INVASION OF THE STONER GANGS
is your child a member of a stoner gang?


the los angeles county sheriff's department provides the following primer in an effort to serve and protect you, dammit.



STONER GANGS

Recently, several non-traditional gang groups have developed that are not turf oriented, yet pose a tremendous threat to law enforcement personnel. The Stoners, as a group, set themselves apart from everyone and tend to be multi-racial (Mexican-American and White) in areas that are racially mixed. They dress in red or black clothing, preferring athletic jersey tops with heavy metal music stars displayed. The hair is worn longer with less emphasis on "looking sharp," as image isn't important.

Although Chicano gangs are considered traditional with close ties to the family and a "Chicano" identity, a new element has entered the gang milieu and that is the "Stoner" gang lifestyle. They are less concerned with keeping ties with family or identifying with their Mexican birthright.

The "heavy metal" fad popularity greatly adds to the spread of their philosophy. Music has greatly influenced various groups, and with today's mass media, it has more impact on everyday life. Music has influenced sveral gang type lifestyles in the past. Some of the subcultures, many of whom have been associated with a gang lifestyle at one time, are:

  • Pachucos--Swing music
  • Nuros--Dance, reggae
  • Cholos--Oldies by Goodies
  • New Wave--Trendy
  • Surfers--Surf music
  • Punk--Trendy
  • Breakers--Funk music
  • Black Street Level--Rap
  • Mods--Psychedelic music

    HISTORY

    Stoners have been in Los Angeles County for approximately the last decade. Named for the "Rolling Stones" or "getting stoned," they have variously been known as "Hessians," "Hippies," "Rockers," "Rebels," "Neo-Pagangs," and, prior to that, "Loadies." Stoners or Loadies was applied to the group by their teenage peers, as they were consistently under the influence of grugs or alcohol. Some Stoner gangs were formed in defense from other gangs or groups.

    Stoners are generally junior high or high school students and tend to be better students, as a group, than their more traditional gang counterparts. The usually stay in school and participate in athletics. Many groups are allied with fellow Stoner gangs and feud with other music subculture groups.

    EVIDENCE OF STONER/HEAVY METAL INFLUENCE

    1. Symbolism: That which deals with the occult or Satanism
    2. Writing Style: Uses the occult symbolism, heavy metal music oriented, and heavily influenced with the drug subculture.
    3. Musical Heroes: Tend to be from the heavy metal orientation. Some of the more popular groups are: Dio, Iron Maiden, Venom, W.A.S.P., Slayer, Ruthless, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Motley Crew [ sic ], Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC
    4. Other Heroes of the Stoner Membership are: Aleister Crowley, Anton LeVey, Adolph Hitler, Charles Manson


    CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

    Stoners tend to be involved in the drug subculture and commonly abuse such drugs as speed, LSD, rock cocaine, and PCP. They actively participate in both sales and use of these drugs. They easily flow into and out of gang areas because they are perceived as no threat.

    Stoners tend to participate in animal sacrifice and ritual crimes such as graveyard or church desecrations. Suicides within the Stoner gangs are increasing and many researchers feel this is due to the heavy metal influence.

    This phenomenon creates various problems for law enforcement in that these gangs are different from traditional gangs. Stoner philosophy and motivation differs greatly from traditional street gangs, but their criminal potential and propensity for violence are at least as great.

    --taken from L.A Style: A Street Gang Manual of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department


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