I have been reading the recent book about the Calabrese's and it got me thinking. I wonder if some made or even middle management guys in modern LCN just aren't down with killing another person. Like, They'd beat a debtor senseless in the furtherance of their work, but secretly (or not secretly) have reservations about murder. I'm thinking Outfit people or maybe some of the fresher Philly blood who didn't grow up working for Stanfa or Scarfo. Maybe also like some Detroit guys etc.

That's absolutely true, most guys didn't "do" violence.Its bad for business, anyway. Obviously it varies from crew to crew and city to city, but the whole idea that you have take someone out to join LCN isn't true. A lot of members paid their way in and a lot of people were turned down because they were too violent. The old guys wanted it that way. I think it was Leonetti who was saying that before Bruno got whacked, there were only like 4 hits approved by Bruno in the last 20 years or something. I don't know how true that is, obviously there was stuff going on Bruno didn't know about, but it sounds like it could be close to being true.

Do you think it's harder to kill a man or save one ?

God Forgive me for I've committed fivefelonies never knew what these streets would do to me..

I don't know about that, these kids that have been playing the T.V. box games(I am old don't know the names) have been doing a good job of killing all kinds of people....

(In real life)

oh yeah, i hear ya. i was just talking about LCN. Younger gangs are more prone to violence. Even then, I feel what I said applies to all gangs. Most of the members aren't stone-cold killers. They maybe violent guys but to think if every gang member in the country committed a murder, the crime would be way higher than it is. Here in Southern California, some of the biggest gangs are from low-crime suburban areas that border very affluent neighborhoods. They might have 1.000 members but only do a hit every 5-10 years.
Most join because their whole family or neighborhood is in it or to make money and party. The cops can label anyone a gang member. Just because your cousin is connected and you go to his house for a family BBQ, now you are labeled a member by the government and can be served with an injunction and actually sued or arrested.

Ask Roy Demeo

One of the biggest myth is that LCN is full of killers, it's not, it's full of theves and hustlers.
I would estimate 95% of the violence is committed by 10 of the guys, and many or most are associates, not made guys..or so it was in the 80s and 90s

but having hitters by your side gives you alot of weight in the streets, gottis whole crew was shooters, who where loyal too him 100%(unlike demeo who's own shooters shot him).

The downside is that killers bring heat, and while there are exceptions, killers tend not be be big earners (The obveous exception in the Gotti crew was Gravano)
I can not think of a single hit done by Buffalo before or after the ABC wars thats wasnt done by an associate or freelance killers