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Can Kentucky Stop its Gangs?

The gangs of the South persist.

By Skyler SaundersPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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Photograph by: sniggie

The name of the gang is EST or Everybody Shine[s] Together. The irony behind such an innocuous name is the nefarious nature of the figures behind the criminal organization.

In Louisville, Kentucky, three remaining members of EST are still at large while multiple members have been apprehended. This particular set, fortunately, is responsible not for murder or rape or robbery, but for trafficking, distribution, and illegal gun possession.

Come see me when EST drops bodies. The charges the gang is involved in are insufficient to the punishment of life in prison. Three suspects have been indicted already and it still makes no sense. Homicides and vicious acts like that should carry life sentences.

Distribution and trafficking drugs should not be a crime in the first place. Dirty guns should be a crime but they should not be associated with decades behind bars.

While Khasi Jones, 28, Devonzo Summers, 24, and Barry Reed, 20, the three males connected to EST who have been indicted and are still on the loose are dirtbags no doubt, they have no killings linked to their names in this case.

Gangs who actually commit heinous crimes like kidnappings and beheadings should receive life or death sentences. The idea behind EST had to be a recruiting tactic to attract young people to live a life of fraternal order. Instead, the grim reality is that law enforcement officials are serious about cracking down on crimes that are actually on the books.

Insofar as drugs are illegal, criminals should be taken into custody and have the justice system deal with them. But the numbers they throw at mostly young people is abhorrent. In a transaction which is malignant, yes, but has no victims, the authorities should have no say in what two adults agree to transact when it comes to substances.

What EST, in this latest development has done is worthy of censure because we can’t have illegal or false weapons circulating through neighborhoods.

The 163 murders this year in Louisville can be linked to the illegal gun possession charge, maybe. Suppose corrupt guns flood the streets and make it difficult for police to find the culprits behind those bodies. Then by all means lock up the crooked ones who hold onto these firearms.

Gangs like EST should be converted to reflect the benign name of the organization. Youngsters should be eager to enter into contracts with businesses. They should be inspired and motivated to create enterprises that advocate for life and prepare them and sustain them for the adult world.

In the time the FBI spends hunting down gangs with, in comparison, lesser crimes, they could be finding terrorists, arsonists, murderers, and other vicious figures.

EST could have been an opportunity for these young people to visit schools to encourage students to have love for life. That’s the sadness regarding all of this. Everybody Shine[s] Together doesn’t sound like a horrific gang but a group that seeks to push positive ideals.

In all the ways the gang could have done something life-affirming, they failed. They are paying for it with this indictment because our legal system is still not perfect. When the laws finally align with rationality, we should see a decrease in actual criminal activity.

With gang activity still rampant across the country and world, the remedy is to enforce laws that actually make sense. EST should champion the legalization of drug trafficking and distribution.

The support for laws to reflect authorizing all drugs should be on the docket at the federal level. Once the United States demonstrates it opens up the market on once illicit substances there of course will be addiction issues amongst others. That’s why private substance rehabilitation centers should sprout up to combat such problems. Everybody Shine[s] Together seems like an apt name for such an institution.

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Skyler Saunders

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