Remembrance Day is over and we are full swing into the Christmas Season.
There are parties and events to attend and all sorts of hubbub, unless you are one of the 600 Canadian Soldiers posted in Iraq.
This year we sold enough of the Bikers United in Remembrance Patches that we are sending 4 boxes of goodies to our boys and girls overseas.
Each box serves 12 soldiers and can be no bigger than a 24 box.
The idea behind the items in the box, is to send TREATS - things they can't get in the commissary.
I load the boxes up with:
Licorice, All Sorts, Gummy Bears, Candy Canes, Smarties, Truffles, Hot chocolate, Cream Coffee (In Tubes) Beef Jerky, Hand Sanitizer, Baby Wipes, Gum, not paper, pens, Christmas cards to give their combat buddies...
Well you get the idea.
The better part of $300 is what I spent on the four boxes.
Canada Posts ships these boxes at no charge to the person sending them.
If you'd like to send a package too here's what you do:
You email Joan McMurray, the founder of the Chosen Soldier Program at:
joan_mcmurray @ sympatico.ca FIX THE SPACES!
Joan will give you guidance on the kinds of items and the information on who to ship your packages to!
So thank you to all who bought a Bikers United in Remembrance Patch from me - because you are part of the reason I am sending 4 packages this year instead of the normal 1!
Thanks for caring and helping to make a difference!
By the way - if you are looking for the perfect gift for that biker in your life, consider the BigBlue Lift! $25 from every lift sold goes to paying off my lawyers bill and you get FREE SHIPPING ANYWHERE IN CANADA when you tell Donald that I sent you his way!
I have followed the shooting case of the Black Piston member, Zachariah Tipton, with much interest as just before this shooting took place, I had interviewed members of the Iron Order Snow City Crew near Edmonton.
Over the past several months, members of the 1% world have blasted me for reporting on the Canadian chapters and members of the IO MC because in the US, the Iron Order is hated by the 1% clubs.
The IO MC which is a three piece outlaw club with a prospecting phase and is seen as a cop club by the 1%ers because they allow officers of various law enforcement agencies to be members. Reportedly the 1%ers say the IO MC in the US tends to instigate trouble in an attempt to allow law enforcement a way in to the various 1% clubs.
They are also hated because they wear Black & White which are the colours of the Outlaws (AOA) of which the Black Pistons are affiliated and they do so without having gone to the dominant for approval of their cuts as COC protocols would dictate. They did not go to the dominant because the IO does allow law enforcement members and are therefore not welcome into the Confederation of Clubs (COC).
The verdict regarding the shooting at Nippers Beach Grill in Jacksonville Beach, Florida that took place on June 26, 2014 is in.
The State Attorney's office is not filing charges against the Iron Order MC prospect, Kristopher Stone, who shot and killed Zach Tipton. Justifiable homicide & justifiable use of deadly force by a citizen is the ruling.
The report is 10 pages long and it outlines the investigation into the shooting and identifies many of the witnesses who were interviewed.
I have saved the PDF into JPEG's for those who wish to read the State Attorney's findings, please watch the page numbers at the bottom of the images as Blogger makes it tough to get things in order.
There is also video to go with the report.
The 2 videos that accompany the report have been edited for time (IE - when the Black Pistons park their bikes and then walk to the Iron Order members takes about 4 minutes - that has been edited)
The first video is the TV report/Press Conference presentation:
This second video is less edited:
I will sum the report up for you:
The Black Pistons - 7 of them ride by members of the Iron Order MC and go park their bikes.
A few minutes later, three members of the Black Pistons walk towards the IO MC members, two from the front and one from behind.
Kris Stone was hit in the back of the head by Zachariah Tipton, while he had been talking to one of the Black Piston members who met him face on. A fight ensues that lasts about 10 seconds.
During this time, other members of the Black Pistons are approaching the fight.
Kris Stone pulls his weapon and fires, killing Zachariah Tipton. The other Two Black Piston members do not provide aid to their brother, in fact they flee the immediate area. Some members reportedly return a few minutes later to remove Zachariah's cut.
According to police, Zachariah Tipton had three knives, ammunition and a gun holster on him but his gun was not found. He also had brass knuckles and a mouth guard and was still wearing his motorcycle helmet and riding gloves. During his autopsy it was noted that his hands had injuries consistent of someone who had been throwing punches.
