Editorial
Well, here we go again, this time with our pagination a little tighter. For those who don't know what pagination is, neither did I; but, it has something to do with the scavenger hunt I sent our readers on in our first edition . . . you know, the part where I sent you to page 12 when the article is actually continued on 14, to page 8 when its continued on 12, and so on. We can all just chalk it up to beginner's luck.
This edition is primarily pointed at the most pernicious bigotry we have encountered in our past two years of involvement in this civil rights battle, and rivals anything I have seen in forty years. Sure, those who have been riding for a while have experienced some degree of discrimination from the general public, and the police. But, nothing in recent history compares to today's assault on bikers.
It is important to remember two things about what you are reading in regard to the published bigotry reproduced in this issue. First, this is only a small portion of the stuff that has been distributed on the subject of "outlaw bikers," "biker gangs" and the like. The second is that, following much research on the subject we found most if not all of this stuff started at the Federal level.
Oh, it is also note worthy to point out that most of what we encountered in this regard is unprintable . . . at least in this publication. If you really want to know more about what your government thinks of bikers, write to us and we will tell you some of the other sources that you can contact.
Also in this edition, I put in a replica of the now famous CHP Bulletin #34. Many riders in the State of California have already seen this stuff and, we have discovered, many haven't. It is our belief at HLDL that when the smoke clears, and the mud settles, and the book is finally written, CHP Bulletin #34 will ultimately be the document which brought down the helmet law first in California, and then in all the other helmet law oppressed states. Nothing anyone in the motorcycling community could have done could have uncovered the hoax in the helmet law hoax as did CHP Bulletin #34. Trust me.
In the next edition we are going to deliver the head of the dragon, the lawyers of NHTSA. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a paper tiger -- a room full of lawyers skilled in the art of smoke and mirrors, and little else. They are a fake, and they are bigots.
That is not to say that the formation of NHTSA was without merit. Rather, we will show that the lawyers who now run the show at NHTSA know nothing of the reasons for the formation of NHTSA or, for our interest, the safety needs of motorcyclists . . . nor do they care. It is the lawyers of NHTSA who have paved a road to Hell with what were initially the good intentions of the United States Congress.
These people (a generous denotation) came on board long after the reasons for the formation of NHTSA had faded into the mass of disregarded idealism of our Founding Fathers. What they found is a place of power. Playing in the cracks of the law they are being allowed to administer, they exercise that power in the most sadistic convoluted way against those who are least able to ward off their attacks. They merely stomp their feet and point at the likes of General Motors, because GM has lawyers. But, against those who cannot defend themselves, their is no reason and no mercy.
We have watched them systematically use every Lawyeristic device known to those of their kind to destroy the lives of people who had, and have, higher morals and standards in the dirt under their fingernails than the best of this NHTSA scum have in their entire being -- all in the name of (the claim of) saving lives.
The Wren family in Washington, the Yasco family in Florida, and God only knows how many others, ruined by their sociopathic abuse of power.
The lawyers of NHTSA are the head of the dragon, and in the next edition, they will be delivered up to you.
Having disposed of that, I want to ad a very special "Thank You" to Lorenzo Lamas, and the production company and crew of "The Renegade," from both Steve Bianco and myself. Those guys gave us a shot in the ol' phone bill arm (not to mention the confidence of their support arm) that was by any standard, unbelievable.
In addition to our gratitude to those Freedom Fighters; to the other Freedom Fighters named in our cover story who took time off from work, and spent day after day on location shooting the episodes of "The Renegade", and donating their pay to the Helmet Law Defense League, this edition is dedicated especially to you.
And, finally, to steal a quote from an other friend of ours, Robbie Freeman; when this "worst of all laws" falls, as it surely will, and the bigotry is finally ended, you will know the part that you played.
Thanks.
Quig
. . . beginning with a reprint from the February 1991 San Diego Informant, the San Diego Police Officers Association newsletter, from an article entitled:
by Steve Albrecht
Fewer words bring a burn to the pit of my stomach than outlaw bikers. The very image of these people -- filthy, bearded, tattoo-covered cretins astride choppers -- gives me indigestion, especially when I cross their paths in a patrol car.
Over the years, our outlaw biker population seems to have evolved. During the 60s and 70s we saw the hardcore outlaw bent on stomping citizens and offending everyone with tales of rape, pillage, and beer swilling. The 80s and 90s groups are known for other endeavors, like the creation and sale of crystal methamphetamine.
That's not to say they like cops any better then their older counterparts. Rest assured, all outlaw bikers hate cops. They still think they are this countryıs only "real" Americans.
While the days of outlaw bikers-sponsored community terror are over, you never know when you'll run across one out on the road. The Sheriff's Department, Highway Patrol, and various state and federal rangers usually have their hands full when these roving "patriots" decide to make one of their patented Labor or Memorial Day runs to campgrounds in Pine Valley, Cuyamaca, or the Luganas.
