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If you claim association with what is commonly known as an Outlaw motorcycle club, you should know to expect additional scrutiny. Whether it's called a gang or club is irrelevant if it is a known organized criminal organization.

I'm not condoning or condeming you or how you were treated but I am saying if you advertise being affiliated with such an organization, don't expect any slack when it comes to law enforcement.

Hope you get it all worked out.

Richbirdhunter wrote:When I see a motorcycle "club" I don't think they're on there way to a bible study.

Funny... AFAIK, I only know one person who's in a motorcycle club; my family met him at church, he's very public about his faith, and he's led many many bible studies.

(Yes, I realize my experience probably isn't normal)

Richbirdhunter wrote:If you look like thug you get treated like a thug. I'm not being disrespectful, I don't know you I've never seen you but when I see a motorcycle "club" I give them a lot of room. Just like I would the bloods "club" or the crips "club". When I see a motorcycle "club" I don't think they're on there way to a bible study.

My small group Bible-study leader showed up last night on his Harley, wearing his colors (he leads it, we host it). I have no idea of how many patches he has. What I do know is that he also evangelizes at Sturgis each year, and about a dozen people committed their lives to Christ this year after meeting with him.

Just sayin'.........

The Annoyed Man wrote:

Richbirdhunter wrote:If you look like thug you get treated like a thug. I'm not being disrespectful, I don't know you I've never seen you but when I see a motorcycle "club" I give them a lot of room. Just like I would the bloods "club" or the crips "club". When I see a motorcycle "club" I don't think they're on there way to a bible study.

My small group Bible-study leader showed up last night on his Harley, wearing his colors (he leads it, we host it). I have no idea of how many patches he has. What I do know is that he also evangelizes at Sturgis each year, and about a dozen people committed their lives to Christ this year after meeting with him.

Just sayin'.........

Then they all must be good, because we live in a time that if 100% of a group of people aren't bad then none of them are.

There is a whole world I know nothing about.

I was a Deputy for 15 years, Bexar County, I cant remember something like this .
There is something else going on .
Was this in Ft Worth proper or a small municipality in the area ??

Richbirdhunter wrote:If you look like thug you get treated like a thug. I'm not being disrespectful, I don't know you I've never seen you but when I see a motorcycle "club" I give them a lot of room. Just like I would the bloods "club" or the crips "club". When I see a motorcycle "club" I don't think they're on there way to a bible study.

I understand why you say that, and it's probably not what you really mean. Books and covers are sometimes in odd juxtaposition.

I ride (with weapons, yay!) and I've owned a Harley in the past. Even in working man's attire I doubt I'd be mistaken for a stereotype bloodthirsty biker. In a cut, sporting the biker look, maybe so - but I would still be me and no threat to anyone.

There are two Cossacks in town I've done business with prior to knowing they were Cossacks. In both cases I found almost obstinate honesty. Both of them actively want the people they work for to have no reservations about fair play or honesty. They do a lot of work on rent houses, and that puts them in proximity of other folks' property without supervision. There is never any question about integrity with those contractors - they are honest even when nobody's looking. They don't want to lose their customers over thievery, and I will continue to use their services.

All Cossacks aren't so honest, just like all knitting hobbyists aren't law abiding.

Bikers are generally good people, just like shooters or small sailboat enthusiasts are good people. A common healthy hobby bonds people in ways that strengthen the spirit.

Completely unrelated to that, there are rotten bikers, murderous shooters, and psychopathic small sailboat enthusiasts. Since a rotten biker might not know the difference between a head and a halyard, something any self-respecting psychopathic sailor would know, the common element in bad people is the criminal mindset, not sailboats or bikes.

And don't get me started on sadistic knitting hobbyists. Those needles! They should be outlawed!

treadlightly wrote:

Richbirdhunter wrote:If you look like thug you get treated like a thug. I'm not being disrespectful, I don't know you I've never seen you but when I see a motorcycle "club" I give them a lot of room. Just like I would the bloods "club" or the crips "club". When I see a motorcycle "club" I don't think they're on there way to a bible study.

I understand why you say that, and it's probably not what you really mean. Books and covers are sometimes in odd juxtaposition.

I ride (with weapons, yay!) and I've owned a Harley in the past. Even in working man's attire I doubt I'd be mistaken for a stereotype bloodthirsty biker. In a cut, sporting the biker look, maybe so - but I would still be me and no threat to anyone.

There are two Cossacks in town I've done business with prior to knowing they were Cossacks. In both cases I found almost obstinate honesty. Both of them actively want the people they work for to have no reservations about fair play or honesty. They do a lot of work on rent houses, and that puts them in proximity of other folks' property without supervision. There is never any question about integrity with those contractors - they are honest even when nobody's looking. They don't want to lose their customers over thievery, and I will continue to use their services.

All Cossacks aren't so honest, just like all knitting hobbyists aren't law abiding.

Bikers are generally good people, just like shooters or small sailboat enthusiasts are good people. A common healthy hobby bonds people in ways that strengthen the spirit.

Completely unrelated to that, there are rotten bikers, murderous shooters, and psychopathic small sailboat enthusiasts. Since a rotten biker might not know the difference between a head and a halyard, something any self-respecting psychopathic sailor would know, the common element in bad people is the criminal mindset, not sailboats or bikes.

And don't get me started on sadistic knitting hobbyists. Those needles! They should be outlawed!

These are good points and I appreciate them. When I see knitters, I see grandmas. This is not a threat. When I'm at the Marina and see sailboats I don't see pirates. This is not a threat. When I see bikers in a group I see a gang. This is a threat. We make decisions every day about safety. Bikers in general are not an inviting group.

