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Gangs and Weapons

From the DarkNet to handmade weapons, gangs use anything at hand. Usually, guns and edged weapons come immediately to mind. However, when considering “weapons” that gangs are using, they are thinking “outside the box”. It isn’t necessarily only the gun or edged weapon; it’s the many facets of gang violence that are changing and increasing the violence.

Ghost Weapons

This article by Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times, in July 2018, details how L. A. Gangs are obtaining weapons. This is just one of the ways in which gangs obtain their arsenals. Scroll within the window to read the article.

Edged Weapons



Below is a slideshow from the Police Magazine that shows different types of Edged Weapons made by gang members. Some are easily recognizable – others are not. Scroll within the window as needed and use the arrows to navigate through the slideshow.

Drones

Drones are becoming more and more prevalent in use by gangs. Drones can be used to harass, cause damage, spy, and deliver drugs. The article from PoliceOne.com (below) describes various uses of drone technology by gangs.

This article by Robert M. Brzenchek from PoliceOne.com is an excellent write-up on how gangs are using drones to their advantage:

https://www.policeone.com/gangs/articles/475524006-How-gangs-are-using-drones-to-disrupt-law-enforcement/

Social Media

Whether it’s Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or Instagram, social media is not only the way gangs are recruiting members, but also the way they are increasing the violence. Social media is a fast way to put out multiple hits as we see in this video about that subject in Detroit.

“Gangs using social media to kill”