Gangs & Patches

[scumdog]

The above two are a one-piece patch vs the three-piece 'outlaw' patches, therein lies the difference.

[SlashWylde]

The above two are a one-piece patch vs the three-piece 'outlaw' patches, therein lies the difference.

True. You, know that, I know that, but does the average Kiwi? I seem to recall in this very thread a member recounting a story of how a lady came into an AA office or some such shaking with fear because her car had hit a scary leather-clad biker wearing a gang patch. When pressed for details she revealed that the name of the gang was the Ulysses MC, much to the amusement of all present.

I'm not going to nitpick over trivial details, and I'm certainly not in support of criminal gangs, but my point is that when the powers that be start telling us what we can and can't wear then we've got a problem.

The other part of the issue is the interpretation of such a law. The general subject falls under the heading of "Patches Worn by Bikers". So say that sometime down the track when I'm wandering around in town with my Vulcan Riders Owners Club patch on my vest, wearing all my leathers, and an officer of the law sees my patch and stops me. Who's to say that he won't use his interpretation of the law banning gang patches to move me on or give me a hard time?

A similar scenario exists allready in many malls around the country where 'hoodies' are banned. Say I'm out for a jog. It's cold and I'm wearing my tracksuit with hoodie covering my head. I get thirsty, and since I'm going past the local mall I decide to go in to find a bottle of water. Mr Security Guard sees my hoodie and pulls me up for breaking the rules. See where I'm going with this...

[Motu]

[QUOTE=SlashWylde; You can guarantee there is gonna be a large number of aggro looking youth pouring into the city wearing Hatebreed T-shirts. Does that mean we constitute a gang? [/QUOTE]

You are lucky you didn't live in the wild '70's - that would be considered unlawful assembly....and there was a law against that.If you worn dirty clothes and didn't cut your hair...and rode a motorcycle with a few mates you were open for harasment by the Cops.But we didn't complain....was part of the game.

[NordieBoy]

The above two are a one-piece patch vs the three-piece 'outlaw' patches, therein lies the difference.

Yep, just like a 1 piece swimsuit vs a 3 piece 'outlaw' swimsuit.

[SlashWylde]

You are lucky you didn't live in the wild '70's - that would be considered unlawful assembly....and there was a law against that.If you worn dirty clothes and didn't cut your hair...and rode a motorcycle with a few mates you were open for harasment by the Cops.But we didn't complain....was part of the game.

Interesting. Sounds like we live in more liberal times then, at least as far as these issues are concerned.

Anyway I'm not wanting to sound paranoid about the proposed bill, and I'd like to think in this country such a law would be soundly thought-out, but it made me think out loud about some of the issues surrounding such legislation.

[Jabez]

True. You, know that, I know that, but does the average Kiwi? I seem to recall in this very thread a member recounting a story of how a lady came into an AA office or some such shaking with fear because her car had hit a scary leather-clad biker wearing a gang patch. When pressed for details she revealed that the name of the gang was the Ulysses MC, much to the amusement of all present.

I'm not going to nitpick over trivial details, and I'm certainly not in support of criminal gangs, but my point is that when the powers that be start telling us what we can and can't wear then we've got a problem.

The other part of the issue is the interpretation of such a law. The general subject falls under the heading of "Patches Worn by Bikers". So say that sometime down the track when I'm wandering around in town with my Vulcan Riders Owners Club patch on my vest, wearing all my leathers, and an officer of the law sees my patch and stops me. Who's to say that he won't use his interpretation of the law banning gang patches to move me on or give me a hard time?

A similar scenario exists allready in many malls around the country where 'hoodies' are banned. Say I'm out for a jog. It's cold and I'm wearing my tracksuit with hoodie covering my head. I get thirsty, and since I'm going past the local mall I decide to go in to find a bottle of water. Mr Security Guard sees my hoodie and pulls me up for breaking the rules. See where I'm going with this...

um....What would a cop do when he pulled me for wearing my Colours??

[sunhuntin]

Interesting. Sounds like we live in more liberal times then, at least as far as these issues are concerned.

Anyway I'm not wanting to sound paranoid about the proposed bill, and I'd like to think in this country such a law would be soundly thought-out, but it made me think out loud about some of the issues surrounding such legislation.

im against the whole idea. i like the patches for the simple fact it makes id easy in case something goes wrong. like that huge war here last year, the moves of each person was easy to identify cos of the patches, rather than hearing "this greasy guy did this to this greasy guy, who was also kicked by this other greasy guy"
there are a decent number of gang run ins here, which is bad thing, but the patches make catching and convicting easier.

[Smorg]

[URL="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10427095&ref=rss"]
I'm off to a Hatebreed concert tonight. You can guarantee there is gonna be a large number of aggro looking youth pouring into the city;-)

YOu serious? kids that listen to death metal are usually the most meek looking people ever

[Bonez]

DOES DAINESE COUNT , ME AND LOTS OF OTHERS HAVE THIS ON THE BACK OF OUR JACKETS , YEAH IM A BAD ARSE I THREW A CHEWING GUM WRAPPER OUT MY CAR WINDOW

Try a banana peel next time.

