Posted on 07/12/2015 5:24:02 AM PDT by don-o
It's not a gang, it's a club.
When it comes to the Houston-born Bandidos Motorcycle Club, this debate has taken on some urgency and a few twists.
Following a May 17 melee in Waco that left nine dead and 18 wounded, police arrested 177 bikers. Each was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity by being part of a conspiracy to commit murder and assault as part of a turf war between the Bandidos and a lesser-known rival, the Cossacks.
The distinction carries a hefty penalty, as those charged faced 15 years to life in prison if convicted - even if they never threw a punch or fire a shot.
While police have built hefty records of prosecuting some gangs and cartels, there hasn't been much courtroom action in recent years when it comes to the Bandidos.
Federal prosecutors can't remember the last time a group of Bandidos was charged in federal court in Houston. Attorney Kent Schaffer notes that more police officers are indicted each year in Houston than members of the Bandidos. Then he also says that while DPS labels Bandidos as a dangerous criminal gang - and tracks its members - it is the very same agency that has issued at least 80 concealed handgun licenses to Bandidos in this area.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
1. The person must be a citizen of the state, and of the county in which the person is to serve, and be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in said county, provided that the person's failure to register to vote shall not be held to disqualify the person in this instance;
2. The person must be of sound mind and good moral character;
3. The person must be able to read and write;
4. The person must not have been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a felony;
5. The person must not be under indictment or other legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or a felony;
6. The person must not be related within the third degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, to any person selected to serve or serving on the same grand jury;
7. The person must not have served as grand juror or jury commissioner in the year before the date on which the term of court for which the person has been selected as grand juror begins;
8. The person must not be a complainant in any matter to be heard by the grand jury during the term of court for which the person has been selected as a grand juror.
Does the motion not elevate the detective to the status of a complainant?
It was my understanding that it does, but I am not squirrely enough to practice law.
Good question, I don't know the answer for sure, but my first reaction is that unless Head is a named plaintiff or defendant (he isn't), then he is not a complainant. The statute sets out the most direct form of conflict of interest, a personal one.
Working from memory (could be wrong), Clendennen's motion doesn't mention this statute. It just discusses foundation legal principles and has that cartoon of cat/dog court.
But if I choose to dress up as a criminal
Please, pray tell, what constitutes as criminal dress.
We’ll just have the liberals make those items of clothing illegal to purchase.
Wow, some of the statements made on these Waco threads are incredible to hear from conservatives.
If criminals are known to routinely wear specific articles of clothing, and indeed recognize and react to each other based on those articles of clothing, then wearing that style of clothing is by definition dressing up as a criminal.
For instance, in certain ethnic communities, wearing a style or color of clothing associated with gang A into territory controlled by or into the presence of members of gang B can and will result in violent reactions. Even if the person wearing the clothing is utterly unaware of its association with criminality or that anyone might object to his wearing it.
The colors worn by motorcycle gangs/clubs are considered by them to be exclusive, to the extent they will react violently to anyone unauthorized wearing them. It is to all intents and purposes a uniform.
If the organization prescribing the conditions under which that uniform can be worn is, within the meaning of the law, a criminal organization, then that uniform is by definition criminal clothing. Not because there is anything wrong in and of itself with the fibers, dyes, etc. But because the wearing of that uniform expresses allegiance to a criminal organization.
In Williams, the relationship of Smith, the juror, to the Williams rape case was: "deputized him [Smith] and he assisted in the search for appellant [Williams] and was present when he [Williams] signed a confession in the County Attorney's office."
Even though Smith thought he might have signed the complaint, and testified that he did! An error, lapse of memory perhaps, or more hanky-panky by the cops. At any rate, the Complaint produced to the court did not have Smith's signature on it. Smith was found eligible to sit on the grand jury that indicted Williams.
And it's not just a difference of opinion on what did and did not happen on 5/17/15. It's the casual, even contemptuous attitudes I see expressed about some of the basics...like the 4th and 8th Amendements, for a start.
But, there are lessons to be learned. While (if) we still have time.
“It is to all intents and purposes a uniform.”
Not by accident. Most of the original clubs were founded by Veterans.
“The colors worn by motorcycle gangs/clubs are considered by them to be exclusive, to the extent they will react violently to anyone unauthorized wearing them.”
Not all. There are many clubs that are Christian based who also wear colors.
There’s a commitment to joining a motorcycle club. If you don’t make that commitment, you don’t deserve to wear the colors.
Let a couple of Marines catch some butthole wearing their uniform without having made the commitment.
Comparing MC Clubs to Bloods, Crips, MS-13, is not exactly accurate. Many times kids are drafted into the latter, and can’t escape. Also the majority of these gangs commit crime.
Joining a MC club is difficult, and you can walk away from the lifestyle if you desire. Only a small minority of these clubs are criminals. Hence the 1%er patch.
Correct, which is of course why in all of my posts I’ve referred to gangs, not clubs. The 1%, if you will.
By all accounts, the Bandidos are one of the leading worldwide 1% gangs.
Joining street gangs is easy
Joining one percenters
You have to really want it
To be in the prison true Aryan Brotherhood takes effort and commitment as well
La Eme takes commitment
Crips or bloods or Latin Kings or any of the myriad of folk or people street gangs just takes knowing someone and proving oneself or being valuable
Outlaw MC hanger ons /prospects have to endure a year or two to prove they are serious
It seems like it’s the attraction of belonging and being needed
And power and respect
In some ways like wise guys...
I just noticed what poor background this journalist did
Bandidos were founded mid 60s in San Antonio by a Nam vet
Seeing as many articles as we Freepers peruse isn’t it a pity how poor journalistic accuracy is
And that was easy to google
“Siri....when and where was the Bandidos motorcycle club formed?”
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.