While you automatically know from the start you're probably dealing with a professional crook, here are a few tactical reminders to consider when contacting outlaw biker types.
Handling outlaw bikers during traffic stops and other contacts is no different then any other potentially high-risk encounter. Use good safety habits, get ample cover, and offer strong command presence throughout the stop.
So ends San Diego Police Officer Albrecht's view of reality as expressed by him in Feburary, 1991.
Good idea too! First, scare the Hell out of the cops, then turn them loose to enforce the law against "outlaw bikers."
It's amazing that some unsuspecting helmet law violator has not been shot to death as a result of the information and training that the police are receiving.
We talked with the publisher of the Albrecht article about its content. Gwen Gunn (no joke), who is the editor of Informant, attempted to vindicate this article by pointing to the fact that it only refers to "outlaw bikers."
However, when we explored her interpretation of the word "outlaw," we discovered (not to our surprise) that Ms. Gunn views "outlaw" as synonymous with "criminal." "You know, someone who lives outside the law."
Well, that would be fine were it not for the fact that Albrecht's description -- i.e.: "filthy, bearded, tattoo-covered cretins astride choppers" -- applies to a lot of motorcycle riders who have never been involved in any type of "criminal" activity.
The people described by Albrecht are Hollywood caricatures of an extreme exaggeration of the imagined life-style of Jessie James or Billy the Kid on motorcycles, with none of the redeeming folk-hero qualities. Dillinger in black leather, with an attitude.
But, Albrecht sees these images as real, much like the soap-opera fan who writes to their favorite character to warn them of a lover's infidelity. Not merely real, but to Albrecht the picture is so vivid as to actually stimulate physical reactions. So real that just the mention (or thought) of the words outlaw biker "brings a burn to the pit of my stomach." This is one sick puppy!
Ms. Gunn attempts to justify this article by pointing to the need to inform officers of the dangers of their jobs, and to prepare them to defend themselves -- presumably from the "hoards of Huns" that former Assemblyman Floyd labeled all bikers.
Defend themselves from individuals who ride "choppers" (which can be taken to mean any American made motorcycle), who display a love of Country (any "Patriot" foolish enough to dawn the red, white and blue), and/or any who demonstrate a "total lack of fear of the law."
It is possible that somewhere out there is at least one person who meets Albrecht's fantasy outlaw biker profile, but the danger put upon all the rest is hardly justified by that infinitely small percentage.
Nobody is going to claim that there are not some real bad dudes out there, or that some of them even ride motorcycles, bear tattoos, and may even live outside the law; but, the actual number of such characters is way too small to justify anything even bordering on this type of warning.
How would they, the police react, if they were similarly damned? How would they react if they were all held responsible for the reputation of the most dangerous of their ranks? What would they do in the face of an article warning members of the motorcycle riding community about the few sickoes as if they were the rule rather than a rare exception?
For example:
Nothing strikes more fear into my heart than looking in the rear-view mirror and seeing a bad cop behind me in a patrol car.
Enough of that!
The point is that anytime anyone attempts to take the conduct of a very few and attribute to "all," they are wrong. Words such as "all" and "always" are absolutes, and when dealing with people -- cops, bikers, or whatever -- such generalizations are nothing more than expressions of bigotry, and otherwise just plain stupid.
The fact is that the vast majority of police officers throughout the State of California, and across these United States, are civic-minded individuals who chose their profession with the best of intentions. They are men, and women, who believe that someone needs to protect those who cannot protect themselves from others who would do them harm.
The current problems with police and police agencies is that the lawyers in government have re-directed the responsibility of the police to a myriad of other tasks which most recruits never contemplated when they signed on to go to the police academy. And, a lot of disinformation, such as that shown in this article, is put in front of them by people whose opinion they are supposed to respect.
Take, for example, the police officer in San Diego recently who cited two bikers for not wearing helmets.
Apparently these guys had decided to take a short ride home without helmets. You know, for old times sake.
Anyway, as they pulled into their driveway, they were startled to discover a police car on the street behind them, with the lights on and the obviously terrified officer out of the car, his weapon drawn (hammer cocked), shouting at them to get their hands in the air.
Ten minutes into this incident, there were a reported six patrol cars present. The suspects were spread-eagle against the hood of the car being subjected to a patdown search (we must assume for weapons or drugs) and the citing officer still had his gun at the ready with the hammer still cocked. All this attention (and danger) over two helmet law violations!
The purpose of this article is not to bad rap the police, or any of their officers (except perhaps Albrecht). To the contrary, we want well trained and protected police. (Although we would prefer to see them out there chasing bad guys, rather than wasting their valuable time chasing minor traffic violators up and down the streets in search of money for the courts.)
The intent of this article is, rather, to let the riders in the motorcycling community know the type of information and training that is going out to these officers, and to perhaps make the reader more aware of the potential dangers of this training.