Also according to the report, other members of the Black Pistons were also thought to be wearing mouth guards and were seen to be removing them and either rings or brass knuckles although authorities cannot be 100% sure what they were removing.
From all indications this was a planned attack by the Black Pistons.
Also according to the report, Kristopher Stone, the shooter is a combat medic who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Mr. Stone had suffered blows and kicks to his head, his nose was broken and he had urinated himself during the attack. His hands showed no sign of having thrown punches.
In this case, the Iron Order Motorcycle Club is NOT the club who instigated the fight, it was clearly unprovoked and the Black Pistons were obviously the aggressors.
This is what it means to be a three piece patch wearing club member.
If you wear a three piece patch, although your club is reportedly a law abiding club, there will come a time when you will be called out and forced to defend your cut and your right to wear it.
Are you ready?
In this case, the aggressor dies.
As in all fights, the outcome could have been much different.
If you would like the PDF so you can read it, contact me and I'll be happy to send you a copy.
What say you?
Have a fantastic Saturday and if you are blessed to be living somewhere where snow does not cover the ground, I hope you are riding!
As many of you know, the last year has been very challenging. The lawsuit launched by the people of Sturgis North/Canada has been pressing to say the least. But...this community has supported me emotionally and financially, helping me to keep our community newspaper going and all of the rider support tools we offer up and running by ensuring the business didn't have to pay the lawyer too much.
This lawsuit has had so many twists and turns and it has been trying, tiring, time consuming and discouraging.
For the time being I have decided not to move forward with defending myself since the other side has not been communicating with my attorney and leaving the suit in limbo anyway. I will resume the defense once the business is in the position to better pay a lawyer to do so, if I need to.
Since all communications had stopped, I took matters into my own hands and went to the BC Securities hearing for Mr. Sasseville this past week and I was finally able to meet with Mr. Sasseville's attorney face to face and have a chat. I presented the attorney with the consent to dismiss orders for the other four parties who are also in a legal limbo and myself.
If all goes well and the other parties sign off, this case could be on its way to being over.
If not, at least the other parties know that I am not scared to meet them face to face and they know I will move forward at a later time of my choosing to force a resolution if needs be.
So, while not OVER, for now the pressure and grief are over, at least for a little while and there is hope that an end could really be in sight!
My final legal bill for this portion of the case was $3,490.00, right now I still owe about $2,200. Thanks to Sam Henderson of Eyecandy Custom Cycles, I have another $800 to put against that bill!
Eyecandy Custom Cycles in Smithers BC had done customization on a bike for the people suing me and as a result, he had a set of custom rims and brakes to sell. He did so through an online auction which raised $800. So thank you Sam, I am so deeply appreciative of the support!
I am now blessed to announce that I have another small business stepping up to help me get this "final" bill off my plate!
Donald from BigBlue Lifts is putting $25 from every lift sold through the ad below into my defence fund!
So, not only do you get FREE SHIPPING anywhere in Canada, but my defence fund gets a $25 shot in the arm when you tell Donald that I sent you!
So, if you are in need for a motorcycle lift that has a small footprint with HUGE lifting capability, check out www.bigbluincanada.com and then call Donald and remember to say "BELT DRIVE BETTY" sent me, so you get free shipping and my defence fund gets a $25 shot in the arm!
I simply can't say thank you enough to everyone who is helping me get through this.
There are so many of you to thank.
There are no words that can express my gratitude.
Thank you community, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Today our nation grieves with the Cirillo Family, the Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces and the city of Hamilton.
As I write this I am watching the funeral procession to Christchurch Cathedral, watching as honours, normally bestowed to leaders of state and military are bestowed upon a young Corporal. A message of strength, unity, love and commitment being sent around the world.
The Cirillo family has allowed we Canadians to adopt him as our son. They have allowed us to grieve with them in a very overpowering way.
His funeral happened swiftly, only 6 days from giving his life for his country.
His family has allowed/welcomed so much sharing about Nathan on Facebook and in the media.
Patrice Vincent however, well, his family is grieving in a different way and has asked for privacy and so far, everyone has respected their wishes.
While I understand their very personal loss, I feel a tad cheated by their decision. I would like to feel that I knew Warrant Officer Vincent in the way I have come to know Nathan Cirillo, through his family, friends and colleagues, but sadly, I do not. No where can personal photos be found, very few stories about him shared and no Facebook page to share on.
Patrice Vincent died last Monday and will be buried on November 1st in Longueuil QC.
