Unfortunately, no amount of legislation can stop these guys from taking pictures.
Metro police are working on a law that would make gang signs illegal. So says the Tennessean, which makes it seem as if imitating Lil Wayne will automatically land you in the back of a squad car.
At first glance, banning gang signs seems like a law everyone, no matter their political stripe, can line up against. Libertarians can call it unconstitutional. Conservatives can decry the money wasted locking up every kid throwing up a pair of crooked fingers. And University School seniors can bemoan their lack of hand-gesture options during the obligatory pre-prom photo session. After all, what's a boy to do if he can't toss a little West Side flava at that Nikon?
But further inspection reveals that the law might actually work — police Sgt. Gary Kemper, head of Nashville's gang unit, is on board, and no one knows more about Music City's Bloods, Crips and Gangster Disciples. That's because the ban isn't about putting more people in jail. It's about treating gangs like the cohesive organizations they're striving to be, thus nullifying them.
Here's the gist: Let's say there's a gang terrorizing downtown Nashville. For arguments sake we'll call them the Campfields. Everyone knows the Campfields are up to no good. They stalk about in the legislative plaza, flashing their signature sign (a "C", naturally) and robbing little old ladies...Â
