Nah. I'm sticking with our tax dollars being expropriated to be used against us by nefarious occupation types:
Bigger government taking equals many more planted pots.
Posted on 06/29/2015 8:23:31 AM PDT by don-o
Without joining and paying the extortion fees, they are ‘informed’ that they are not ‘welcome’ on the open road.
OK, so what you are saying here is that some of the people at the Waco were criminals, and others were perhaps reluctant victims of extortion.
That's interesting. I would assume that you would not consider a store owner being extorted for protection money by the Mafia member of a criminal conspiracy, as much as a victim of a gang - yet that's what you've asserted repeatedly about all the clubs at the event.
Also, where do you get your information. I've posted links or full articles, you seem to know all about the Texas CoC - were you a member of a MC, or have you read this. Do you have any links to substantiate your claims, at all?
I've ridden motorcycles, a lot, where ever I wanted in Oregon, Washington and both Southern and Northern California for 30 years. No MC member has ever tried to extort me, or tell me I have to join anything. And I've been in bars with full-patch MC members from time to time.
I know for a fact that at least one local club doesn't belong to the WA CoC, nor pay them any money.
Is it possible that the world of motorcyclists is a little more complicated than the picture you are painting of it?
Thanks!
There is no reasonable and particular evidence against many of them, they were just at the event. This is why they all at cookie cutter arrest warrants, this is why they used a very low level justice of the peace to sign the arrest warrants and search warrants on siezed phones and such.
And $1 Million bail is not typical, and was not reasonable, as proven by the fact that in many cases it's gone from $1 million to something like $20,000.
My information comes firsthand from outlaw bikers who I’ve known personally, so I can’t really provide a link for all of that. For people in those circles, how the COCs operate “common knowledge”, and they describe it exactly as law enforcement described its operations in the indictments.
Here’s a 1%er site that describes the Bandidos engaging in this kind of extortion:
“As I said, most clubs are not outlaw clubs and don’t wear a top and bottom rocker. They may have a top rocker but if they have a bottom patch it will not have State, City or County wording on it , many times it will be the member’s road name. For example any club in Texas (unless it’s grand fathered by the Bandido’s) that’s not affiliated with Bandidos, (and other than a police club) are not allowed to fly the “Texas” patch (”Bar” or “Rocker”) on the back. They have even forced some police clubs to remove the Texas rocker. Also, 99% of Bandido support clubs cannot wear Texas on the back. The Bandidos claim that right as an MC (Motorcycle Club) and will aggressively approach you if you are seen wearing it on the back of your colors. Most states have its dominant 1% club where the same rule applies. The Bandidos are the dominant club in Texas as well as several other states.”
http://www.rcvsmc.net/id8.html
Here’s another forum where bikers were describing which outlaw gangs run the COCs in their states:
“Well here in the Lone Star State, it’s Red & Gold Country. Bandido Land...And you pay to ride here, to be legit club, you will be a member of the TXCOC, ran by the Bandidos.
No club is allow to have Texas on there back but them, being a Marine Vet club..We claim no turf! To much hassle. Just know your surroundings. I left Dallas in 2006, headed to NC. I had to park my Cut/Vest due to Pagan Land. Bad blood between the two. Even tho i am not a member, but i wear a TXCOC patch, they put us under there wings of protection. Same way for Cali, Mongols & HA’s, go out there as a Pagan or Bandido...
Again, do your homework before you patch up. At least for a three piece patch holder. Find out who’s turf you riding on!”
http://forum.mastermason.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8770
That’s from 2011, so as you can see, these activities by the Bandidos are nothing new.
“There is no reasonable and particular evidence against many of them, they were just at the event.”
This really isn’t true. There were a great many people “just at the event”, inside the restaurant, waiting for it to start, who weren’t arrested. The people arrested seem to be the groups that were out on the patio involved in the criminal actions there.
“And $1 Million bail is not typical, and was not reasonable, as proven by the fact that in many cases it’s gone from $1 million to something like $20,000.”
It’s quite typical for the type of indictment they face, because they are indicted under organized crime statutes. Bail reduction is not evidence of some unconstitutionally unreasonable bail amount. It’s actually evidence that the system’s protections of their rights are in place and working correctly!
“That’s interesting. I would assume that you would not consider a store owner being extorted for protection money by the Mafia member of a criminal conspiracy, as much as a victim of a gang - yet that’s what you’ve asserted repeatedly about all the clubs at the event. “
What is it that you think I have asserted?
“No MC member has ever tried to extort me, or tell me I have to join anything.”
I am guessing from that statement that you do not belong to a club. I have been discussing those that belong to clubs.
