Part 2: Discourage Gang Activity

Child showing gang signs

The politicians and Police can only discourage gang activity to a point.  It takes each household to discourage their children from joining or associating with a gang. It is up to you to discourage your children from hanging around with gang members.  You start doing this as soon as they are able to walk and talk. Don’t start trying to control your children’s activity at age 16. It is easier to train your children in which way to go at age 4 than it is as age 14. The older they are when you start training your children they harder it will be when you start trying to train them.

 

To discourage connections between your children and gangs, occupy your children’s free time. You should plan activities that the whole family can enjoy such as bike riding, bowling, hiking, fishing, swimming, and camping.  

Meet your children’s friends. Find out whom they are, what influence they have on your children, and how they spend their free time.  If your children choose friends that are mostly from gangs, then your children are probably involved in gang activity.  Here is why you must occupy your children’s free time. Give them responsibilities at home. Get them involved in after school activities and other children’s associations such as summer baseball, basketball, and track programs. 

You the parent are going to have to develop good communications with your children without becoming a friend and not a parent. Good communication is open and frequent.  It takes on a positive tone not a condemning tone.  Do not allow your children to stay out late at night. Set limits for your children.  At an early age, children need to know what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. The safety of your family depends on you learning about gang and drug activity in your community. It depends on you being an informed parent!  

The Flash Starts His 2012 Cross Country Season

Daniel at the 2012 Tim Memorial Run

On Saturday 25, 2012, Daniel ran his personal best in the 5K Race in Hershey Pennsylvania at Hershey High School. Like his great uncle William J Williams III (Hypo) he likes Cross Country more than track and field. Daniel does a lot better in Cross Country because he is better at longer distances than the short track and field distances. 

Daniel was the smallest child in the race. These are the people competing against him.

Mrs. Russell the founder of the cross country meet is seen clapping at the beginning of the race.

Daniel finishing his 5K race.Daniel's Mother Stephanie decides that she had to hold a conversation while I trying to tape the beginning of this race.

The Jamaican Flash ran his personal best at 

22 Minutes, 57.1 seconds. He ran in the 1 to 13 year old age group

 coming in 10th. He was the smallest and probably one of the 

youngest to run in that race. No other child of his age came close 

to his time. I handed out many of Daniels cards to several people 

who could not believe how well a 7 year old can do in a 5K race.  

This meet is one of the practice meets where we find out the 

failings of Daniel's running style and stamina. We practice running 

at 10 miles per hour for 3 minutes for 5 periods daily. So I expect 

a time below 6 minutes in a race. Daniel's average time per mile 

was 7 Minutes, 24 seconds. This is where we have to improve before 

we start USATF Cross Country this fall. 

Daniel flew by while running the one mile run. He just finished the 5k run 15 minutes before. He finished around 6 minutes 30 seconds, well ahead of most people running his age. It was his idea to run this race. I did not know he was in it. Stephanie told me and I got out to the road in time to see him fly by.Stephanie and David showed up later. 

  I expected brother David to keep track of Daniel's statistic on his computer. Instead he brings up Cartoons and some video road game. I thought the 2 year old came along to help!

Part 1: Is Your Child in a Gang?

 

I laughed when I turned on the news and saw the Harrisburg Police restrict movement on a street for 48 hours. They want people to think that inconveniencing citizens from using city streets is going to deter crime. At least that is what they want you to believe. These police and politicians want you to believe that closing bars is going to deter crime in a given area. The hidden agenda here is to take control of the liquor license to give to their friends. These friends open up another bar in another area of the City.   This is how restaurant row was created under the Mayor Reed Administration. All they did was transfer the crime downtown.

The politicians and police cannot solve area crime problems. It is up to people like you to do it and it should start with your own home. If you have your head up your behind and deny problems in front of you then stop reading this blog and go watch “House” on TV.  If you want to do something about gang violence read on.

A street gang is a group of individuals who form an allegiance to one another. They may or may not claim control over a certain territory in the community. They engage individually or collectively in violence or in other forms of illegal behavior.  

Gangs thrive on intimidation and notoriety. They often find violence glamorous.  This is a necessity in order to maintain individual and gang status.  Most groups such as gangs are depending upon both individual and group participation. Email and the Internet have made managing the gangs easier for gang leaders.  The person who is the toughest has the most or best guns. Some may have the most money from illegal operations.    I am sure you have seen gang markings on buildings and other property. Many today, are run more like businesses and try to run illegal operations in plain view in secret. 

 

Signs of Gang Membership in Your Own Home  

If you want to stop crime, start in your own home. Check behind your son or daughter. Yes, I am telling you to spy on them.  Don’t hand me that crap about they are individuals or you may find your individual being honored in a funeral before their time or serving most of their life behind bars. 

There are early warning signs that you should be looking for something that will alert you to gang activity.

1.      Look for sign of drug use. Most people find out that their children or spouses are on drugs months or years after they become users. 