I can only imagine the pain of these two families.
Though they both grieve deeply, they do so in a different way, a way that must be respected.
I just hope, that when they are ready, the family of Patrice Vincent will allow us to show them how deeply we feel their loss and how appreciative of his service and sacrifice we truly are.
There is not much else we can offer them and I hope they know we offer it, but we respect their wishes.
I also want to take a moment to remember the service of the unnamed soldier who was injured in the same attack as Patrice Vincent lost his life. I hope that he too, will one day, allow we Canadians to embrace him, and let him know how thankful we are for all of the blessings we have as Canadians because of the service of the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces.
In about 25 minutes a funeral for a young man takes place, I hope you take 1 minute to pay him and all of our fallen a word of thanks and respect.
Yesterday my Canada changed forever, but it is far from the first time that Canada has changed due to homegrown terrorism.
During a discussion with friends over the shooting of an unarmed Canadian soldier, Cpl. Cirillo, at the tomb of the unknown soldier near Parliament Hill and the running down of a Canadian soldier in Quebec, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, we talked about the FLQ crisis and how that homegrown terrorism had changed Canada.
From 1963 to 1970, the Front de libération du Québec, the FLQ, terrorized English speaking Canadians in Quebec through a series of bombings, kidnappings and murder.
They were our first true homegrown terrorists and how the Liberal government of the day under Peirre Elliot Trudeau handled the FLQ crisis was to invoke the War Measures Act (today that act is called the Emergency Preparedness Act) at the request of then premier of Quebec, Robert Bourassa and Mayor of Montreal Jean Drapeau.
From October 16th 1970 until January 5th 1971, much of the province of Quebec and the city of Ottawa were in lock down, virtually a war zone.
The removing of civil liberties that transpired during those days saw many people arrested wrongfully and police officials were heavily criticized for their abuse of authority and detaining people without cause.
The FLQ crisis is an important lesson in home grown terrorism, not just how it starts but how government deals with it.
There will always be people who want to FORCE their viewpoints, their religious or political ideals on others. There will always be people looking for the vulnerable, the angry; to convert and further their causes, to do their dirty work.
Radical Islam, while a huge problem around the world, is but an outlet that teaches us how broken our systems are world wide. The disenfranchised of our country and others, those looking for a place to belong are finding the outlet for their anger, frustration and hopelessness in radical groups like IS, the Islamic State.
It is the same scenario that plays out with street gangs and who and how they recruit.
Islam is, in my view, far more than a religion. It is a political, societal, economic, justice, crime and punishment system. In other words, a religious government.
Islam is very tribal with various sects, none of whom can agree on Islam's principles, history or ideology. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam)
Sunni - The largest denomination in Islam is Sunni Islam, which makes up 75%–90% of all Muslims.[9] Sunni Muslims also go by the name Ahl as-Sunnah which means "people of the tradition [of Muhammad]"
Shi'ite - Shia Islam has several branches, the largest of which is the Twelvers, followed by Zaidis and Ismailis.
Sufis - Sufism (Tasawwuf) is a mystical-ascetic approach to Islam that seeks to find divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God.
Salafi - Self-described Salafis believe they are Sunni Muslims, while traditionalist Sunni critics claim that Salafis are the same as Wahhabis
Ahmad[229] that began in India in 1889 and is practiced by over ten million[230] Muslims around the world.
Non-denominational Muslims are Muslims who do not restrict their religious affiliation to any particular branch of Islam.
The Ibadi is a sect that dates back to the early days of Islam and is a branch of kharijite. Unlike most Kharijite groups, Ibadism does not regard sinful Muslims as unbelievers.
Mahdavia is an Islamic sect that believes in a 15th-century mahdi, Muhammad Jaunpuri
The Quranists are Muslims who generally reject the Hadith.
The sad truth is that these people have been fighting and disagreeing, creating divisiveness and killing each other since the dawn of time. Peace is not something these people are familiar with, nor are they familiar with the concepts of acceptance, or tolerance.
The hatred, misunderstandings, differences in opinions and values in countries where Islam is part of the fabric are too great of a chasm to bridge. They have gone on too long and run too deep. Generation after generation of the peoples in these countries have only known hatred and fighting.
Like others who are disenfranchised, who are vulnerable to radical ideas, the two Canadians who reportedly converted to Islam and then carried out crimes against our country are no different in their weakness and illness than the young man who killed the mounties in Moncton or the young man who killed fellow students in Calgary.
