Can't compare hand to hand combat with chains, pipes, baseball bats and knives with a few guns thrown in Vs driveby tactics, different battle all together it is like a boxer fighting an MMA fighter.:p
Is it politically correct to call these people thugs? or is that the new n word? Or is a way to describe a person with no respect of the law and social norms?
I'll never understand how grown men think they "own" a territory of land... In America. It's just like inner city gangs controlling a block, but I still don't get it. Low life scums of the country.
It's still a horrible thing for anybody, involved or not, to be caught in a hail of gun fire. Violent death is a terrible thing wether it's deserverd and/or justified.
When i was a supervisor at a bridge fabrication shop one of my shop guys that worked for me was the president of the pagan chapter in the area. Decent guy for the most part.
Sota, as a biker myself and a proud member of a family oriented MC, I can say that 99.99% of the time, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Bikers are people just like everyone else.. they have jobs, families, spouses/kids, bills, ect.. they don't go out looking for trouble and/or to intimidate people. I do agree, there are some clubs, many well known to the public, that are much more rough and tumble and I'm are probably into illegal things like drugs and such, but the vast majority of bikers are your neighbors, the guy in the next pew at church, the dad sitting at his son's baseball game, ect. I work for BC/BS and wear a shirt and tie daily. Our club president is a very, very successful business owner. We have lawyers, doctors (well.. nurses), successful business owners, ect in our club. For most clubs, it's about riding and enjoying the friendships that are made along the way. My personal club has been doing charity fund raisers for the past 3-4 years and has an 401c licensed charity arm. Last year we donated over 30K to a local hospital for patients recovering from breast cancer and we hope to beat that # this year.
They probably looked at it as guarenteed business. The meeting was a COC, Coalition Of Clubs, meeting between a large # of different motorcycle clubs and that draws in a large # of patrons.. many who will be eating and drinking. The manager saw this as a large amount of $$$ coming in the door.
That all depends on the area you live in. There are 5-6 major/main 1% MCs and each has their own main "territory". In Texas, that is Banditos. For Maryland, where I live, it's Pagans and Hells Angels have a presence, so it is not uncommon to see "81 support" (8=H, 1=A) or "support your local 16" for the Pagans supporters. Some of those people just know a member of the club they support or, in some cases, they just think it's cool.
For some, the bottom rocker is all about "their territory". It is like a city gang saying "such and such streets are our turf". For them, their "territory" is their turf.. that is where they live, where they rule and make their money thru legal, and I'm sure for some, illegal means. In this case, the Banditos were the dominate club and consider Texas as "their territory". The Cossacks and Scimitars MCs, are allegidly support clubs for Hells Angels, who have been "at war" with the Banditos for years. The Banditos took this as a sign of disrespect and attempted take over of what they feel is their territory. I don't agree with the idea of "claiming territory", but I do understand it. For many, if not most clubs, the city, county or state name is about pride of where they live and the community/state they live in.