“My information comes firsthand from outlaw bikers who I’ve known personally, so I can’t really provide a link for all of that. For people in those circles, how the COCs operate “common knowledge”, and they describe it exactly as law enforcement described its operations in the indictments.”
If all these dudes are just nice family men that enjoy the freedom of biking WTH do they elect the Bandidos to lead the Texas CoCI?
“I know for a fact that at least one local club doesn’t belong to the WA CoC, nor pay them any money. “
The Cossacks didn’t pay the Bandidos either ... eight dead.
Exactly what I was thinking.
Good question...the Washington CoC website isn't that easy to navigate but it looks like there are at least four or five Bandido support clubs that are part of it.
A list of WCoC officers and their club affiliation would tell the story.
The author of the article is a member of the Outsiders MC which is not Bandido affiliated as far as I can tell.
You are right, I have never belonged to any club. The only time I've been around MCs and 1%ers was at various bars we happened to be in at the same time. Never because I knew they were going to be their, I might add.
I have for the most part found them a bit of PITA. One time a member told me I had to get out the chair I was sitting in at a bar because "the President" wanted to sit there. I told him sorry, but I was comfortable and wasn't moving. Then I motioned to the bartender (I went in this place a lot) and said "Tiny, they say I have to move for the President, do I?" ... "No way man". As you would expect "Tiny" was about 6'6" and 300+lbs so nothing else was said, and they actually seemed to accept me after their little test.
They had awesome bikes.
This was a pretty small local club, not one of the Big Six outlaw clubs, but they did have attitude.
That's the worst experience I've had with bikers, but I don't have much exposure to them, as I said.
And growing up in Detroit both the Outlaws and the Highwaymen were not people you wanted to be around, even casually.
So, I'm not a closet MC/RC fellow.
I see the Free Souls around here, and Iron Order (who are not 1%) and that's about it. Maybe they are in some other part of the state. I'm in the SW.
I hear tell from guys I'm pretty close to, guys who don't belong to any clubs but who've been riding bikes all over the country for more than 50 years, guys who have sat down and talked one-on-one with REAL scary bad-ass biker club dudes and even tatted-up a few, carried on conversations with Sonny Barger, and been longtime friends with some seriously hard-core biker felons, that bikers in BAD clubs are asshats when they're in a group, but alone or in twos, pretty mild, and MOST OF THE TIME even in groups they won't bother you if you don't bother them.
As for the 1% patches and supposed secret criminal significance of various insignia -- it's colorful lore that's probably accurate 50 percent of the time -- meaning that half the time, it's probably pure bullsh*t.
It's getting dangerouser and dangerouser. Obviouser and Obviouser. I'm starting to feel like an idiot -- I believed that because the Bandidos are a "Tier two" criminal gang according to police and I've heard biker friends say they've heard of bad ones, I bought into the Hells Angel myth. The Bandidos look very much like a pretty square manly club of Veteran dudes who are trying to change that bad image in a biker brotherhood. Their patch is positively benign. It would be laughable if it wasn't so crazy tragic and like a slow train wreck, a bad novel. America is being duped to a very high level, and there must be a reason.
I feel like saluting every damned biker I see, patched, "cut," or not. I pray local lamen stand strong with the righteous, even if some of those righteous do have a few busts in their pasts.
Tyranny is on the move.
Significant Update on Twin Peaks Shooting:
192 individuals are being arrested and processed this morning in reference to the Twin Peaks Shooting. They will all face Engaging in Organized Crime charges. They are being booked and processed at this time. McLennan County District Attorney is involved in our investigation and has been assisting us throughout the night.
TABC is implementing a Summary Suspension closing Twin Peaks for at least 7 days. This is not a punitive action on TABC's part but done due to the ongoing danger it presents to our community. They are conducting a parallel investigation and further action may be forthcoming.
Re. Texas Rocker:
**Smith said “it all changed” when the Cossacks decided to put “Texas” on the back of their vests, intensifying mounting tensions with the Bandidos, who view Texas as their territory.
“It was cool to me at first. I grew up in Texas,” Smith said. “But things changed and that is not what I joined for.”**
Seth A. Smith, who was at Waco as a Cossack, gave it up:
**“This whole situation destroyed what I expected out of a club,” Smith said. “We joined because of the family atmosphere, the family component, but this has all been far from it. I’m out.”
He said he allowed his motorcycle to be released back to the lienholder. He and his wife now share a two-door Fiat.**
“As for the 1% patches and supposed secret criminal significance of various insignia...”
It’s not secret, it’s common knowledge. Trying to deny it just shows everyone you don’t know what the hell you are talking about.
Finny has jumped the shark again in #76:
” The Bandidos look very much like a pretty square manly club of Veteran dudes who are trying to change that bad image in a biker brotherhood.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.