They are no different than the young men who created the FLQ Crisis.
Sadly, there are people who are born in this country who feel marginalized, left out, forgotten and hopeless. Mental illness is one of the biggest challenges this country, this world faces.
We need to get far better at helping the mentally ill and the disconnected youth of this country.
These people are vulnerable to radical ideologies.
As a nation, we cannot falter in protecting our citizens and the rights and freedoms we hold dear as Canadians.
I believe it is time to get smart about terrorism, world wide and home grown.
If a Canadian goes to fight with IS or any other terror group, they should not be allowed to return to Canada to spread their hate. They should loose their Canadian Citizenship.
Our government should never allow Sharia Law in any form, no matter how watered down, to be adopted or accepted by any court in our country as it goes against everything we as a nation have evolved to. The treatment of women under Sharia Law in particular, should never be written into the fabric of our national laws or our constitution.
It is divisive and barbaric and it makes the advances of women and their rights as humans in this country null and void unless the protections for the rights of women are available to all women in this country. If one wants to follow Sharia Law, they should live in countries that accept that law.
If they want to live in Canada, they need to follow the laws that govern Canada and Canadian citizens.
My heart breaks for the families and friends of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent killed in Quebec and Cpl. Cirillo killed in Ottawa. My heart goes out to our military and their families.
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
The changes Canada will experience this time because of the acts of two Canadians will hopefully make Canada a stronger and better country, at least that is my prayer.
In spite of being at logger heads with some of the 1% clubs over the Iron Order MC and their right to exist, and the fact that the Canadian Members conduct themselves differently - apparently, from some of their US counterparts....
Ttoday, I can unequivocally state that I am proud of and filled with respect for some 1% members today.
There are two 1% Motorcycle Clubs who have members that have joined the fight against the Islamic State; one MC as fighters and the other as humanitarians.
Members of the Median Empire MC from Cologne Germany as humanitarians have gone to Syria to provide aid and members of No Surrender MC in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Breda in Holland have gone to Turkey to take up arms against ISIS according to two different news reports linked in the respective clubs named above.
As a female, the spread of radical Islam and the invocation of Sharia Law in many places and the brutality exhibited by ISIS, is nothing short of terrifying.
When I think that my rights as a female infidel to exist, much less speak my mind would not only be gone, but that I would be annihilated; I would be dead because of who I am and the fact that I reject radical Islam (followers of Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim AKA Muhammad).
Our governments in Canada, the US and Great Britain need to stop the spread of Sharia Law in our own countries. They need to take a stand for our rights and freedoms instead of selling our identities as countries, nations down the tubes.
They need to stand up for the rights of women of ALL religions, all political backgrounds and all nationalities, but sadly, Sharia Law is gaining toe holds in the legal and political systems of these countries.
To see men who are reviled because they wear the cut of a 1% club step up and be prepared to defend the rights of infidels around the world, even mine...makes my heart swell with hope, gratitude and respect.
I do not care what truly motivated the men of these 1% motorcycle clubs to take action and join the Kurds. It could be ego, it could be the adrenaline rush, it could be their former military service (assuming there is any), it could be heritage and familial connections - it could be simply that they also want to stop the brutality of IS.
These men are intelligent enough to know the personal risk they take and yet, they took it.
I want to thank these men for helping the Kurds, for having the stones to risk it all. Their motivations mean nothing - their actions mean everything.
At least that's how I see it from a female's point of view.
My grandmother, Barbara Avis McColeman used to say; "There is a little bit of bad in the best of us and a little bit of good in the worst of us." It is an understanding that I have done my best to live by.
No matter what ill or good in life they may have perpetrated as individuals or as members of an MC, their actions as men in this situation, make them heroes to me.
I pray for a day when we can all learn to share this world, our countries, cities and towns with civility and respect. When oil, politics and religion don't divide us in harsh and tyrannical ways.
Until then, I am happy to support those who lay it on the line to support and defend the rights and freedoms of those who can't support and defend themselves.
To the men of the No Surrender MC - thank you for joining the military units of the Kurds.
Thank you for laying it on the line. You deserve the same respect our troops do.
Thank you to the Median Empire MC and their humanitarian efforts in the refugee camp called Camp Arabat. The Median Empire MC has been helping Kurdish refugees in a Syrian camp with much needed food and medical supplies. I will send $5 from every patch I sell to help buy medical supplies.
