Perilous Lens: Guns in an Urban Landscape
Hands with gun and bags of crack cocaine

Medellin, Colombia
2001

In the barrios of Medllin, gangs often control territory, but guerrillas and paramilitary groups also contest power. Here gang members prepare to defend their turf from paramilitaries, who are threatening to take control of the barrio, which would enable them to extort protection money from ordinary citizens.

Gang members prepare to defend their turf from paramilitaries
 	Like most of Medllin's barrios, this one is controlled by gangs
 Three-year-old Esperanza
A member of the 18th Street Gang lies dead, gunned down by a rival gang member.
The 18th Street Gang decides on punishment
Funeral