[Loopy]

Is anyone else sick of this whole 'biker gang' thing. The term gang should not be a term used to describe people like ourselves who have a passion for motorcycling and enjoy riding with our peers. The word gang to me pertains to the streets where young fucks get off with beating people up for the hell of it because they have nothing else better to do and the like that we have seen in the news recently. This term I feel should not be linked to the biker community. Many of us are members of motorcycle clubs, social groups, regional and national chapters, and have at some point been associated with other biker 'gangs' because of a run they might have been holding or because of friends and or business. But what the Herald and other media groups fail to recognise is that although these 'gangs' have had bad press in the past most of them now give back to the community. You very rarely read in the paper about an event a 'gang' or 'club' has hosted for a charity, or the programmes that they set up for children after school, or gymns they run. Perhaps the media could focus on that instead of branding us all and all of our clubs as 'gangs'? Perhaps they coud do some good with their media reports and go look for answers as to why all these young punk teenage wannabe gang members keep getting away with beating up and killing people on our streets and then all they get is a smack on the hand? How many murders and brutal assaults have there been in South Auckland in the last 6months? They should be focussing their attention on something worthwhile!

[outlawtorn]

Or how about this one...? Is an eagle OK?

aaahhh, those bloody saffers, always causing shit in Auckland, what with their Browns Bay South African festival, flinging their biltong all over the place and tempting young kiwi ladies with their boerewors....it's all just terrible!!!

[sunhuntin]

Perhaps they coud do some good with their media reports and go look for answers as to why all these young punk teenage wannabe gang members keep getting away with beating up and killing people on our streets and then all they get is a smack on the hand? How many murders and brutal assaults have there been in South Auckland in the last 6months? They should be focussing their attention on something worthwhile!

agreed... the big rumble here a year ago was front page news for weeks... yet the toy run held by ulysses and the triumph club doesnt even get a mention. neither do any of their other charity runs through out the year.

actually, the first triumph charity ride i took part in, there was shit slung cos the monies raised were deposited into the nominated account, then it was found they wouldnt go where they were meant to. the money was withdrawn, and hand delivered to the recipient in auckland hospital. then the people who took their time, bikes and money to auckland, were accused of stealing the moolah to spend on their bikes.

[SlashWylde]

YOu serious? kids that listen to death metal are usually the most meek looking people ever

This is sometimes true. Thing is, Hatebreed aren't a death metal band. They are a hardcore punk/metalcore band. Point is, such a band attracts a different crowd to a death metal gig which commponly attracts younger types who dress-up and wear lots of make-up etc. I was there last night, and to re-iterate my point, many of the male punters were fairly staunch looking dudes, plenty of shaved heads and long goatees - better for moshing you see...

Anyway, back on topic...

[mstriumph]

agreed... the big rumble here a year ago was front page news for weeks... yet the toy run held by ulysses and the triumph club doesnt even get a mention. neither do any of their other charity runs through out the year.

actually, the first triumph charity ride i took part in, there was shit slung cos the monies raised were deposited into the nominated account, then it was found they wouldnt go where they were meant to. the money was withdrawn, and hand delivered to the recipient in auckland hospital. then the people who took their time, bikes and money to auckland, were accused of stealing the moolah to spend on their bikes.

it is one of the sad facts of life that good people doing good stuff for good reasons just ISN'T 'news' ..........

it is another sad fact that recipient of charity money think they have the right to do what the hell they like with contributions irrespective of what they've SAID they will do with them ............. [i mean, who the HELL do they think they ARE? the GOVERNMENT??!! ]

anyway - good on the triumph mob for having the backbone to DO something about it and make sure the donations got into the right hands rather than just bleating about it [pity they couldn't have forseen the backlash and got publicity out there to counter it 'though .......]

[sunhuntin]

it is one of the sad facts of life that good people doing good stuff for good reasons just ISN'T 'news' ..........

it is another sad fact that recipient of charity money think they have the right to do what the hell they like with contributions irrespective of what they've SAID they will do with them ............. [i mean, who the HELL do they think they ARE? the GOVERNMENT??!! ]

anyway - good on the triumph mob for having the backbone to DO something about it and make sure the donations got into the right hands rather than just bleating about it [pity they couldn't have forseen the backlash and got publicity out there to counter it 'though .......]

yeh. was for a local woman who had a heart transplant. the money went towards helping her partner and young kids with accomodation in auckland. the local HOG chapter also took part [i rode bitch with a road captain of theirs] was a huge gathering, and well worth it.
ive attended each of the charity runs every year since [except 2004, when i was overseas] and the publicity hasnt increased.