>I recently moved from a neighborhood that was considered very desirable for its location and safety. It is less than a mile from where I am now. While I was there, a neighborhood boy had a party one weekend (unbeknownst to his parents) and his friends invited their friends and their friends invited others and so it goes.

Up to this point, I was with you. This, to me, is one of the biggest dangers in safe neighborhoods.

>Two rival gangs (none were invited of course, they just learned of the party by word-of-mouth) showed up and shooting began. It can happen any where and it does. It doesn't matter how safe a neighborhood is. That is rather unusual though - gang activity typically occurs in specific areas, but gang membership exists in just about every school from middle school on up.

I don't believe this and would love to see some statistics. Gangs aren't even on the radar in the suburban communities around here. Definitely an issue in parts of the city, but not in most of the 'burbs.

Tamar