Missouri Highway Patrol Shares 28 Dangerous Gang Slang Phrases

What are the danger signs that a family member may be involved in a gang? The Missouri Highway Patrol have a list of gang slang words that should be considered a possible sign of gang involvement.

The Missouri Highway Patrol has built a helpful guide to give you key words to listen for that might indicate that friends or family might be a part of gang culture. I'll state the obvious, but I think it's important to emphasize that some of these words are now a part of popular culture and don't necessarily mean the person saying them is up to trouble. Frequent use of this vocabulary combined with other lifestyle signs might mean a deeper look is needed though.

Here are the words shared by the Missouri authorities that are a part of gang culture in the state:

• Banger - a gang member
• Banging - gang activity
• Blessed in - when someone is accepted into a gang
• Popped a cap - shooting at someone
• Buster - when someone is not a legitimate gang member
• Cap - reference to a bullet
• CK - cop killer
• BK - blood killer
• Colors - certain colors identify specific gangs
• Down for Mine - Taking care of yourself
• Down with the set - Refers to what a gang considers home turf
• Dressed down - wearing gang colors
• 5-0 - refers to the police
• Gat - a gun
• Jack - means to rob
• Jumped in - when a gang beats up a new member as an initiation
• Jumped out - when a gang beats up someone that leaves
• Loc's - dark sunglasses
• Popped a cap - when a gang member shoots at someone
• Put in work - task assigned by a gang
• Queen - girl gang member
• Rank out - when a gang member refuses to identify as a member of a gang when arrested
• Rock it up - making crack cocaine
• Rolling good - selling drugs
• Shot caller - a ranked gang member giving orders
• Snow White - refers to cocaine
• Strapped - when a gang member has a gun on them
• Wet em up - making someone else bleed through shooting or stabbing

If you have any real concerns about this jargon being used by your kids and/or their friends, communication is key. The Missouri Highway Patrol's guide to gangs is a good place to get educated about how and why kids choose this path and how to help them understand why they need to escape it if they have.