Officials Claim "Hoax" in Wal-Mart Gang Initiation

The gang initiation threat at Wal-Mart is apparently a hoax, according to officials.

Stephanie Coueignopux, reporting for Central Florida 13 News said people have been getting e-mails and even text messages indicating that three women and, depending what area you're in, perhaps two men will be killed this evening as a "gang initiation."

As her article "Deadly Walmart Gang Initiation Called A Hoax" goes on to say, this is a rumor, according to officials, that has been going on for years. They claim that the reason it is getting so much publicity now is due to the capability of information "highways" to deliver the news.

Wal-Mart officials, while believing this story is a hoax, have indicated they are taking extra precautions and are working with law enforcement officials to protect everyone including their workers.

I grew up around gangs. As I aged they became more organized. They weren't just a bunch of rowdies such as is portrayed in the old 1950s motion pictures.

They add to challenges and it does not seem unbelievable to me that they would put out a warning to prove that they could pull it off anyway. Of course I have no basis or inside information to assess that possibility but I do not think that the "scare" should be dismissed "willy-nilly" because people need to watch themselves and there is nor reason to give people a false sense of security.

Nothing reflects this type of problem better than bomb threats at schools. Yes, many are false yet some aren't and each one must be treated as though it is real.

That is the danger faced by the Wal-Mart folks and any person shopping there. The odds are small but if it happens to you the odds are one-hundred percent.

I would suggest one other point. People who would do such a thing read these articles and they know that while people will be on guard now they will let that guard down sooner or later; they will become good targets for a criminal act.

I'm not sure we wouldn't be better off withholding assurances in situations like this.

Reference:

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/3/19/deadly_walmart_gang_initiation_called_a_hoax.html
http://dailynewarker.com/newark-shootings-scare-off-suburban-schools/
http://dailynewarker.com/newark-shootings-scare-off-suburban-schools/Officials Claim "Hoax" in Wal-Mart Gang InitiationHoax said three wom en and possibly two men would be killed.http://dailynewarker.com/newark-shootings-scare-off-suburban-schools/http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/3/19/deadly_walmart_gang_initiation_called_a_hoax.html