GANGS AND CRIME go hand in hand. In fact, the FBI considers criminal activity to be part of the definition of a gang:

Participation in criminal activity is what separates community groups or social clubs from gangs. For instance, a motorcycle club that has initiation rituals, an organizational structure (for example, club president, vice president, etc.), and wears similar clothing ("colors") is NOT viewed as a gang by the FBI unless the club and its members become involved in criminal activity.

The criminal activity of gangs grows out of their very nature. Gang members tend to see themselves as being outside of the law; instead, they follow "laws" of their own. Gangs have been associated with crime since the nineteenth century. Gangs today, however, are far more violent than in the past. The widespread use of automatic and semiautomatic guns...