Animal+Abuse+and+Gang+Violence

** Animal Abuse **
Animal abuse is a topic that no one can seem to agree on. There are many different kinds of animal abuse, and many different opinions toc about animal abuse. This is why it is so hard for officials to come up with a solution. There are animal rights activists, the people who believe animals have right and should not be harmed. These activists do what they can to help animals, but they do so in reason. Then, on the opposite animal rights side, are the extremists. These include members of PETA, and they go over the top. You also have those who do not believe that animals have any rights. This is why it is so difficult to do anything for animal abuse. The obstacles cannot get in the way though, something needs to be done.

** Gang Violence **
Gang violence in the [|United States] has been increasing since 1980-1990 (Gang). Gangs are found in both the United States and in other countries. [|Los Angles] and [|Chicago] are the most gang filled places in the U.S. These gangs are very focused on drugs and violence. Currently, violent acts committed by gang members are almost always involves some kind of criminal activity, mainly [|drug trafficking] (Gang). This shows that drugs have a big influence in gangs. Over 50 percent of police departments across the country reported an increase in gang-related violence in 2006. In the same year, 73.5 percent of the violence was thought to have been drug-related (Gang).

** Animal Abuse **
People all over the U.S. have been abusing and killing animals. Some have been punished, while others have not yet been caught. Doing something about it is difficult, as only [|15 out of our 50 states] have a law against animal abuse (Crackdown). Many people, specifically law enforcers, will not, or do not know what to do about animal abuse. Many law-enforcers pass animal abuse cases to humane societies, but these societies don't have the same powers necessary to do something about it (Moll). People are conflicted with animal abuse, because there are so many variations.Some people go over board with animal rights, and have even threatened other people's lives. These people are called animal- rights extremists. People who are against animal rights only look at the extremists and use the bad they do to prove their point (Henderson). Not everyone against animal abuse is an extremist though. There are [|animal rights activists] that work hard to create equality and a safe solution to stopping animal abuse. One this is certain though, animal abuse is not taken as seriously as it should be taken.

** Domestic Abuse and Animal Abuse **
==== Abuse of animals is regularly a sign of serious unstable mentality. This is normally linked to serial killers and criminals (Diana). Because of this fact, abuse towards humans (domestic abuse) is often found in the same household as animal abuse. 2/3 of child abusers have killed or injured pets to show control. These two go hand in hand, even though they are not punished quite the same way. Criminals, such as gang members, are often linked with animal abuse. Their lives are very violence focused, leading often to needs for power and satisfying their needs through abuse. [|Domestic abuse] is often punished severely, while animal abuse gives the abuser a slap on the wrist and a warning. ====



** Animal Abuse **
There is not one solution for animal abuse. The direct solutions solely deal with the individual situation. There are a few indirect solutions that can improve this problem, though For one, officials can start taking animal abuse more seriously. They can start enforcing the laws more, and letting people know that they won't be getting away with this. Another solution is to take direct action yourself. You can do something! Speak up! If you see animal abuse, tell someone! Rescue animals, adopt from animal shelters, and always always always, take care of your pets. A third solution is to educate people, but educate them honestly. Organizations such as [|PETA] dramatize what really happens, or only chooses to publicize certain situations. People need to know it all in order to decide what they personally can to do help. There is nothing more powerful than your voice. This is something these animals do not have. That leads us to a final solution. Be the voice.

** Domestic Abuse and Animal Abuse **
Like animal abuse, domestic abuse is not just something that one solution can stop. It all depends on the specific situation. Also like animal abuse, in order to stop both, officials need to lay down more strict laws and they need to enforce them. The solutions for domestic abuse are almost the exact same as the solutions for animal abuse. People need to know that both things happen, and that if they know of a situation, they need to say something about it. Hiding in the silence only worsens the problem. Voices need to be heard, and the pain and suffering caused needs to end. Whether it is a cat or a child, there should be no pain given. Everyone and everything should be treated correctly, no one and no thing should have to feel the pain of abuse.

**Gang Violence**
There is no easy way to stop gangs, because there are so many ways to get into a gang it is hard to stop every way. More police officers can help but only for a short period of time. But police can stop gang member but only if they commit a crime, they can’t stop people from being recuited into a gang. And if there is to many police officers in a place the gangs will just move away (HowStuffWorks). Block clubs and community centers get ex gang members to talk to young teen about gangs. The community will have events like dances, sports, anything to keep kids from hanging out with gang members. And they clean up the neighborhood by washing graffiti off the walls (HowStuffWorks). The best way of stopping gangs violence now is the [|Department of Justice's] "Weed and Seed" program. This progam is all about finding the most power and influenced gang member and stop that person. More than 3,000 Weed and Seed programs are active in the United States. Each progam can get around $1 million to help fund "law enforcement; community policing; prevention, intervention, and treatment; and neighborhood restoration (HowStuffWorks).