Pointless, immoral gang patch laws

[Prometheus98876]

In the small town of Wanganui New Zealand, they want to ban gang members (members of Black Power, Hells Angels and other smaller gangs) from appearing in public in "gang patches" or "gang uniform'. The supposed point of this law would be to hit back at gang members by giving the police the "right" to arrrst on the spot anyone wearing gang patches, as this will apparently solve/lessen the gang problem.

This is a blatant attempt to define someones guilt based merely on the group they belong to, and is a kin to racism (except this time based on clothing and not race), I am going to call it patchism in this thread. What the supporters of this bill are saying is: If one associates themselves with a gang, that is what determines their guilt. That they are guilty of moral crimes just because they wear a patch, and the fact that any particular gang member might actually be commiting no crimes at the time (as not all gang members are neccesairly active criminals) is irrelevant, the mere fact that they are in a gang somehow proves they are guilty. As though a gang patch in itself if proof that one cannot NOT have commited a crime, or that one intends to.

Then there is the fact that non-criminal gang members have the right to wear whatever they wish, even if we do not agree with it, they have the freedom to express themselves however they wish, our dislike on it does not negate that right, no matter how much one might wish it does.

However, the obvious fact of the matter is that thisd is a monstrous form of discrimination. It is highly irrational to assume based just on what group one belongs to that they are guilty of something. One is guilty based on what actions they take, not membership with a group and whatever you assoicate that group with, ones feelings that they are guility cannot replace actions. And assuming one is guilty based on feelings results in rivers of innocent blood.

Besides the obvious moral issues, there is the fact this will; not work. Criminal gang members will continue to commit crimes if they are not wearing their patches. Removing their patch will not change who they are, violent, irrational thugs whom have no other way of attempting to deal with reality. Removing their patch, does not give them rationality, and the willingness to deal with life in any way but as a criminal. They wuill continue to commit crimes, butg now possiblky more crimes as they will be pissed off with as they feel their rights are being breached, and he is unlikely to choose to obey the law anyway.

Criminals are still criminals, even if you take their favorite clothes away, clothes do not defien ones propensity to crime.

Of course, then there is the fact that they cannot indimate people without patches? Oh no? I think most gang members are quiute capable of being indimidating without a patch...take a sour, hardened criminal without a patch, I bet he can indimate many people.

Then there is the fact, that patched gang members are easy to identify and to try stay clear of if you want. If one is not wearign a patch, it could be harder to identify them.

This law is a blatant attempt to try to not only assume a patch=guiltt, but to remove a problem by hidingr its most public display. Paint an iceberg if you want, its still there, it wont go away...

Edited March 26, 2007 by Prometheus98876