Dave Reichert once said, “Gang violence in America is not an overnight problem. It has been a part of urban life for years, offering definition and an aggressive identity to those seeking a place to belong in the chaos of large metropolitan areas” (quotes by Dave Reichert). Nowadays, gangs are not only made up of adults on the streets, but also teenagers going to school. Several experts state that “gang membership is particularly widespread among urban youth under the age of 18” (Teen Gangs). As a result, gangs are now present in many schools and could lead to increased violence among students as a result. Schools need to take a firmer stance against these gangs to reduce the increase in violence. Throughout the history of the United States, gangs have always been groups that regularly use threats to commit crimes. Crime rates increased during the 1960s and 1970s, partly due to the large number of teenagers involved in crime. During the 1980s, juvenile crime continued to increase even as particular types of crime decreased. But according to most reports, “gang activity declined somewhat in the 1990s. Experts attribute the decline to a combination of factors, including an improving economy, a decline in crack and cocaine use, stricter law enforcement and more violence prevention programs” (Teen Gangs). Statistics show that the number of gang members dropped to “780,000 in 1998 from 846,000 in 1996, according to the OJJDP” (Teen Gangs). Another report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that “the percentage of high school students who reported carrying a gun in the past 30 days fell to 18 percent in 1997, from 26 percent. % in 1991” (Teen Gangs). Many people come to believe that gang membership is a grave danger... middle of paper... heb. May 22, 2012. “School Safety.” Issues and disputes on file. Network. May 23, 2012. "Teenage gangs and crime." Issues and disputes on file:. Network. May 23, 2012. "Teenage Gang." Problems and controversies. Facts On File News Services, April 9, 2009. Web. May 22, 2012. "Update: School Safety." Issues and controversies on file: n. page Problems and controversies. Facts On File News Services, May 11, 2007. Web. June 5, 2012. "Zero Tolerance." Issues and controversies on file: n. page Problems and controversies. Facts On File News Services, July 13, 2001. Web. June 5 2012. .