A Strategy For Ending Gang Violence

The rising crime  in the inner city is often attributed to "Gang Violence" which some say can be controlled with a larger police force and stricter gun laws. But there is another, more effective way of stopping the violence which does not require more policing and harsher treatment of citizens who "look like" they might be involved in gangs. Are people who do bad things bad people or are they simply caught in bad situations with what appears to be few options for financial gain? What if we removed the economic desperation that leads to criiminal behavior? Isn't it possible that gang crime can be eliminated with the right economic policies that put people to work? Is the government choosing to profit from crime and violence rather than profit from improved industry, manufacturing and service? Why? What has to happen to change this?