Dealing with Gang Violence—How Does it Affect Your Family?

brought up some very mixed feelings for me as a parent. It happened in the early evening—around 6:15 p.m., while the sun was still shining brightly in the summer sky. There were crowds of people out and about in the parking lot on a Saturday night. People never expected they would be witnessing a tragedy like this in front of their own eyes, never mind in front of their children’s eyes. It could have been any of us shopping there that evening. Thankfully, no innocent bystanders were injured in this shooting. However, next time we might not be so fortunate.

I began thinking along the lines of safety for my family. After hearing of the killing in the Target parking lot, which happened on the heels of the other two gang-related incidents this month alone, it brought up a lot of mixed feelings for me. My kids go to school in Watsonville and I work in Watsonville; those things won't change. My heart has always been in the south part of our county. I have never felt unsafe just shopping and going to work in Watsonville before. Maybe this was because I had the false notion that most local gang activity was mainly kept among gangs, not aimed at others or displayed so openly in public.

However, I am rethinking that now that it has happened in broad daylight in a crowded shopping center, in front of people and children who never should have witnessed such a tragedy.

As I said, my feelings are mixed. I would like to know how other parents feel about this and what you are doing, if anything. Have these recent incidents changed how you feel? Are you more concerned about your family’s safety after the recent incidents? Has this changed how you will do things? Do you talk to your children about gangs, if so, what do you tell them? Have they come to you with questions or concerns? I am sure many families are thinking the same way in light of the recent gang-related incidents.

I would like to know your thoughts about how this is affecting other families. Leave your thoughts here, and this week I will do some research of my own and ask people I know to weigh in as well. I will let you know what I find out later this week.