When the Federales Are Involved

“When the federales are involved, gang bangers start coughing up information, because they are going away for a long time in a prison far away from their mothers and girlfriends.”

says an ATF undercover agent, quoted in U.S. News & World Report.  He is quoted anonymously because he still works undercover.  The article dated December 15 / December 22, 2008, is entitled:

The War on Gangs

Inside the feds’ strategy to get hit men and enforcers off the streets

The article has some good information about how the gang problem is truly nationwide, with rural and suburban areas having to deal with this issue just as much as the big cities.  Federal officers are exploiting gangs’ appetites for guns and are able to send some of the worst offenders off to distant federal pens.  In rural areas, one or two federal agents have been successful in severely disrupting gang activity by taking out key leaders.  Local law enforcement and social agencies have then been in a better position to straighten out the remaining problems.

There is no silver bullet to deal with a problem as complex and embedded in our society as gangs.  However, this tactic may be beneficial in an overall effort to combat gangs.  As we see increasing gun violence here in Sunnyside, agents of the ATF may be able to provide some assistance in this matter.  It is just one tool, of many, that local law enforcement has available.

Something else to consider, is what the article mentioned about gangs in our western region:

“…out West, street gangs are diversifying their criminal portfolios to include identity theft while continuing to supply narcotics, mostly methamphetamines and marijuana.  Gangs in the West are also most likely to partner with organized crime, particularly the Mexican drug cartels and the Asian mafia.”

Things that make you go…hmmm.  Well, let’s see: Washington State has one of the highest rates of identity theft in the nation, and at least in our valley, a high number of immigrants.  I am sure it is just random chance that identity theft and drug crimes with meth addicts are such a big issue here in Yakima County.  Well, the U.S. News article does make mention of the fact that some communities are in denial that they have a gang problem.  Is this why anti-gang legislation is not getting more attention from the Washington State Legislature?

At the most recent meeting of the Sunnyside City Council, Eric Swansen the City Manager, stated that ideally State Law on gangs would set minimum standards and let local communities take additional measures to police gang activities.  I agree.  Let local communities take more action.  We have an increasing number of gang shootings taking place.  High school kids I am acquainted with sometimes worry about getting home safe.  Counties and Cities need all the help they can get.  Sometimes, just having the State get out of the way can help.  To those in Olympia: when taking up anti-gang legislation, please do not restrict additional measures cities may want to enact.  If a municipality wants to do more, why stop them?

I am not a fan of getting the federal government involved in our lives any more than is necessary.  After all, it is federal law requiring we use our social security number for all kinds of financial transactions that makes the crime of identity theft so profitable for gangsters.  However, if ATF agents can help take out some the most violent offenders in our area, by prosecuting gun crime in federal court, so be it.  Until we can get Congress to reverse some of its idiotic requirements on our personal business transactions, we must find ways to work within the existing system.  Getting ATF assistance in prosecuting some of the violent crimes occurring in our area may be one way to help.  It is up to our local political and law enforcement officials to decide if that is a route worth pursuing.

One disturbing trend mentioned by one candidate for the Yakima County Prosecutor position, was that of career criminals.  Something to keep in mind, is what an Aurora, IL law enforcement official said in the U.S. News article:

“We can’t even help our confidential informants find jobs.  They do criminal background checks to work in fast food.”

It is simply not enough to send guys away for longer sentences.  Although it can be of temporary help, it alone is not a permanent solution.  Making sure we have ways to transition convicts out of prison successfully is important as well.  If they can’t even get a minimum wage job, they are going to be awfully tempted to return to criminal activity to survive.  Our local churches, service agencies, and businesses have a role to play in this as well.  Breaking the hold of the gangster culture is a difficult task.  There are no quick fixes.  If we as a community do not tolerate the gangs, they will eventually disappear.  Make no mistake, it will take effort and sacrifice, on the part of all us, to make it happen.