Gang violence infects every state. It ruins lives through murder, drugs, and criminal activity. It lowers the standard of living for many citizens ambushed by gang activities.

These types of activities need to be stopped. Gang violence does nothing but hurt innocent people and their loved ones. It hurts the community because it gives a negative reputation that lasts for years. Just like any other concept, once a label is given, that’s what people become known as.

The gang violence in my community has affected me because I have to make sure that I make it home before dark. It’s an added stress to completing my schoolwork because I have to worry about my trip home. Knowing that innocent lives are being victimized by gang violence, I feel it is not fair to them and their loved ones because they didn't have a choice to be apart of the senseless gang activity.

I want gang members to stop taking the lives of innocent people. Gang violence is pointless and stupid. I know that gang violence is going to occur, but I want gang members to know that their destroying lives just because they’re not happy with theirs and it’s not fair to the community.

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