For example, the Redding Police Department Training Bulletin. The accompanying copy of that bulletin is a virtually exact replica of the bulletin as it was when released just prior to enactment of the helmet law.
The reported reference source for the Redding Training Bulletin was the California Law Enforcer Magazine, which is distributed throughout the State of California to many, if not most, police officers.
We have spoken with Sgt. Reynolds of the Redding Police Department who was responsible for this particular bulletin, He was quick to point out that within weeks of the time of its release the Redding Police Department pulled the bulletin and sent word to all parties on the original distribution list stating, "If you maintain a training file, please purge this bulletin."
Having spoken with Reynolds, we are convinced that this bulletin was, in fact, a good faith error. The imagery created by Hollywood is so strong, and the fact that the information appeared in California Law Enforcer Magazine so validating, that it is not unreasonable to understand how this could have appeared in the normal course of training. You know, that "If you don't know you wouldn't understand" stuff. Some of these guys, especially the newer ones and those who don't ride, really don't know.
However, for our purposes, it is sufficient to note that this bulletin did in fact get distributed in the context of a training bulletin. That the California Law Enforcer Magazine offered this, and more, in the way of "information" to law enforcement officers throughout the State of California regarding the "dangers" of dealing with bikers. And, that the Albrecht article was printed, and is currently supported, by the Informant newsletter in San Diego.
So, when you are approached by any police officer, and he begins to exhibit what does not seem normal behavior for a police officer, be advised that he may have been subjected to some or all of this crap. He's probably just a good cop operating on bad information. Don't take it personal, but be aware of the potential danger.
The time to confront this type of twisted training is not on the street during a traffic stop or arrest situation. If you suspect that the officer is reacting to bad training, now that you know it exists, try to do nothing to confirm their fears during the stop.
Wait until later, and then go to the police station and express your concerns to his supervisors, in writing.
Reprint from "An Inside Look At Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs"
Outlaw motorcycle gangs are male dominated and highly chauvinistic. Women are treated as little more than playthings, generally victimized by forcing them into prostitution or street level drug trafficers, and quite often physically abused. Generally they are bought, sold, traded or given away within the club.
Bikers pick up their women like a lot of other men either in bars, hitchhikers, or runaways. The macho image prevails, and when asked if "you want a ride on my motorcycle," they're usually hooked.
Strangely enough, and despite the abuse these women receive, there is never a shortage. An unlimited number of good-looking females, it seems, are attracted not so much to the bikers themselves but the macho image that they represent as well as the lifestyle and excitement within the sub-culture. They choose a life which seems as exciting as a roller coaster ride, fast motorcycles, macho men, drugs, alcohol, parties, guns, topless bars, and "any way you want it" sex.
The women that follow any one certain gang are in many cases just as dedicated to the club as the members themselves, and in other cases just as cold-hearted and deadly as the male member.
The women of the gang will often carry guns and drugs in their handbag or on their person to help the biker, who oftentimes is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of being a convicted felon. They are often trained in ditching guns and drugs when being approached by the police.
As a source of income to the club, the women are usually put to work in topless bars where they hustle drinks, dance nude or topless, prostitute themselves, or set up patrons to be rolled. They usually average between $75.00 to $200.00 per night. Bikers of course exploit these females to the fullest, and no doubt live off the proceeds from the women's earnings.
Another area where the women are used effectively is intelligence gathering. They will go into the community and take jobs at city, county, and state offices where they have access to blank birth certificates, drivers licenses and other useful documentation. Other areas of employment the women will seek is that of police records clerks, telephone operators, employees in welfare offices, and positions within penal institutions. Once trusted, their role turns to intelligence gathering.
Women of motorcycle gangs mainly fall into two broad categories: Mamas or Sheep and Old Ladies.
MAMAS OR SHEEP
These are women who belong to the club at large. They belong to every member and are expected to consent to the sexual desires of anyone at anytime. They perform medial tasks around the clubhouse, however do not attend club meetings. Some clubs permit these women to wear "colors" with the inscription, "Property of" (club name), embroidered on the back.
OLD LADIES
These are the wives or steady girlfriends of club members. They belong to one member of the club, therefore, sexual and other demands can only be made by their husband or boyfriend.
An Old Lady is not a card carrying club member, and like the Sheep are not permitted to attend club meetings. They also will wear "Property of" colors; however, with the name of the biker she belongs to on the bottom rocker.
The women will usually supply bikers with a place to stay, and afford them a permanent address in order to collect welfare.
As mentioned in the section on "runs," the women and probates are the ones that usually drive the crash truck or war wagon during their outings.
This unmitigated garbage was found in Chapter VIII of a booklet entitled "An Inside Look At Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs" published by Paladin Press, a division of Paladin Enterprises, Inc., P.O. Box 1307, Boulder, Colorado 80306, USA. (303) 443-7250 -- Do with it what you will.
Quig