2.      Check your children’s academic school activity. If their school grades are declining, find out why.

3.      School and work truancy could be a sign that something is wrong and it is up to you to investigate.

4.      If your child or spouse is keeping late hours, you better look into why that is happening.

5.      Having large sums of money or expensive items which cannot be explain may be a sign of criminal activity. In Lower Paxton, Pa., a rich suburb of Harrisburg, about 20 years ago, a gang was so successful in illegal operations that they were running established illegal crime syndicates out of business. The syndicate complained to police about the young teenagers operation and had the police arrest the young criminals. That forced them out of business. 

6.      Search the house for guns and ammunition that should not be in the house or on your property.

These are early signs that your child may have joined a gang. Now let’s look at definite signs that someone in your family has joined a gang.  

1.      If you see gang graffiti on the wall of the bedroom or pictures of Pot on the walls then this is a real good sign that someone is in a gang. 

2.      If you see gang graffiti on books, and posters then this is a real good sign.

3.      If you see your child or spouse continually sporting gang clothing or colors then you know that they are in a gang. 

The bible said, “out of two or three witnesses, let the truth go forth.”  That means if two or three people come to you and tells you that your children or spouse is connected with gang activity then you have a good idea that your love ones are in a gang.  

Gangs are not just in Cities. They are in the suburbs and in the country. It is up to you to police your own children before the police or other gang members do!

Pennsylvania Firearms law

AK47

I attended the Montour Delong County Fair in August 2012. State Representative Kurt A. Messer (Republican) from the 107the Legislative District was giving out literature concerning Firearms in Pennsylvania. State law does not say anything about the following;

1.      Transfer of handguns between some family members: husband/wife, parent/child, and grandparent/grandchild.

2.      Transfer of long guns between private individuals who reside in Pennsylvania.

3.      Any hand guns or long guns legally owned by individuals moving into Pennsylvania.

People living in Pennsylvania do not need a permit before buying a firearm. According to the brochure that I picked up, the simplest and best way to buy or sell a firearm is to have it shipped from one licensed federal firearm dealer to another federal firearm dealer. This procedure will comply with all local, state, and federal laws. 

You must undergo a Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) background check to purchase a firearm.  Dealers may accept a valid photo driver’s license or ID card. They may also accept a valid government issued photo ID card.  If you are going to travel with your firearms and if you are going out of state, you must know the laws in the state where you are traveling. If you are selling or giving away your firearms, you should go to a licensed firearm dealer who will do a Pennsylvania Instant Check on the intended recipient of the firearm to determine the person’s eligibility.

If something is wrong with your firearm, it is advised that your local licensed federal firearm dealer handle the shipping for you. If you have to transport your firearm within Pennsylvania, the firearm should be unloaded and in a locked container unless you have a license to carry a firearm. For further information on this, contact your State Representative or local law enforcement official for further details.    

   

A concealed carry permit allows an individual to carry a firearm concealed on or about the person or in a vehicle throughout Pennsylvania. You can obtain a concealed carry permit from your local County Sheriff’s office, In Philadelphia; you can obtain a permit from the Chief of Police. If you need a sportsmen’s permit for hunting or fishing, go to your County Treasurer’s Office. A person does not need a license to possess a firearm in their home. You can’t take a firearm into a courthouse, post office, on school property, or federal building.  

If a person is not allowed to purchase a firearm, someone else cannot buy a firearm for them. That is known as a straw purchase and all parties involved would be committing a crime. If the person with past criminal convictions feels that they should be able to buy a firearm, they must meet curtain test;

1.      You have received a pardon

2.      You had your record expunged

3.      You have received restoration of your right to possess firearms through the court of common pleas.

If you have not received such from the State of Pennsylvania, you should seek assistance from an attorney to determine your status.

There are 37 crimes for which a conviction would prohibit a person from lawfully purchasing or possessing a firearm under the Uniform Firearms Act. There are also 9 conditions which would result in a firearm disability. Additionally, one condition (3 convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, within a 5-year period) prohibits subsequent purchase or receipt by transfer, but not possession of firearms already owned. 

Finally, federal law imposes additional restrictions on firearms ownership due to criminal convictions. The law is very complicated so I recommend you see an attorney.   

If you own a fire arm and you are convicted of a crime that prohibits you from possessing, you may have up to 60 days from the date of conviction to sell or transfer any firearms to a person who does not live with you. If you have a Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) against you, you may only have 24 hours. In your situation, you may have other considerations under state and federal law.  Seek the assistance of your private attorney.         

For Your Research

I am not an expert on this subject. If you want more information, you can find the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act by referring to Title 18, Chapter 61 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.  Also you can refer to the following material;

1.      Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States. Written by: J. Scott Kapas, Esq.

2.      Gun Laws of America. Written by: Alan Korwin

3.      Guns, Crime, and Freedom. Written by: Wayne LaPierre

4.      Your State Firearms Laws. Written by: Ronald W. Rossi, Sheriff 

5.      Information for Pennsylvania Firearm Purchasers and Basic Firearm Safety. Written by: the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Records and Identification Firearms Division SP 4-135(4-2003).

