Reading the bit about a dispute over money reminded me of trial by combat, which this essentially is.  That in turn got me to wondering how much gang violence is due to a lack of access to the conflict-resolution procedures common in the rest of society.  If I believed that my employer has underpaid me, I&#x27;d send him a nice letter; if that failed, I&#x27;d send a less-nice letter; if that failed, I&#x27;d turn to a lawyer and eventually to the court system.<p>But the courts don&#x27;t take notice of illegal-drug-related debts (I believe), nor do they any longer enforce the laws against alienation of affection or adultery, leaving those who are such disputes to take matters into their own hands.