Today’s online edition of Family Security Matters, the self-proclaimed “National Security Resource for American Families”, features a tasty and ‘exclusive’ op-ed by the publication’s contributing editor. Its title looks like a line out of late ’30s propaganda flick, “Reefer Madness”: “The Hispanic Gang Problem: Coming Soon To Your Community?” (If you’re reading the article from your ranch in Iowa, odds are the answer is ‘no’.) As if to exaggerate such a sensational headline, the piece’s first subtitle—“The LA Unified School District, 70 percent Hispanic, is one of the worst districts in the United States.”—represents a classic example of the logical fallacy known as “correlation implies causation.” Just ‘cause the two are related, doesn’t mean one led to the other. (Wikipedia has turned us into philosophy professors, no?) Alas, as much as we hate to admit, the author makes some valid points after these two miscues.

For example, the 22,000 Hispanic gang members roaming L.A. County as of 2005 have the nasty habit of repping their affiliation unashamedly on school grounds in hopes of recruiting new blood to push dope and vandalize any number of buildings. What’s more, when L.A. prosecutors and police officers try to put away gang ‘sponsors’ like the “ultra-violent” Mexican Mafia, they live in constant fear of retribution.
As for a solution to this explosive problem, the article suggests many. But as is usual with the controversy surrounding most life-and-death issues, we’re not gonna touch it with a ten-foot pole. Take a look when you can, judge for yourself, and leave a comment below. We promise not to get too serious.

The Hispanic Gang Problem: Coming Soon To Your Community? [FamilySecurityMatters.org]
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