Peyton Manning, gangster

My answer is if you want to ban a few numbers or a few colors, then just go ahead and put a dress code in place.

Banning just a few numbers or a color or two is just plain crap. Dress everyone one the same or let them wear what they want.

Pick one or the other. Anything else is not right.

 

Let me try and phrase my opinion a little better.

So, they ban certain numbers because they are known to be gang numbers. OK. But then, the gangs know this (don't act like they don't.)

So, (the gang says) let's come up with a new secret number. 9. 9 is the new number for our gang.

So the number 9 is not banned. A kid wears a jersey that has a 9 on it (pick a player, any player.)

Kid gets hurt on the playground for innocently wearing the number 9.

You see where I'm going with this.

So ban all numbers and all colors and put them in uniforms.

Stopping kids from wearing a jersey with 18 on it is not going to stop the gang activity.

 

I'd take it one step further.

You ban all clothing identifiers, so gangs tell members to draw a mark on their left hands. You ban marks on hands, so gangs tell members to wear their hair in a certain style. You ban certain haircuts, so gangs create a certain style of walking to identify members. You force everyone to walk the same, so gangs ...

At what point are you stripping an entire student body of individuality in the name of gang prevention? It's one of those "... the terrorists win" issues.

 

Well, now. I tend to agree with you on that note.

But everyone keeps saying "A number means something! A color means something!"

There just HAS to be a more effective way of dealing with gangs than banning a certain number or color.

 

Those require money and effort from governments. These rules require money and effort from kids and parents.

 

This.

The second-largest school district in our "viewing area" enforced a very strict dress code. Polos. Solid colors. Khakis - no denims and no sagging.

Test scores up. Gang-related violence down sharply. Also a higher retention rate at the high school of 1,300.

 

This.

Thank you.

Ban them all or don't ban any. One or the other.

 

Or we could just shoot first and ask questions later. if punishment and rehabilitation don't work just start killing them.