ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - So what does a former north-side drug dealer and gangbanger think of bringing in the Missouri National Guard to curb crime in St. Louis?
"It has not got to a point where you need soldiers on each corner in the city," says Yo Banger.
About eight years ago the man who was known on the streets as Yo Banger was on his way to the penitentary for a second time, when James Clark of Better Family Life convinced the judge that he was more valuable to the community outside prison than inside it. Since then he has become very successful at his job and has been mentoring teenagers.
He says criminals are just kids, many of whom are not afraid of the police and won't be afraid of the National Guard either. He says to get through to them you have to give them hope and confidence and show them another way.
"I don't care if he's shot 50 guns in his life, you put me and him in a room together and let me talk to him on a level that I'm going to talk to him, it's going to be way more effective than him seeing a National Guard," Yo Banger says. "Don't nobody care about no National Guard."
KMOX's Brian Kelly asked him, if you were in a room with teenagers right now, what would you tell them?
A statement from Parson's office says they are "committed to working with local officials and jurisdictions all across Missouri on practical solutions to reduce crime."
© 2019 KMOX (Entercom). All rights reserved