Deseret News | Gang fight breaks out at Provo mall, police say

Reader comments
Gang fight breaks out at Provo mall, police say

Whiggy | 1:23 p.m. March 14, 2009

This is one more example of why the legislature must pass anti-gang legislation and must provide law enforcment with the funding required to enforce the legislation.

Anonymous | 2:54 p.m. March 14, 2009

Wrong Whiggy...you will never have enough laws or law enforcement to stop this. All the gun laws have'nt stop the criminals from getting guns, all the alcohol laws have'nt stopped the 1400+ DUI's in this state, all the drug laws have'nt stopped all the meth streaming into our state and a 1000 gang arn't going to stop our gang problem...Gangs have been a HUGH focus for almost 25 years now to the major Metro areas....L.A., Miami, Detroit....law enforcement in these places have millions of dollars and hundreds of officers attached to try and stop the bleeding, but not much has worked. Gangs are more popular now than ever, just alot smarter, so you don't hear as much about them...what we have here, and I can just hear the knee-jerk reaction to this staement I'm about to make, is an ethnic problem. There...I said it.....if you look at this states stats, especially with regards to the influx of illegals and the increase in crime, you'll see a DIRECT correlation between the 2. It's the same in every state....

Deseret Dawg | 3:18 p.m. March 14, 2009

Yep, "diversity" has come to Provo. Enjoy it, "diversity" assures continued uninterrupted growth of the criminal justice industry.

Comments continue below

Ethnic Problem | 4:01 p.m. March 14, 2009

Of course it's an ethnic problem...that's the nature of gangs. It's a group of ethnic minorities that feel like they don't fit in to society so they cluster together and rebel against it. Ethnicity is at the very core of the modern gang. It's not "racist" to talk about it. It's just a fact that we all have to deal with and try to solve.

Jody | 4:01 p.m. March 14, 2009

What a racist you are, Desert Dawg. Diversity is not the issue here, it is poor parenting, period. Your claim that diversity causes this stuff if actually funny when you consider all of the Utah County "normal" people who were ripped off in mortagage scams in Utah County by other "normal" people. Why weren't you crying foul then and pinning it on diversity?

GANGS | 4:12 p.m. March 14, 2009

GANGS ARE NOT A PROBLEM. THEY ARE PROFITABLE. THEY HELP FUEL OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND LOCAL ECONOMY. WERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT CRIMINALS? THINK ABOUT IT.

Juarez | 4:28 p.m. March 14, 2009

Best thing we could do is ship these gangs to Juarez, problem solved, they'll be dead within days.

To Mr. Anonymous | 4:30 p.m. March 14, 2009

You could not be more wrong. Utah has the lowest DUI related fatalities in the nation. Half of the Nat. Average. I like my state. Deseret Dawg is completely right. Diversity does bring things with it. I am not blaming certain races. I don't believe that way. I am only stating that many Germans are from Germany and respect their blood and soil home.

Americans are diverse but what unifies us is our belief in democracy and the liberties and civil protections because we believe they were God given and not country given(thus countries can't take away) rights. With that said. WAY too many (immigrants is sugar-coating) Mexicans come in to our country illegally while they shoot people in the south of their own country who immigrate. They mooch with no taxes. They are steeling from my tax paid money. Give to the pot before taking away!! Diversity where people come(from ANY place) and don't contribute to America but just take away from us. Taking without giving. It's like the selfish capitalist CEO'sCongressmen who have ruined our economy.

It's not a race issue, with DIVERSITY we need UNITY!!

An Ethnic Minority | 4:40 p.m. March 14, 2009

I was wondering if the code words "ethnic minority" applied to Irish republicans, Russian oligarchs, Bosnians (all stripes), Italian mobsters, Zionists, English Hooligans, etc., or just Mexicans?

Anonymous | 4:41 p.m. March 14, 2009

There is probably a gang brawl in provo, because there is nothing better to do in the city on Friday. Most things close at 9, and the few things that do stay open, make it a very limited choice of entertainment.

