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He lost his brother to gang violence and still the 25-year-old defends the culture for what it has to offer - community, respect and protection.

And that's what should be foremost in people's minds as they debate the prevalence of gangs in Maryland: not that they are operating here - because they are - but why.

To expect law enforcement alone to solve this problem would be a colossal misread of the situation.

As The Sun's Gus G.

Sentementes and Annie Linskey recently reported, the presence of gangs in Baltimore and their involvement in crime are as much about a sense of dislocation among youth as they are about the profitability of the city's drug trade.

Schools and the juvenile justice system have to be on the front lines in this war, along with police, prosecutors and prison officials.

Introductions to gangs can begin in school or at a local block party, and schools and communities need to counter this outreach with positive alternatives.

Parents and grandparents should pay attention to their children's choice of clothes, colors, slang and tattoos - they may be signs of gang involvement.

Gang initiation can begin with a robbery of a cell phone or a beating.

Efforts should be made to identify gang suspects in minor crimes and divert them, when appropriate, to anti-gang programs, ...

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