Gangs: Insane Clown Threat?

Since childhood, I have always been afraid of clowns. Not just an evil clown as portrayed in a Stephen King novel, but even a close encounter with Ronald McDonald can make the hair on my neck stand up.

An article in The Villa Rican / Douglas County Sentinel (Area gang task force in ‘beginning stages’ by Spencer Crawford), reported the “extensive research” into local gang activity by gang expert Sgt. Jesse Hambrick of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the article, Sgt. Hambrick spoke at a gang task force meeting and identified a frightening threat to the community… clowns. That’s right… clowns! Specifically, the Insane Clown Posse, a painted face, hip hop musical duo from Detroit. Posse founders Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, also the founders of Juggalo Championship Wrestling, had a few minor run-ins with the law but have since evolved into performers rather than perpetrators. Likewise, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings all had their brushes with the law but went on to become world famous performers.  

At the meeting, Villa Rica Police Department Capt. Keith Shaddix cited two alleged examples of gang connections the band has with local youths. In one case, a home search by the captain found a teenager’s bedroom walls covered with posters of the rappers and some knives and “edged weapons.” In another instance an alleged follower of the band pulled a knife on a man. Sgt. Hambrick added that trinkets hung from the rear view mirrors of cars and unspecified car window stickers were ominous indicators of gangs.

Gangs are described as three or more people engaged in or conspiring to commit criminal activity, not a single, rebellious teenager with some posters and stickers on his bedroom walls.

Some very well-known performers have been accused of the degradation of society. Elvis Presley’s gyrations were viewed as sinful. The Beatles were seen by some as long haired communists whose lyrics were designed to corrupt American youth. Alice Cooper hit the scene with his staged morbid musical madness that illuminated the darkness of the netherworld. Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie all provoked parents to recoil in horror. Others simply associated the stage personas of these performers with stupidity rather than violence and any real threat. After all, poor taste is not a crime.

Gangs do plague some communities and we should all be vigilant of criminal activities. But while the sensationalizing of pop culture and the exaggerated association with criminal gang activities does not serve or protect communities, it does increase the notoriety of performers and boost ticket and poster sales.

Our biggest fear is the unknown, so do we know if our community really has a gang problem? If so, law enforcement should educate us how we can better protect ourselves and our property from gangs.

My fear is that by focusing on pop culture fads, the public and the police are distracted from real criminals committing real crimes. We should be chasing criminals, not face painted, orange-haired clowns and their fans, unless they happen to be robbing a bank.

The reality is that you are more likely to be harmed by a family member than by a gang member. The reality is that you are more likely to be injured or killed by a drunk driver than by a gang member.  The reality is that you are far more likely to be robbed by a criminal in a suit and tie than by an orange-haired clown.

Let’s keep it real.