The Texas Department of Public Safety Gang Assessment agency profiles gangs and their activities to assess their impact on society as a whole. In the mid eighties it was amended to include bikers. More so, bikers in motorcycle clubs.
I believe this is unfair and unjust as well as bias treatment of tax paying citizens who chose to express their freedoms, as guaranteed by the constitution of the United States of America, by riding motorcycles and joining clubs.
To paint us all with such a broad brush due to the acts of a small minority is just not right.
I ask that you read about this injustice and sign this petition to exclude regular motorcycle clubs from the Gang Assessment list in the state, counties, cities and towns of Texas. I say if law enforcement has an issue with some folks then focus on THOSE INDIVIDUALS and leave the rest of us alone.
Thank you.
Panhead Bob
Updates
June 23, 2015
The feedback from fellow riders confirms the depth of this issue across the state. I am currently organizing the documentation to present to the department.
June 23, 2015
The momentum is undeniable now. People are finally seeing this unfair branding for what it really is.
14 Comments
First, take the MC's out of the classification of gangs. Second, profiling is not a foolproof scientific evaluation. Thirdly, profiling motorcyclists as gang members or criminals goes against the innocent until proven guilty principle. Jurist, Sir William Blackstone's principle that:"It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer" has been a principle of law for eons. Historically, this message, that government and the courts must err on the side of innocence has remained constant. When did this message so drastically change? Did George Bush's and Dick Cheney's Patriot Act influence this change? In a free society does a "Patriot Act" protect its people or does it allow for the rampant policing of its citizens?
I don't think Motorcycle CLUBS should be classified as gangs. It is offensive to a lot of people, myself included.
we are Brothers & Sister who love to ride and we stand by wat we belive in ,,,,we are family
we are familia that take care of each other and riding doesn't make us a gang we are and always will be a M.C United we stand
I believe this is extremely unfair. Motorcycle clubs are not gangs nor are their members criminals!!
We are not gang members
We are not gang members
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The Texas Department of Public Safety Gang Assessment agency profiles gangs and their activities to assess their impact on society as a whole. In the mid eighties it was amended to include bikers. More so, bikers in motorcycle clubs.
I believe this is unfair and unjust as well as bias treatment of tax paying citizens who chose to express their freedoms, as guaranteed by the constitution of the United States of America, by riding motorcycles and joining clubs.
To paint us all with such a broad brush due to the acts of a small minority is just not right.
I ask that you read about this injustice and sign this petition to exclude regular motorcycle clubs from the Gang Assessment list in the state, counties, cities and towns of Texas. I say if law enforcement has an issue with some folks then focus on THOSE INDIVIDUALS and leave the rest of us alone.
Thank you.
Panhead Bob
Updates
June 23, 2015
The feedback from fellow riders confirms the depth of this issue across the state. I am currently organizing the documentation to present to the department.
June 23, 2015
The momentum is undeniable now. People are finally seeing this unfair branding for what it really is.
14 Comments
I totally agree with Panhead Bob, and reiterate his argument that bikers and Club members are not "gangs" and therefore should not be profiled. Bikers have rights as citizens, and those rights include joining clubs. It is unconstitutional to profile innocent US citizens that have done nothing wrong. It amazes me that this government continually expresses that we "can not profile Muslims" even though every act of terrorism has been a Muslim, yet we continually illegally paint bikers with a broad brush. Prosecute individuals based on their actions, and leave clubs and their members alone!
First, take the MC's out of the classification of gangs. Second, profiling is not a foolproof scientific evaluation. Thirdly, profiling motorcyclists as gang members or criminals goes against the innocent until proven guilty principle. Jurist, Sir William Blackstone's principle that:"It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer" has been a principle of law for eons. Historically, this message, that government and the courts must err on the side of innocence has remained constant. When did this message so drastically change? Did George Bush's and Dick Cheney's Patriot Act influence this change? In a free society does a "Patriot Act" protect its people or does it allow for the rampant policing of its citizens?
I don't think Motorcycle CLUBS should be classified as gangs. It is offensive to a lot of people, myself included.
we are Brothers & Sister who love to ride and we stand by wat we belive in ,,,,we are family
we are familia that take care of each other and riding doesn't make us a gang we are and always will be a M.C United we stand
I believe this is extremely unfair. Motorcycle clubs are not gangs nor are their members criminals!!
We are not gang members
We are not gang members
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I totally agree with Panhead Bob, and reiterate his argument that bikers and Club members are not "gangs" and therefore should not be profiled. Bikers have rights as citizens, and those rights include joining clubs. It is unconstitutional to profile innocent US citizens that have done nothing wrong. It amazes me that this government continually expresses that we "can not profile Muslims" even though every act of terrorism has been a Muslim, yet we continually illegally paint bikers with a broad brush. Prosecute individuals based on their actions, and leave clubs and their members alone!