Hells Angels cause a stir and a Veterans MC is under scrutiny despite reports to the contrary

The Hells Angels had a booth at a festival in New Westminster and that has brought the 12th Street Music Fest and all festivals under scrutiny in that city. It appears that the city of New Westminster now wants a report that is to outline a family-oriented and public safety policy for street festivals and parades that must include the appropriateness of the vendors allowed to sell their wares and what activities will be acceptable and how they will govern the festivals and parades.

In Ladysmith BC, the Veterans Canada MC has come under scrutiny by the police services on Vancouver Island. Why? Because they wear a three piece patch that identifies the club as an Outlaw MC.

For those of you who do not know or understand the differences in patches and what they mean - here is the link to a great article that clearly expresses the difference in patches and their meanings: http://vnvmc-lvmc.muddywolf.net/patch.html

I find myself wondering why it is that the police services are not better educated as to the difference in patches and why they feel the need to scrutinize every patch worn my motorcyclists. You would think that with all of the information that is out there and available to everyone that they would know better - but, they do not seem to be willing to educate themselves. Or perhaps they really do know and instead of sharing the knowledge, would rather stir fear whenever they can.

There are so many misconceptions as to who is who in the motorcycle world that could be cleared up very simply - through education.

I, like many other riders, feel that the scrutiny of our motorcycle community events by the Anti Biker and Outlaw Motorcycle Gang units is disgusting. Even the names of these police services is outlandish. ANTI Biker - I am a biker - why are you against me? Outlaw Motorcycle GANG? An outlaw motorcycle CLUB is not generally a GANG.

There are Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs and 1% Motorcycle Clubs - the two are not necessarily involved with each other. Educate yourself!

For those of you who think that starting an Outlaw MC is cool - remember this, you will be scrutinized by the 1% ers and the police. WHY?

The 1% ers want to know if you are claiming a territory, what your motivation is behind starting a 3 piece patch club and the police - well, they for some reason automatically assume that anyone wearing a three piece patch has to be bad news and some how connected to 1% ers.

The reasons many outlaw clubs sporting 3 piece patch spring up are simple to understand.
Many start because the people who start them think the 3 piece patch is cool - no other reason - they have not educated themselves as to the ramifications or the true requirements of being an Outlaw MC.

Then there are those who start up because they carry the outlaw mentality - They want a prospecting period for new members - you can't just buy a patch, you have to earn it, to commit to riding with the club and being active and involved. If you aren't committed to the cause and ethics of the club, the members can and will vote you out. They have few rules but the ones they have ARE written in stone - no exceptions allowed.

Belonging to an Outlaw MC generally has nothing to do with being a criminal or having ties to those who are criminals and I wished that the police would get it right and do some research before they spout off.

Profiling - it is a "tool" of the police services. What is profiling you ask?

Noun 1. profiling - recording a person's behavior and analyzing psychological characteristics in order to predict or assess their ability in a certain sphere or to identify a particular group of people

The police services use profiling to decide whether or not a group of people is likely to commit a crime. They have been disallowed the use of profiling in general terms when it comes to the Black community, the Italian Community, the Hispanic Community, the Asian Community etc...why? Because that is discrimination. Just because you are Black, Hispanic, Asian or Italian does not mean you have any affiliation to criminals just because there are criminals who are Black, Hispanic, Asian or Italian.

So why is it OK to profile our community? Why is it that the police services are allowed to target motorcyclists who wear a patch - ANY PATCH - for special attention?

Because we, the motorcycle community have not banded together to stop it.

We have two choices in our community - we either allow this sad and disgusting practise to go on without a whimper, or we can fight to have our community protected under our Charter of Freedoms and Rights.

In the article on the Veterans MC the evidence of the profiling of our community is clear.
And I quote: 

"Police were not taking any chances, with specialists from the outlaw motorcycle gang unit keeping an eye on the Veterans poker run and anniversary party on Saturday, which saw 40 bikers hit several pubs on a round-trip ride to Shawnighan Lake. Police have photographed club members more than once, and the neighbouring school principal has come down to meet them."

Later in the article: "RCMP say they have had calls from concerned citizens and take an interest in any group with a three-piece patch. A new rise in clubs linked to the aging bikers have sprung up across B.C., including the Campbell River-based Devil's Army.

