People outside of gang life only see either the climate of fear created by gangs or the sense of belonging felt by those within them. What they don't see is the daily reality of life inside their secrets - the initiations, the daily rituals, the network of friends and enemies, all the information everyone has that could have them killed if they are suspected of informing. A friend of mine who belongs to a gang once told me that a gang is more than your family, it's your whole life. Once a person joins a gang, they cannot see beyond it. The gang takes care of everything, leaving no time for school, work, or any other commitments a member might have made before joining. This may be considered unhealthy by outsiders, but it gives a person's life a direction that would otherwise not have been provided in many cases. Gang life is hectic. Often, older members (those who can drive) sleep in a different city each night. This can last for years, until someone becomes too tired or too old to do their various jobs as well as someone else could. Although gang members claim to be unaffected by the violence they inflict on others, they are perhaps the most sensitive people in the world. Having never known happiness, many are driven to engage in the endless war of gang violence to obtain money to support their starving families, who do not even question where this money comes from. money, nor even care where that money comes from. They hate themselves and those around them so much that they eventually become hardened to their pain and can thus make the lives of those around them miserable without even realizing it. Many gang members use drugs constantly, making them believe they are invincible – and often they are. Although many gang members are involved in drug trafficking, it is not a primary gang activity. (http://www.ncjrs.org) Many people think that without