The gangs do well, and the rare criminals who become successful gang leaders may sometimes do well, but does the average gangster do well?

• Gang membership still doesn't pay relative to regular jobs
• The police largely know who is in the gangs, and can crack down if this becomes a higher priority
• Terrorism is such a priority, to a degree way out of line with the average historical damage, because of 9/11; many have critiqued the diversion of law enforcement resources to terrorism
• Such levels of gang control are concentrated in poor areas with less police funding, and areas where the police are estranged from the populace, limiting police activity.
• Gang violence is heavily directed at other criminal gangs, reducing the enthusiasm of law enforcement, relative to more photogenic victims