Capone Would Be Proud

Organized crime has always played a significant role in shaping the economic, political, and social landscape of this nation. There have been numerous films dedicated to the mafia and to gangsters - The Godfather, Gangs of the New York, American Gangster, Scarface, etc. We have all been exposed to these "underground" crime syndicates many times in our lives. But this past week I thought of something that had never been brought to my attention before: when these gangsters and criminals (inevitably) get injured, someone has to take care of them. Why did I think of this, you ask?

Well, on Wednesday the senior detective for the San Antonio Police Department who is in charge of gang activity came to our school and gave our MSI class (MSI = first-year med students) a lecture on gangs and organized crime in the greater San Antonio area. It was during this lecture that we found out this little detail: when these gangsters get hurt, they are brought to the teaching hospital where the medical school sends its third-year students to complete their rotations, meaning that in two short years I will be treating these gang and mafia members.

We also found out these interesting tidbits of information:

1.) There are over 1200 gangs in the San Antonio area, 950 of which are active
2.) There are only 2 gangs active in NW San Antonio (where we live), while most gangs are active in the SE and SW parts of town
3.) San Antonio is the headquarters for the Mexican Mafia
4.) Recently, a 15-year-old was busted for having in his possession 1 pound of marijuana, 5 handguns, 1 sawed-off shotgun, 2 other automatic weapons, and over 10 illegal street knives
5.) In the 1990s, a 10-year-old was apprehended for stealing (with help from his friends) over 25 new cars from a car dealership. He was working for a gang.
6.) The leader of the Mexican Mafia, who is on the 23-hour isolation block in a prison in Colorado, still controls the workings of the mafia in Texas. How?!?!?!
7.) The "Wildcat" hand-sign that ACU students use is technically a gang sign for a gang that stretches from coast to coast here in the U.S.

All that to say this: I get to treat their injuries in two years! But, the detective said we have nothing to fear, because since we are the ones who heal them and save their lives, they actually like medical professionals. I guess I just have to be careful to not show my ACU pride when treating one of them...

So if you are reading this, you might consider saying a little extra prayer for us tonight, since we are basically living in Gangster's Paradise (great song, BTW). Just kidding...we have not seen any crime since we moved here, and we actually live on the nice side of town. But you better believe I'm not going to the south side of town anytime soon....River Walk or not, I'm staying on this side of town!

Until next time...

Good night, and good luck

--Jeffrey D. Edwards

P.S. I have a test at 1:00 pm today, and instead of studying, I am writing this and reading ESPN. Hope I do good...