Gang-Bangers Banned From Military

A new bill passed by Congress means you can no longer be a member of the military and a member of a gang at the same time. The 2008 Defense authorization bill orders the Pentagon to put membership in a criminal street gang on the list of prohibited activities for service members, according to Army Times.

Today, Stars & Stripes notes, Defense Department regulations "prohibit membership in any organizations that 'espouse supremacist causes; attempt to create illegal discrimination … advocate the use of force or violence; or otherwise engage in efforts to deprive individuals of their civil rights.'"

But they don’t explicitly list street gangs among those groups, an issue lawmakers and law enforcement officials have criticized as a way to overlook possible gang affiliation among troops in the ranks."
Earlier this year, Army Criminal Investigation Command announced a jump in gang-related crimes, from 23 incidents worldwide in fiscal 2005 to 60 in fiscal
2006.

It's a problem that's worse – and more complicated – than you think. I've talked to Marine officers in Anbar province who swore by their gang-bangers: No one else could spot criminal activity on a base more quickly; no one else could find so many holes in the base's protection.

But when these guys come home, it can become a nightmare – with gangs equipped with military gear, and trained in close-combat tactics. Check out this local news report from last year:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=&rel=1

Back in Faburary, Stars & Stripes ran an amazingly in-depth, gazillion-part exploration of the issue. It's well worth a look.