6.      Firearms Division Firearms Dealer’s Newsletter.

7.      Pennsylvania Firearms Laws Distributed by the Office of your State Representative ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) Part 1

8.      Title 18, Chapter 61 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.

You can find more information by looking at these websites;

Attorneygeneral.gov

Atf.gov

  

The Politics of Color

American's Dawn Harper, Kellie Wells, and Lola Jones at the Finish Line for the 100M Hurdles.

Did you happen to see on the NBC Network, the drama behind Lolo Jones vs. Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells, who won silver and bronze respectively in the women's 100m hurdles? NBC was making it seem as if Harper and Wells didn’t like the attention that Lolo has been receiving during these 2012 Olympic Games. But this story goes much deeper than just professional jealousy. It stabs at the very heart of centuries old intraracial conflicts.   

 

Intraracial Racial Conflict Among African and Native Americans

To most people and for many Blacks in America, the problem of intraracial conflict does not exist. This conflict has been going on since slavery days and it continues to this day. It all started when slave masters segregated their slaves according to color. 

These slaves came from many different places such as the many nations of Africa and North America. Some even came from as far away as Asia or the Middle East. The light skinned slaves worked and sometimes lived in the main house while the darker skinned slaves lived and worked in the fields. Some of the light skinned slaves were fathered by their master or by White slave breeders and was given education as in a skill. This held true in the slave systems in all states until the 14^th Amendment was passed. 

After slavery ended the United States started the “Jim Crow” system.  In “Jim Crow” light skinned Blacks were treated differently than dark skin Blacks. Some light skinned Blacks could pass as White, living among White society while all along keeping their secret only to themselves. Other light skinned Blacks lived in communities that favored them over darker skinned Blacks. Movies of that era would always show darker skinned Black men with light skinned women. 

In the middle of the 20th Century, several organizations emerged for “light skinned Blacks only” such as the “Frogs.” Many families discouraged light skin men from dating darker skinned women.  Darker skinned Blacks resented this segregation of Black people. Today we still have people in the Black community that will not associate with people of lighter or darker skin.  

 

Lolo Jones at the 2012 Summer London Olympics    

Track and Field Marketing

People get the idea that track stars have natural ability. They don’t have to work to get to the Olympics. Somehow someone or corporations find them and gives them money to travel around the country and to the Olympics. They don’t have to work according to ignorant “on lookers.” This myth gives reason as to why so many people resent Track and Field Athletes until they medal at the Olympics.  Everyone loves a winner.

My Grandson Daniel is 7 years old. He has been running track events since age 5. I started marketing him 2 years ago as a track and field athlete. The idea is to get his name out in the public as a track and field star. The wider his name and reputation around the world, the more the athlete can receive in contributions from the public. These contributions are used to offset travel expenses to and from track and field competition.  At his age, the family spends up to $4,000 per year in track and field expenses. The cost goes up as the athlete’s age. This is why it takes more than talent and skill to advance to compete in major national and world competition.

Many athletes don’t know how to market themselves to the media and to the public. Most hold two or three jobs to raise enough money to compete around the world. Track and Field even for a seven year old costs a lot of money to compete every year. Try doing this for 30 years. 

Light skinned Lolo Jones did a very good job of marketing herself to the sports media. Besides, she is beautiful according to White standards and can back up her talk on the international track and field stage.  The media likes white and light over dark skin and caters to such on TV. They also love a winner. The Olympics is no exception.  

For the same reason why Lolo is so successful at using the media, Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells are not. The same doors were not open to them as it was with Lolo Jones. They had to do a lot of jobs and save a lot of money just to get the same track and field opportunities as Lolo. At the 2012 Olympics this caused some friction between the light skin Lolo and the two darker skins Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells.  

    

How this came to a head

By the time the 100 Meter Finals started, Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells had it with the media attention given to Lolo Jones. NBC already had Lolo as the person to win the Gold in this event. Nothing can motivate an athlete better than to tell them that someone else is better than them. Add to that equation the idea that it is just because the competition is prettier and light skin. 

The gun sounded, the athletes took off down the track and over the hurdles.  Dawn Harper came in second and Kellie Wells came in third. Lolo Jones arrived at the 100m hurdles finish line in fourth place.    
 

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/2012/today-angry-lolo-jones-lashes-out-at-media.html

After placing fourth in the women's 100m hurdles last night, a heartbroken Lolo Jones discusses how the media has "ripped her to shreds".

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/london-now-big-girls-dont-cry/12mqj90l

This made the media turn on her. They do not like losers.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/track-and-field/dawn-harper-and-kellie-wells-sit-down-with-michelle-beadle.html

 Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells got their respect from the media.

Usain Bolt after running the 100 Meter Run

What does Bolt have to do with this?

Usain Bolt stopped his news interview as Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells took the Silver and Bronze places on the podium while the American National Anthem played.  Bolt put his hand over his heart and faced the flag. 

 

What is wrong with this picture? Usain Bolt is Jamaican running for Jamaica. He did not have to stop and place his hand over his heart for the American women. He did it for two reasons. He understood that these women did not receive any respect for their hard work. Plus, Bolt is already in trouble at home. It has been reported that he is dating a White woman from Great Britain and many of his fellow countrymen resent it.   

 

Yes, the politics of color is still with us as we move further into the 21^st Century.