Speaking of murders Ivy, do you believe there are more murders associated with the mob that we hear about? I mean, hits are a rarity these days. Do you think that will now always be the case or is it possible it could increase in the future?
Yeah, as I said previously, when you look at the mob hits since 2000, most of them didn't make "big" news in the press; often because they involve lower level guys. It's not Big Paul being killed in midtown Manhattan. So, unless somebody is looking for them, they're going to have the impression that virtually no mob hits happen anymore. In my opinion, the status quo regarding mob hits will continue and probably decline further as time goes on. Nowadays, murders are more risky then ever, what with forensics and rats. So the mob doesn't seem to be as quick to pull the trigger like it used to be. And when it does, it often seems to be an option of last resort. And they're fine with that because they can just trade on their reputation most of the time, i.e. the
idea,
possibility, or
threat of being hurt or killed.
Also, is it safe to say while less made/connected guys get whacked these days, the mob is involved in murder with other criminals who aren't mob-related, by that meaning other ethnic gangs?
I don't think so. At least there aren't many examples I know of. Most of the mob's murders are internal. Not just within the LCN itself but with a specific family itself. What involvement the LCN has with other ethnic groups is almost always for mutually beneficial purposes, and if there's a problem, it seems a group is expected to police itself.
