Another shooting

[Martinjmpr]

I don't pretend to know much about the "Outlaw Biker Culture" other than what I read (Hunter Thompson's "Hells Angels" is a very dated, but also very interesting, look at this phenomenon in its early days. It was Thompson's first book and IMO his best. He went downhill from there.)

But I've been riding since 1982 and you can't ride a road bike in the US without moving in some of the same circles, so I see these guys from time to time at gatherings like the Motorcycle Expo or at Sturgis and Daytona.

What I find interesting is the way that the "outlaw culture" has been adopted by the mainstream. Of course, this is nothing new - look at "gansta rap" and the "Narcocorridos" music out of Mexico. "Outlaw culture" has always been a hot commodity, but "biker culture" has almost become a worn out cliché.

The other thing I find interesting is that it seems like these actual "outlaw clubs" aren't really about riding motorcycles that much anyway. You see their choppers parked outside of a bar at 2:00 in the afternoon on a nice day. The guys you see doing the long distance rides or spending months at a time on the road aren't these "outlaws" they're usually old retired guys on Gold Wings or BMWs.

Although many aspects of "outlaw biker culture" have enjoyed widespread adoption among non-outlaws for decades, things like "choppers", loud pipes and leather vests covered with patches, the phenomenon of the actual "fake outlaw club" seems to be relatively recent one. That is, the groups that sport 3 piece patches or have "club nicknames", etc.

I honestly don't understand that one. It seems bizarre to me that grown adults, people with jobs and families, would put on a fake "cut" and strut around like a badass "outlaw" on the weekends. And the notion of a "law enforcement MC" seems even weirder. "Outlaw-Cops?" Huh?

Maybe it's like some of these "Airsoft" guys who spend thousands of $$ on "Operator" gear and form up fake military units for their little Airsoft games? That strikes me as bizarre too. I mean, yeah, I used to "play Army" too. When I was a KID!

[68Charger]

Only Harley I ever owned was an Ironhead- it came with a fender sticker that said "It used to be about motorcycles, now it's just a fuckin' fashion show"
Sold it when I had a friend that was begging to buy it... to be his first Harley, too.

I try to keep it about motorcycles... and just enjoy riding.

[wctriumph]

National Council of Clubs Responds to Denver Motorcycle Expo Shooting

February 1, 2016

Press Release From The National Council Of Clubs
RE: Colorado Motorcycle Expo Shooting
The National Council of Clubs, an organization dedicated to protecting the political and legal interests of hundreds of motorcycle clubs and thousands of their members nationwide, is issuing the following statement related to Saturday’s shooting at the Colorado Motorcycle Expo in Denver:

Various media sources have reported that a confrontation between two motorcycle clubs, the Mongols and the Iron Order, resulted in at least one confirmed dead and at least 7 injured during the Colorado Motorcycle Expo Saturday, January 30th. The National Council of Clubs is deeply disturbed by such unnecessary acts of violence at any event, particularly one as well supported by the community over the years as the Colorado Motorcycle Expo, the largest indoor motorcycle swap-meet in the country.

Council of Clubs attorney Wade Eldridge was present at the expo and in fact witnessed much of the confrontation. Mr. Eldridge says that he was present when he saw a crowd of Mongols and Iron Order, approximately a total of 20-30 individuals, gather inside the expo. According to Eldridge there was yelling and a verbal argument ensuing.

Mr. Eldridge then heard a gunshot. He saw an Iron Order member holding a handgun in his right hand with his right arm extended. According to Eldridge, he heard people shouting, “Put your gun away”. The Iron Order member then dropped his arm and pointed his weapon at the ground, says Eldridge. Eldridge says he reported what he saw to authorities on the scene. Eldridge then called 911 and reported what he saw.


Eldridge’s account is validated by this photo taken by a Council of Clubs participant that happened to be present when the conflict began. This photo was taken following the first shot fired, the source says. The photo shows a member of the Iron Order moving away from the crowd holding a gun in his right hand.

The gun is pointed forward. Eldridge has confirmed that the man in this photo is the same man he saw with a gun extended in his right hand. Eldridge says this man “is the same guy I saw.” This is also the same man identified by eyewitnesses, as reported by many media sources, as the member of the Iron Order that was questioned by police following the shooting.

In another photo provided by the same Council of Clubs participant, this same man, following the shooting, is pictured with another Iron Order member (who appears to be posing) and two law enforcement officers. He is not in handcuffs and is in fact being allowed to use a cell phone even though he is suspected of firing shots.




Stephen Stubbs, an attorney for the Mongols Motorcycle Club, stated that members of the Iron Order is predominately made up of police officers and taunted members of the Mongols into an argument that escalated into violence that led to the fatal shooting of a Mongols member.