"We don't view them as an outlaw club," said Pat Wilkinson of the outlaw motorcycle gang unit. "Right now, they're a bunch of military guys that like to ride bikes." End Quote

Really? The Veterans MC IS an Outlaw Motorcycle Club and has been in Ladysmith for over a year from my knowledge. 

Why is it, that they have been repeatedly photographed? 

Why is it that even a year later, they are still being scrutinized? 

This is a traditional Outlaw MC comprised of active and former military personnel - why do the police feel the need to muddy the waters by using the terminology of our community in a wrong manner? 

Pat Wilkinson says that: "RIGHT NOW, they are just a bunch of military guys who like to ride bikes." 

What does that mean? That because they sport a 3 piece patch they will remain under scrutiny? 

That they might become a 1% er MC soon?  

I for one am sick of the spin and innuendo. I happen to know many of the members of the Veterans Canada MC and they have all either served or still serve this country. They just want to ride with others who experience the same challenges caused by their service to our country (PTSD amongst other issues that are common to those who have defended our country) and are committed to serving veterans affairs - thier mandate is clear and simple...

This is from their web site: http://www.veteransmccanada.com

Membership into the Verterans MC Canada is by invitation only however we encourage interested and prospective people that meet the criteria below to contact us.

ETHICS STATEMENT
Strength, honour, and pride of service; Past, present, and future is our motto and we intend to deliver our services and support one another as fellow Veterans, active service men and women with integrity and pride.

OUR MEMBERSHIP
Our membership is comprised of Veterans of the various theaters of conflict, active service personnel, and members of the reserve forces.

QUALIFICATIONS
* A minimum of three years of service in either the regular or reserve forces of the Armed Forces.

PROOF OF SERVICE
* Coming on Strength records and release dates are required for full membership and insurance of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

WHY A MOTORCYCLE CLUB?
There are three generally recognized forms of motorcycle associations:

* General Associations - Allow anyone to pay a membership fee regardless of their desire to ride a motorcycle but further the cause of motorcycling.

* Riding Clubs - Have no expectation of their membership with regard to meetings and runs; these are considered to be social clubs.

* Motorcycle Clubs - Hold their members to a strict code of ethics and have an exceptionally high requirement to their membership when it comes to attending meetings and runs.

We have chosen to be a motorcycle club as we hold our membership to a strict code of ethics and demand attendance at meetings and runs associated with our club. It is our desire as a club to have our members participating in all of our functions. The only exceptions are for our actively serving military members when they get called to serve a tour of duty.

RECRUITING STAGE
To become a full patched member of the Veterans MC Canada a potential member must complete a minimum of two years of recruiting phase which is comprised of two stages :

THE PROVING STAGE
Prospective members are invited to begin riding with our club by a full-patched member of our club and are expected to help out at fundraisers and take part in our club rides. During this stage of membership the recruit must :

* Exhibit strong morals and principles.
* Show a strong desire to help Veterans, Veteran societies and organizations, and active military members and their families.

This stage can last as little as a year but, may take longer depending on attendance, heart, and their ability to fit in with the club. The fit must work for both the recruit and the club.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP STAGE
After completing the recruitment stage the recruit becomes a member with full voting privileges but, is not allowed to hold officer positions until the end of their second year.

In order to be considered for membership in the Veterans MC Canada, the potential member must receive 100% acceptance from the full members of the club.

STRUCTURE OF THE CLUB:
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
NATIONAL SECRETARY / TREASURER
NATIONAL SERGEANT AT ARMS
CHAPTER VICE PRSIDENTS

We are a non territorial club!

Like I said, some simple education could alleviate 90% of the BS and misconceptions about our community.

The police services have all of this knowledge and technology but still manage to twist things to keep the fear up amongst the general public so that they can dip into the tax payers pockets - at least that is this riders take on things....

What say you?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

There is a TON of news in the news feeds today, please take a few moments to check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com to see if there is somethig there that might affect your day or your plans!

Ride safe today, remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and to use respect with that right hand. Using your pipes for anything other than emergency purposes is just giving our community a black eye and will cost us this life saving tool through Motorcycle Only noise by laws...

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider