some 6800 members, and some of the gangs have existed for generations in this area, and the lure of gang life is strong. >> people are out there, and they have a special order. >> former gang member richard moya once considered his gang his family. why be in a gang? what is the appeal? >> it is not the appeal, but it is more like the bond. it is more like the friendship, like the comfort, and something that you don't even get within your own household. >> he says for every friend you get in the gang, you create far more enemies. some are able to resist the temptation of joining a gang. ronald brock took a different path than moya and angel. after boot camp after september 11th, ronald wanted to defend his country, though his mother worried he might die overseas. >> i honestly didn't want him to go. >> before the deployment, ronald came home to visit his girlfriend who he was planning to propose to her.