John C. Whitfield, a lawyer and Iron Order member, confirmed to the Denver Post that Iron Order members include L.E.O.’s. Relating to this specific shooting, Whitfield told the Denver AP, “a Colorado Department of Corrections officer fired his gun during a weekend brawl at a Denver motorcycle show that left one dead and seven others injured.”
The Iron Order Motorcycle Club has been involved in a laundry list of confrontations around the country with other motorcycle clubs that have resulted in violence or death. For example, on June 26, 2014 Florida State Attorney Angela Corey refused to charge Iron Order prospect Kristopher Stone after he shot and killed Black Pistons patch holder Zachariah Tipton in Jacksonville Beach. Corey outrageously ruled the killing was justifiable homicide even though the Iron Order member shot the unarmed Black Pistons motorcycle club member in the face while only a few feet apart.

Iron Order members have not been held accountable for any of the violence or killings that they have been involved in. So far, the same holds true for the incident in Colorado. Police have told the Denver AP that “they have made no arrests and a Department of Corrections spokeswoman did not immediately return calls for comment.”
The Iron Order, which is an off-duty law enforcement officer based motorcycle club, is identified by the ATF to be an “Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.” (See, The ATF Report on OMG’s and the Military, 2014)

The Council of Clubs has obtained and reviewed intelligence that confirms that the Iron Order repeatedly diminishes the relationship between law enforcement and the community they are intended to serve and protect.

According to a 1% club member that was present and has attended the expo for the past 15 years,“There has never been a confrontation, so much as a fistfight. And many 1% organizations have attended including the Hells Angels, Sons of Silence, Bandidos, Outlaws, Mongols, and many others. There has never been a problem until a law enforcement club showed up. Never. It would be against an unwritten code.”
The Council of Clubs believes that law enforcement clubs involved in confrontations with motorcycle clubs are completely inconsistent with the intended mission of law enforcement and should not be condoned or protected by professional law enforcement and other government officials from culpability.

According to another member of a 1% motorcycle club present at the expo, “local and federal authorities that responded to the incident acted in a professional and respectful manor. Authorities contained the crime scene and did not harass or detain members of other motorcycle clubs that were present. Major 1% clubs evacuated the area to allow law enforcement to do their job. Although the expo was later canceled, initially the owner of the venue and law enforcement authorities invited uninvolved clubs back to the expo.”
The National Council of Clubs has a heightened concern with the general demeanor of some law enforcement member motorcycle clubs. The repeated public displays of violence by members of the Iron Order, combined with the conflict they infuse within society, as compared to the intended mission of law enforcement, should be a concern to all citizens, professional law enforcement and government officials everywhere.

The National Council of Clubs will continue to access information related to this incident and will stand by, ready for further comment.



Contact Information:
All inquiries should be emailed to media@councilofclubs.org and addressed to:
David Devereaux- Spokesperson -OR-
Jerry Theophilopoulos- Legal Counsel

[roberth]

Huh, no preferential treatment there.

[Irving]

Wow, in before the lock.

EDIT: That wasn't directed at roberth's post.

[Great-Kazoo]

In another photo provided by the same Council of Clubs participant, this same man, following the shooting, is pictured with another Iron Order member (who appears to be posing) and two law enforcement officers. He is not in handcuffs and is in fact being allowed to use a cell phone even though he is suspected of firing shots.

Maybe he's calling his attorney


taunted members of the Mongols into an argument that escalated into violence that led to the fatal shooting of a Mongols member.

BOO Fucking HOO. They're making fun of me. Fucking times have sure changed.. It's ok to intimidate someone. BUT.................... if someone looks at you . You get your butt chaffed.

Now if said IO wasn't man enough to back his play w/out a gun. He's fucked and deserves to be

[ray1970]

Now if said IO wasn't man enough to back his play w/out a gun. He's fucked and deserves to be

If that really is him in the photos he looks like the pilsburry dough boy.

[Great-Kazoo]

If that really is him in the photos he looks like the pilsburry dough boy.

Some .orgs recruit big guys as cannon fodder. Big on brawn slow on uptake. Just sayin. Either way it's a shitty thing when THE MC Event (one of it not ) the largest, gets shut down due to some chest thumping, posturing costumes.

Mother fucker. You wear the patch, you roll with it.
Handle your shit outside, away from posers and wannabe's. Give or take the beating. Walk away like a man, not a corpse

[cstone]

Handle your shit outside, away from posers and wannabe's. Give or take the beating. Walk away like a man, not a corpse

How many of life's problems would be solved with such simple advice?

When did MCs develop a lobbying arm (Council of Clubs) and have lawyers representing them?

[BPTactical]

When did MCs develop a lobbying arm (Council of Clubs) and have lawyers representing them?

When the first club incorporated and became a "Business".
Hells Angels IIRC.