Hail Buttars | 4:51 p.m. March 14, 2009

The legislators are to busy removing tags of wine beer bottles and removing private club membership so more people drink booze to buy more School Books For the Mormon Schools! They want to tax Caffeine becuase NON or Jack Mormons are the Coffe and Coke drinkers so anyone with a bad habit Pays all the Bills while the Mormons use Church Money to persecute a group of people that are no threat to anyone and yet they can not use the money to remove the Illegal Mexicans out of Utah and there Gang Members who are a threat to everyone in Utah who also take away jobs the American Citizens who will spend there money here to help Utah and not some third world Ghetto in Mexico! Utah Legislators Are One huge JOKE!!Utah Legislators need to get an Education and learn how to run a State! Stop taxing Gas and Raise Taxes on Ciggarettes/All Tobacco Pruducts,Booze, and the best thing in world would be to bring in A UTAH STATE LOTTERY!

Re: Ethnic Problem | 5:00 p.m. March 14, 2009

I used to be a Skinhead years ago, so I guess my former associates and me are not included in this Ethnic Problem because we are white huh?

JAYE | 5:21 p.m. March 14, 2009

Anonymous...I don't live where the sidewalks are rolled up at 9:00 p.m. I live in Tacoma and we still have gang brawls. We have a wide variety of entertainment available to everybody and we still have gang brawls. We have late night basketball programs for the youth at the YMCA and community centers and we still have gang brawls. And as a matter of fact...a lot of these brawls occur very late at night, or early in the A.M.

Anonymous | 5:28 p.m. March 14, 2009

I once spoke to a man who works at the youth detention facility in my neck of the woods. He pushes a broom, and talks with the kids. They have come to trust him. According to him, many of these kids end up in gangs because they are hungry, or are poorly clothed. Some of them have been kicked out of their homes, or abandoned. They cannot buy food or clothing for themselves because of the legal age restrictions for youth labor. So they steal food, or clothing and end up in detention.

Gang recruiters find them in detention, and when they get out, these recruiters take them home with them, feed them, give them clothing, shelter, a place to sleep and a sense of belonging.

Perhaps society ought to reconsider the laws regarding employing youths.

Deseret Dawg | 5:31 p.m. March 14, 2009

Jody, I found your comment amusing. Obviously you consider diversity to be an inerrant religion never to be criticized. You are no different in spirit from the Inquisitors of the Middle Ages, or the commissars that plagued Russia during its Soviet occupation.

Perhaps you would care to return and explain to us why the imposition of forced diversity into a given area INVARIABLY results in an increase in social discontinuity, and why gang activity is best organized and most virulent in the most diverse areas.

Your Marxist college professors may have indoctrinated you well, Jody, but they didn't reach me...or, for that matter, most mainstream Americans.

Parental Concern : | 5:44 p.m. March 14, 2009

Where are the parents of these kids....? Can't tell me parents can't see a problem at home unless they are the problem...!

Idahoan | 5:56 p.m. March 14, 2009

To 4:51 p.m.,

A lottery (or gambling) is not the answer to any problem. People claim it helps this group or that group so much because of the funds distributed. Where do those funds come from? People with small incomes. Think about the lottery jackpot winners that you hear about. How many of them were rich before winning the lottery? A small minority. Many winners are people just scraping by. Sure it's nice to win lots of money. How much do you have to pay first, however? And how about those who are living meagerly and still buy lottery tickets just because someone else won the jackpot and created a false hope? For every person who wins the jackpot, how many don't? How much money is thrown away when the jackpot climbs?

People are warned about scams that sound too good to be true. Isn't the lottery something that also sounds too good to be true? Investing $5 in order to get $100 million in return is ridiculous. Buying a $5 ticket to win $100 million is as well. Yet one is accepted and the other dismissed as greed and naivete.

Anonymous | 6:06 p.m. March 14, 2009

To Anonymous,Deseret Dawg,Ethnic Problem,and To Mr. Anonymous: Its people like you who are the major contributors to the gang proliferation in this fine state.
With your close-minded racism you will never see the end of gangs in Utah.
to Re: Ethnic problem and An Ethnic Minority, thank you for making a very valid point that everyone else on this board conveniently overlooked.

al | 6:22 p.m. March 14, 2009

And why does the world lie in sin?...the D&C answer: inequality.

Jody | 7:23 p.m. March 14, 2009

Actually Desert Dawg you are totally wrong about me. I happen to be a police officer and have observed this stuff for a long time. Again, bangers are bangers for one reason... bad parenting. They either come from homes where there is a parent missing, or parent(s) don't take time to raise them properly or they are simply bad parents who will not take responsibility or teach it to their kids. As far as your "forced diversity comment, what's that about? I don't see anybody forcing anything.

Lastly, I don't see the outcry in Utah when our brothers are ripping the rest of us off for millions od dollars. We are not known for the gang capital of the U.S., but we are known for being the fraud capital and that is worth complaining about.

RMB | 8:35 a.m. March 15, 2009

Where was the security ?
I'm sure these fine upstanding men weren't all
setting down to a nice dinner in the Food Court
before the gang fight broke out !

Shop elsewhere | 5:26 p.m. March 16, 2009

That's it. I hate feeling intimidated when I take my kids shopping. Even if I need to drive a little further, I'm going to the mall in Orem. I know that their security are off duty Police officers. I also know that Orem Police "Gang Squad" makes their presents know there often.

Gilbert | 7:20 p.m. March 16, 2009

And you wonder why Latinos are Stereotyped?

Karl | 5:04 p.m. March 17, 2009

Do not eat at Rancheritos (formerly Betos in Orem)the girls are nags!

Anonymous | 12:36 p.m. March 19, 2009

In response to the other comments: Yes there are other issues that might seem more important local or global, but the topic here is Gangs in Utah.

What we know or don't know is not really the issue, the problem is gathering the data and using it to begin the process of rebuilding our communities. If your serious about this issue attend your local council meetings and get involved.

In respone to 'Shop Elsewhere': Don't let gangs affect your lifestyle with intimidation,because then they have truly won.

YOUNGSTER | 7:26 p.m. March 24, 2009

HEY PPL WELL IM A LITTLE KID IM ONLY 14 YRS OLD AND IM SEEIN WUT YALL ARE WRITTING ABOUT AND YA ALL HAVE A POINT.YA MIGHT BE SAYIN RIGHT NOW THAT IM TO LITTLE AND I DONT KNOW NUTHING AND I SHOULDNT BE LOOKIN THIS STUFF UP.BUT THE THING IS THAT IM WRITTIN A REPORT ON "WHY WE STILL HAVE GANGS" FOR SCHOOL AND WELL THE TOPIC REALLY INTERESTED ME BECAUSE WELL I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE IN GANGS AND ALL.IM ALL AGAINST THE GANG STUFF I DONT LIKE IT ONE BIT EVEN THOUGH MY PARENTS ARE RARLY HERE AND IM MAINLY BY MY SELF AT HOME AND I FEEL LONELY I DONT GET INTO IT CAUSE I KNOW DA CONSEQUENCES.WELL ONE THING FOR SURE IS THAT U CANT DO NUTHING TO STOP DEM CAUSE DEY EITHER USED TO IT AND CUZ DEY GREW UP AROUND IT.THATS HOW MY BOYFRIEND IS,BUT HE IS STOPPIN CUZ IM HELPIN HIM THROUGH IT. WELL I HOPE YA SEE MY POINT IN ALL DIZ.THANK YOU FOR READIN DIZ.

Anonymous | 11:35 p.m. March 31, 2009

The victim happened to be my older brother and he had to get stitches on his eyebrow. I know for certain that my brother is not involved in any gang related activities.

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