19th Stabbing...

So as of writing this bog post, there have been 19 shootings/stabbings in Salinas this YEAR. What is happening to the world? Why are so many people destroying the lives of so many others? In my opinion, it's a simple answer, really. There is a drug problem in Salinas, and it's not just the users who are affecting the community. It's the distribution. It's the sales. Gangs are vying for control of
'turf' to sell their goods. What's causing the violence is greed, the greed to make more money for themselves and the rest of their 'family'. These people you see being shot and stabbed, they are trespassing on these families land... this may sound a bit extremist, but it's true. Sure drugs and gang activity are illegal, but it is NOT going to stop such a deep rooted community. That's exactly what a gang is, a community... a family. And when one family crosses a rival family, violence ensues. The police are looking at these homicides as mere assault, as ruthless violence towards another innocent life. But if one thinks about the situation from a gang member's perspective, that innocent life seems much more hostile. That life could end one of your family's; they are trespassing on your familys' property. It's self preservation that's causing this violence.

Now this is going to sound quite idealistic, but something of the sort needs to be done. A middleman has to intervene between these rival gangs and create a cease fire. Gangs are made of people too, they has morals, they will listen if someone helps them out. They don't WANT to kill others, it's for protection. But something has to be done, or otherwise this turf war is going to continue, and more life is going to be lost, guaranteed.