Original Gangster

[Disir]

Spoiler

Recollections of a New York Chief of Police - George Washington Walling - Google Books

A 19 year old, a 20 year old and a 22 year old were hanging out a bar and decided to go out gang-banging. They took a row boat out to rob a ship except the 22 year old was hammered and passed out. The 20 year old shot an unarmed guy on the ship. They leave the scene and go back to the bar.

This gang is one of many (like a lot) but the Daybreak Boys have zero problem killing people and thieving. They have a group of younger kids that are in their little gang-banging school
Now this was back in the day when shootings were increasing. Most people were used to violence with knives and such so this ushered in a new level of fear.
Confessions found here:
The ConFession of William Saul aud Nicholas Howlett concerning the Murder of CharlesBaxter---xculpnatlen of Iohnsan. - View Article - NYTimes.com

A later article here:

The Milwaukee Sentinel - Google News Archive Search

That first section from the book? Written by a cop.
The War on Drugs didn't have anything to do with it.

 

[Picaro]

Gangs were a problem from early in the 1800's in many areas of the U.S., particularly New York City and later Chicago. Organized crime wasn't invented by Prohibition, as many like to think; it revolved largely around political factions. Newspapers hired gangs to conduct street wars over circulation frequently, pols used them in elections, etc. The slums of that era and beyond rivaled and in some cases exceeded anything in India or China in degradation and disease and abject poverty. Modern sociopaths are upbeat and enthusiastic about returning the U.S. to those 'good ole days'.

 

[Disir]

I agree. In fact, many of the gangs had people that worked.For other gangs it was their full time job with zero political ties. There were even "middle class" gangs that would rob people attempting to use the library. We can go back even further to the gangs of highway robbers. The motivations for gang-banging haven't changed.

 

[whitehall]

Two drunks decided to commit a murder and "the war on drugs didn't have anything to do with it" so it becomes an argument to legalize drugs?

 

[Disir]

Two drunks decided to commit a murder and "the war on drugs didn't have anything to do with it" so it becomes an argument to legalize drugs?

Nope.

 

[whitehall]

Two drunks decided to commit a murder and "the war on drugs didn't have anything to do with it" so it becomes an argument to legalize drugs?

Nope.

What's the point then?

 

[Disir]

Two drunks decided to commit a murder and "the war on drugs didn't have anything to do with it" so it becomes an argument to legalize drugs?

Nope.

What's the point then?

Did you click on the spoiler?