Describe the reasons for the increase in gang violence in the 1980's and early 1990's

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Invasion of gang territory by a rival gang, rivalry over dating, fights related to sporting events, and personal matters in which the gang is brought in to support someone. During the 1970s there were more deaths among gang cliques than in the 1950s. Moore offers two explanations for this. The first has to do with weapons. Not only were there more guns available in the 1970s, but those who used them were more likely intending to hurt someone rather than just to intimidate them. Second, a greater degree of impersonality entered the picture, especially with the emergence of the drive-by shooting. This is related to the demise of the fair fight, whereby when the fight ends, the fighters shake hands and go their separate ways.
Moore comments that "younger members often want to match or outdo the reputation of their predecessors. Respondents from the more violent cliques were significantly more likely to believe that their clique was more violent than its immediate predecessor" (ibid:60).
It may be tempting to explain the increase in gang violence by pointing to exaggerated masculine behavior, or machismo. However, this term, says Moore, refers just as much to control as it does to aggressiveness.