Posted on 08/12/2006 4:17:00 AM PDT by SLB
STURGIS, S.D. (AP) -- Biker gangs have made the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally a violence-marred affair in the past.
The rally, which draws about half a million people each August to the Black Hills in western South Dakota, has since gotten older, laid-back and more diverse.
But this year, gunshots about 75 miles away reminded attendees about the gangs. Authorities said two men affiliated with the Hells Angels shot and wounded five Outlaws Motorcycle Club members in Custer State Park earlier this week.
Suzanne Church, who has ministered to biker gang members at Sturgis since 1997, said she hopes there's no more violence.
"We hate to see people die and go to hell," she said.
The rally attracts bikers of all walks of life, who ride throughout the Black Hills, a patch of forest and valleys 100 miles long and 50 miles wide on South Dakota's western edge. Sturgis, a town of about 7,000, is on the northern edge of the Hills, while Custer State Park is in the south.
Some Hells Angels members own land near Sturgis, so the gang has a presence at every rally, said Jim Bush, Sturgis police chief. Law enforcement officers knew that hundreds of Outlaws members planned to gather at a rented southern Hills campground, Bush said.
The Outlaws are one of the nation's four largest motorcycle gangs, along with the Hells Angels, Pagans and Bandidos. The Outlaws have chapters in 20 states, Europe, Canada and Australia.
A posting on its Web site said law enforcement agencies were informed of the group's plans to attend Sturgis.
It said: "We are not going there to makes any type of statement, or display of power. We are simply going there to enjoy the Sturgis venue, see the historical sights and spend time with our Brothers."
Authorities have their own term for the gangs.
"We classify these organizations as crime syndicates," said Bernard Zapor, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives field office in St. Paul, Minn.
The last major violence involving motorcycle gangs during the Sturgis rally was in 1990, when a Sons of Silence member shot an Outlaws gang member during a bar brawl in which two other Sons of Silence members were stabbed.
"They have not changed," Bush said of the major gangs. "They're as organized and involved in crime as they ever have been."
It was one of only a few major rally-related incidents of violence, Bush said. The only other gang arrests have been three or four members picked up for unrelated crime, he said.
"They usually get along pretty good," Bush said.
In Tuesday's shooting, Chad John Wilson, 30, of Lynnwood, Wash., and John James Midmore, 32, of Valparaiso, Ind., face five counts of attempted first-degree murder. A judge set bond Thursday at $5 million each.
One victim was still in critical condition at Rapid City Regional Hospital on Thursday. Another was in stable condition at a Sioux Falls hospital, said Sara Rabern of the South Dakota Attorney General's office.
On Main Street in Sturgis, a few people wearing Hells Angels vests and T-shirts were spotted at the 66th annual rally, which ends Sunday.
The gang runs a vendor table that sells club pins, T-shirts, bumper stickers and other items. None of three men staffing the table wanted to discuss the shooting. A worker at a tattoo shop down the street that the gang runs also refused comment.
Jim Vlahakis, state Division of Criminal Investigation director, said more than 300 Outlaws members representing 119 different chapters have been seen in the area, along with 80 to 100 Hells Angels members.
Vlahakis said authorities plan to meet with the two gangs to "try to head off any potential problems" but had not done so as of Thursday.
Officers were prepared to respond to gang violence, Bush said, adding that eventual retaliation is likely.
"It may not happen here," Bush said. "It could happen a month from now" somewhere else.
On the Net:
Outlaws: http://www.outlawsmc.com/
Hells Angels: http://www.hells-angels.com/
We are done here. Protect your gang thugs all you want, little boyman. God knows it is clear they gave you the courage you needed.
Wait a minute--I call BS.
I don't believe you have ever ridden a motorcycle let alone own one.
No one has ever 'ground rice'. 'Grinding rice' doesn't even make sense culturally or gastronomically. The term you are looking for is 'rice burner' or, perhaps, 'rice rocket'
The inline Japanese 4's, V-4's, opposed 4's and even opposed 6's with counterbalancers, fuel injected with shaft drive and rubber-mounted frame stressed engines are the smoooooothest, silkiest, fastest bikes made.
Didn't school start, kid?
HAHAHAHA! More grist for my 'Harleys are for old guys' argument!
The old dears--grey ponytail flying and Harley tattoos with liver spots....
(WHAT THE HELL ARE MUSLIMS DOING IN AMERICA???)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sorry, but could not resist your tag line !!
Here is an off topic thought, thou I just love this biker thread !!
Why don't we send all Muslims in the ole good USA back to where they came from with the provision that they are very welcomed back to the good ole USA (Like they get to cut in front of the line BEFORE our Mexican friends to the South), if and when THEY have finally, finally, really, really, cross their heart and hope to die, converted ALL their(there, for you people in Rio Linda)
people in their home country into a religion of peace with none of the Wahabee, Shia, Suni, 12th Imam, stuff going on!!
You know, like, 10-15 years with no planes falling out of the sky or no trains/pizza palors/vacation spots/army barracks/embassys/war ships/Isralies/being blown up.
No Madrasses/Imams preaching hate against the little Satan or the Big Satan !!
Trust me, if we do not get rid of the STEALTH MUSSIES in the good USA, once they reach VOTING CRITICAL MASS over here (Can you say Voting Block/Dem's Sucking Up?), We Are Doomed, JUST LIKE THE HESBOLA has done to LEBANON, and to the Euro Weenies in France !!
Sadly, I'm not quite old enough to escape the 16 to 24 year old/bearded/don't check him out while boarding a plane/student visa/Muzzie standing over me with his sword raised on high asking 'Do you belive in Allah?'
I hope I will answer at that moment, 'Well, now that you make reflect on it, I think that JC is my guy'.
Just a thought, but hey, what do I know, I'm just a snuffy and too stupid to smell the Starbucks!!
Yea, you are right.
I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired !!!!!
Anyone can ride a sewing machine.
Good try guys.
Your facts ain't.
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