Yes, the violence stems primarily from the drug trade. Although Hell’s Angels also runs prostitution rings and hijacks freight, the big problem is the violence due to their involvement in the drug trade. The drug trade in Canada is not controlled by outlaw bikers, but outlaw bikers are the primary players.
Yes, a crown attorney is a prosecutor. We have both provincial and federal crowns/prosecutors. Provincial for offences such as assault, armed robbery and murder, and federal for dealing drugs.
I read Hunter Thompson’s “Hell’s Angels” which was pretty enlightening. The 60s counterculture fell in love with them as outsiders, got in cozy with them, and basically got fucked. There’s a hilarious point in the book when Alan Ginsberg delivers a long, poetic, heartfelt missive to the Angels, asking them not to become violent at an upcoming generation. He went to bat for 'em. They just tore the place up, anyway
It took the hippies awhile to realize that the Angels didn’t share their values; basically, they ride, they have their group identity, which they fight for. They hang out in bars, work on their bikes, get in fights, and generally put on a colorful image for the rest of the world. They don’t have a philosophy; even the big guys like Barger aren’t particularly articulate or rational. So, who knows. I consider 'em a relic, and not a particularly nice group to have around. Some deal drugs, most are involved in at least petty crimes from time to time. Oh, and they ride Harleys…live to ride they may, but they also live to get passed by every other bike out there.
So, in conclusion, i have no idea what I’m getting at. But I think the Hell’s Angels are kind of a silly throwback.
In Quebec a couple of years ago the head of Quebec’s Hell’s Angels, Mom Boucher, was convicted for double murder - - a female prison guard and a male prison guard. Just a couple of innocent folks doing their jobs who Hell’s Angels put a hit on.
Further arrests in the matter are ongoing, including that of his confidante Fon Fon Fontaine, who of course is a Hell’s Angel Member.
Meanwhile, raids on Hell’s Angels’ bunkers continue to result in the seizure of large amounts of drugs and cash, and of course the arrest of Hell’s Angels members and wannabees. (The most recent of which I am aware was in Trois Rivieres a couple of months ago.)
It is really quite remarkable how Hell’s Angels will murder innocent people for the most trivial of reasons.
For example, when a Calagary city councillor tried to stop Hell’s Angels from building a clubhouse, the head of the Calgary Hell’s Angels tried to blow him up. A conviction followed.
Just to clarify, that is one bombing regarding the wars between the bike gangs. There have been other bike gang bombings in Ontario that were not related to the bike gang wars. For example, in my town Satan’s Choice (which was taken over by Hell’s Angels) blew up the home of a fellow they did not like.
Interestingly, the Hells Angels’ own site linked above by Dog80 has a history page that, while not really providing much history of the HAMC, goes to some length to at least give the impression that they dispute what they call the myth of their military lineage.
Since the site doesn’y really offer much HAMC history, it’s hard to say who the early members were. The Fontana, California police department might have some info.
And paying taxes to support the entire infrastructure of a society, including schools, roads, Medicare, Social Security, police, fire, public works, defense, etc is equivalent to paying off worthless criminal scum under the threat of death…how?
But you’re paying for a service! The service of being shaken down? Where would society be with nobody shaking down anybody else for money under vague threats of violence?
Seriously, the Mob-ey mentality of “Oh, but they make the neighborhood safer!” is stupid.
[anecdote]There was a bunker from a rival outlaw bike gang in my neighbourhood. They, obviously, were in charge of the drug trade in the area. When the Hell’s decided they wanted to control the drug trade in my area, they figured the best way to do that was to torch the bars that wouldn’t go along with them. They torched one about 200 feet away from my place a Sunday night around 3 AM.[/anecdote]
Muffing, I don’t have any problem with anything you say. Nothing. Except not everywhere are biker gangs “criminal biker gangs.”
I can’t speak for where you live, but I can say, “If they’re criminals, STOMP 'EM!”
If they’re non-criminal bikers, leave them alone.
In Georgia, USA, we bikers were harassed by law enforcement unjustly. In Connecticut we couldn’t cross a town line without being pulled over. Here in Hawaii it ain’t so bad. Everywhere is different.
Prosecute criminals. If all bikers are criminals, well, then, what can I say? Except that it seems unlikely.
Sadly for those interested in such things, the Berdoo (Fontana) chapter is one of the ones that doesn’t have its own website unlike many of the chapters.
I’d say the history page mentioned above is at odds with Barger’s own story; he was too young to be a WWII vet himself, but he did do a stint (underage) in the army, and many of the early Oakland members appear to have been vets.
Eh. That’s nothing. I used to live about 1 km away from one of the Rock Machines’ safe houses. The Hells tried to blow up the building. The blast was so strong I thought it was an earthquake at first; the house literally shook. There was broken glass for a 200 m radius around the blast spot. (Miraculously, no one died, not even the RM members inside the house. Apparently, the HA know how to make big bombs, they just don’t know how to plant them properly, thank god.)
I lived on Egerton St. in London, Ontario, a few doors down from the Outlaws’ clubhouses. Hell’s Angels moved into town, and the usual violence ensued. Fortunately, I had moved before the open street gun battles took place.
One month after the worst gun battle, the Outlaws brought in some Bandidos from Texas for a confrontation at the Hell’s Angels’ “motorcycle show” a ittle further up the street at the fairground, which backed on my girlfriend’s business. The showdown was between 120 Outlaws and Bandidos and 110 Hell’s Angels and Jackals. Police intervened and sent the Outlaws packing, and the city prohibited Hell’s Angels from holding another “motorcycle show.” The Hell’s Angels “motorcycle show” promoter claimed that “Law enforcement targeting the Hell’s Angels in Ontario are nothing more than discrimination . . . . If I was black or wore a turban, my pockets would be lined with gold and civil suits. But I’m just a poor-white-trash biker.” (The Globe and Mail reported that he owned a Harley, a van, a Mercedes, and a house an barn on 81 Acres. http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040717/CENTRE17//?query=A+tale+of+two+cities )
Open gun battles across my street, and an attempted rumble a couple of blocks up at my girlfirend’s business. And that Hell’s Angels piece of shit played the oh so oft’ repeated harassment card. As far as I am concerned, members of criminal biker gangs whining about being harassed are simply shedding crocodile tears. Asserting that Hell’s Angels is not a criminal organization is beyond the pale, and anyone who makes such an assertion is either incredibly ignorant of the facts, or is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
They key word is ***criminal ** * biker gangs. From your description, it seems that all your bikers are criminals. It ain’t that way everywhere, but it is that way lots of places.
Like I said:
PROSECUTE THE CRIMINALS!
OJ Simpson got off a murder rap, essentially because he is black.
Does that mean all blacks are murderers?
Muffin, you got a built-in bias that I understand.
The sooner you understand it, though, the sooner you will be free, and just, and efficient.
