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To answer the original question, probably not.
HOWEVER, I understand that it's an individual thing. I grew up in Los Angeles. Gangs were very big during the time I grew up. While, I lived a very sheltered life, when I went to school it was very real. As someone stated previously, all members of gangs do not participate in violent crimes and are actually great people.
Case in point. I have a friend who was in a gang when we were in junior high school and high school (not a crew, but the Crips). However, she was a very bright young lady. In honors classes, attended summer programs at Exeter, and so forth. Upon graduation, she went to Cal. While there, she expressed her interest in a D9 sorority. However, she dropped line (ironically, due to hazing). My point is, she was heavily involved in this group. However, she's now a college-educated, former teacher, who is a Republican. I would venture to say, that she will be an asset to any organization. Point blank, she's cool people. Should her past affiliation prevent her from joining a sorority? No.
It depends on the individual situation. Would I vote on someone who was or was not in a gang, but they are haze-happy and has a gang mentality (they want to prove who "gangsta" they are)---heck no!! They are my of a liability than the former gang member.
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