"We should give all gang members in prisons the option to get out if they join the army and fight Americas enemies. They are fighters. It would solve our military recruitment problem and our prison over crowding problem."

Page 229 of The Present (with religion) at www.thetruthcontest.com

This book has some interesting ideas about prison reform starting around page 226. Check it out and share your thoughts.

Or you know, you could end the drug war and cut off the gangs money source.

Yes, lets take hardened criminals, teach them military tactics and give them machine guns. Brilliant imo!

Better idea: have a draft for any war.

A very good point.

The choice will be the army or jail. If they cannot follow the rules they go back to prison. I am sure many will be motivated to change their ways just to get out of a long prison sentence. If it is four years in the army or ten years in Jail, many will be motivated to join the army. It would be good for the army, and them. When they get out they could start a new productive life.

I would only support this if there could be a guarantee none would survive ala Warhammer 40k

You you take a gangbanger that murdered a few civilians and put them in the army. What a horrible incompassionate soldier that would be. Many in the armed services are good people. Gangbangers need to put their time in as hard labor in prison.

I would rather start the draft.

The situation in Iraq and Afghanistan is not a war. They have not aircraft. We are only there to put on a show and get money out of congress.

On one of the Gangland episodes, a show to dedicated to delving into different street gangs, they discussed how many of these gangbangers are joining the military. However, when they get out they are returning to their gangs wielding new information and tactics in which to implement in their street operations.

You put them on the front line with the IED scout team. Make them all number 8's like the board game Stratego. They "bump" and if their opponent says "bomb" gg, they fall down and go boom and we salvage non criminal americans in the process. If the criminals make it back home they get freedom.

Didn't they used to do this like in 1700s Europe? Force criminals/prisoners to go to war, or do other jobs that "needed to be done" but nobody "wanted" to do?

Be happy they did or Hugh Jackman might never have been born..........

Then I'd be stuck with Bruce Willis or Vincent D'Nofrio playing Wolverine......

1) I doubt murderers would be eligible for this program....come on now.

2) Program would be great for white collar criminals....10 yrs in jail or 4 yrs in army.... Would suck more for the army in the beginning having all the white collar sissys.. But get em behind a desk and someday there may be long term profit for army.

3) I should send you guys the police blotters from the army bases housing areas.... not much different from a regualar city. Going by sample size I would say not much difference at all..... Do you people think just because people are in the army they don't commit crimes....or you just don't hear about it !!!! Adding a few more thugs won't make much difference but would aid their recruitment numbers.

This idea does not say they will be forced to do anything. It is their choice; if they want to try to turn their life around and join the military for a shorter sentence, then they will be allowed to, and monitored to make sure they follow the rules.

The only thing I don't like about this idea is military trained gang members being released back on the streets after their service.

Not a fail-proof idea, but interesting to me.

Lame Basterds joke................

ZOMG even worse outdated dirty dozen joke ROFL

From what I've been told, this was extremely common in the States up until like the mid-70's.

Wow. Outstanding "health care reform = DEATH PANELS!!!1!!" response. The debate has been elevated.

So thats what a modern army needs. More bloody bumbling bureaucrats.