“Clendennen may be a poster boy for the wrongly arrested. He is not a poster boy as a small-business owner, husband and father.”
Thank you for the civil discussion. I agree with much of what you said.
I am willing to entertain the idea it is possible someone like Clendennen could have perceived that by joining a non-criminally designated club he was joining nothing more than a group of other guys who like to ride to the lake on the weekend and drink a few beers, and play dress up.
It is my understanding that unlike the 1% groups, these other clubs pretty much accept all comers. There is no probationary period wherein one has to prove their loyalty, criminality or whatever. Essentially one is invited, buys a “patch”, and becomes a member.
As for smears on the highway, yes, motorcycling can be dangerous. But so can a lot of activties, like Sky diving, scuba diving, or, non-activities, like obesity, and coronary artery disease. There are law enforcement motorcycle clubs. There are clubs for just lawyers and judges. So any of those judges, cops and attorneys with young children and spouses are equally guilty.
Did Clendennen join a “gang”? No.
Is it possible that in order to pump up their numbers some with ill intent or ulterior motives within these non-criminal clubs suckered in guys like Clendennen. Yes.
Did he make a bad choice in retrospect? Clearly.
The question to me is how long does the Waco justice system intend to legally keel-haul those like Clendennen (and by extension, his wife, and kids and other family members), and to what social/public/moral benefit?
“The question to me is how long does the Waco justice system intend to legally keel-haul those like Clendennen (and by extension, his wife, and kids and other family members), and to what social/public/moral benefit?”
Thank you for your thoughtful response, and as to the above question, I do not know. The Grand Jury handling their cases is not even scheduled until, what did I read, October?
As to what benefit? Hopefully, legally and if unfortunately not at least morally, just don’t support criminally associated MCs in any way at any time.
Yes. clearly the gangs want to sucker in guys like Clendennen! That is the sad situation.
Yes a lot of activities are dangerous, and I caution my hubbie all the time about non-stop work, and no sleep, and other activities that could take him to a too-early grave. : (
Some dangerous pursuits have more immediate and traumatic consequences, and those can and should be avoided by responsible persons with responsibilities to other persons.
Yes, neglect of one’s own health can just as tragically have the same result; without, however, the same level of — frivolity as to risk-taking. There is no fun in constant work and no sleep, as there is in motor cycling or sky-diving, etc. It is the risk of attention to responsibilities, rather than to taking risks to escape them.