Richbirdhunter wrote:
These are good points and I appreciate them. When I see knitters, I see grandmas. This is not a threat. When I'm at the Marina and see sailboats I don't see pirates. This is not a threat. When I see bikers in a group I see a gang. This is a threat. We make decisions every day about safety. Bikers in general are not an inviting group.

Some of the nicest folks I have I have encountered have been bikers. Now sailors, they are just a bunch of Sperry wearing drunks.

To the OP, sounds like you are on the right track. Whether based on what you are riding, your skin color, your age, the fact that you are an out of towner in a small town, or any other factors, being discriminated against is never fun.

The 1% patch comes from the AMA's comment many years ago that only 1% of all motorcycle riders are outlaws. I think this pretty much still holds true today. Even some in outlaw clubs are not bad people but associate with some bad people.
Just because I ride a Harley, wear a vest with patches doesn't make me an outlaw biker (if I were I probably wouldn't have a CHL). In fact, I am about as far from an outlaw as you can get. I do ride with a Christian motorcycle group as well as with a Masonic motorcycle group but by no means are we outlaw nor have I been pulled over by more that 1 LEO at a time. I agree with what others said, there must have been something going on and they were being cautious.
Not much different than being made a bad guy because I carry a gun. Guilty until proven innocent--liberal thinking.

search.php?keywords=Shooting+at+twin+pe ... mit=Search

There's a 30+ page thread with the same discussion as we're getting into now.

Richbirdhunter wrote:

treadlightly wrote:

Richbirdhunter wrote:If you look like thug you get treated like a thug. I'm not being disrespectful, I don't know you I've never seen you but when I see a motorcycle "club" I give them a lot of room. Just like I would the bloods "club" or the crips "club". When I see a motorcycle "club" I don't think they're on there way to a bible study.

I understand why you say that, and it's probably not what you really mean. Books and covers are sometimes in odd juxtaposition.

I ride (with weapons, yay!) and I've owned a Harley in the past. Even in working man's attire I doubt I'd be mistaken for a stereotype bloodthirsty biker. In a cut, sporting the biker look, maybe so - but I would still be me and no threat to anyone.

There are two Cossacks in town I've done business with prior to knowing they were Cossacks. In both cases I found almost obstinate honesty. Both of them actively want the people they work for to have no reservations about fair play or honesty. They do a lot of work on rent houses, and that puts them in proximity of other folks' property without supervision. There is never any question about integrity with those contractors - they are honest even when nobody's looking. They don't want to lose their customers over thievery, and I will continue to use their services.

All Cossacks aren't so honest, just like all knitting hobbyists aren't law abiding.

Bikers are generally good people, just like shooters or small sailboat enthusiasts are good people. A common healthy hobby bonds people in ways that strengthen the spirit.

Completely unrelated to that, there are rotten bikers, murderous shooters, and psychopathic small sailboat enthusiasts. Since a rotten biker might not know the difference between a head and a halyard, something any self-respecting psychopathic sailor would know, the common element in bad people is the criminal mindset, not sailboats or bikes.

And don't get me started on sadistic knitting hobbyists. Those needles! They should be outlawed!

These are good points and I appreciate them. When I see knitters, I see grandmas. This is not a threat. When I'm at the Marina and see sailboats I don't see pirates. This is not a threat. When I see bikers in a group I see a gang. This is a threat. We make decisions every day about safety. Bikers in general are not an inviting group.

Hey, I knit, I'm not a grandma, yet. I am law abiding though
but don't mess with me when I'm sewing.............lot's of sharp pointy objects at arms reach, I'm definitely a threat when I'm sewing

If someone advertises they are a bad guy by sporting a 1%'er patch, do you assume he is really a good guy or do you accept that he earned that patch?

If someone advertises they are a bad dude, I think it's safe to assume they are a bad dude. Otherwise, why would they advertise it? Many people in an OMC may not be a full fledged member that has earned their 1%'er patch yet but they may be working up to it and the next encounter with someone/cop could just be that opportunity to earn that patch.

Why are people that hangout with, dress like and advertise they are associated with an OMC surprised they are treated like a potential threat or criminal? If the OP's MC isn't an outlaw motorcycle club, we wouldn't know since he didn't share with us the name of his club, I agree he should get his gun back without hassle or delay. How the cops handled the stop and situation I am not going to second guess because I do not know from their perspective what they were seeing and thinking.

Richbirdhunter wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:

Richbirdhunter wrote:If you look like thug you get treated like a thug. I'm not being disrespectful, I don't know you I've never seen you but when I see a motorcycle "club" I give them a lot of room. Just like I would the bloods "club" or the crips "club". When I see a motorcycle "club" I don't think they're on there way to a bible study.

My small group Bible-study leader showed up last night on his Harley, wearing his colors (he leads it, we host it). I have no idea of how many patches he has. What I do know is that he also evangelizes at Sturgis each year, and about a dozen people committed their lives to Christ this year after meeting with him.

Just sayin'.........

Then they all must be good, because we live in a time that if 100% of a group of people aren't bad then none of them are.

You're putting words in my mouth. At no time did I say that they all must be good. What I am saying is that you can't ALWAYS tell the book by its cover. Personally, I think that big colorful tats, body piercings, and freaky hair are off-putting, and it is not something I would do to myself. But I have also known some amazing Christians who fit that mold. My point being that if you had seen my small group leader and some of his "bikers for Christ" friends riding by and had given them a wide berth because they don't look like your definition of an "upstanding citizens", then you would have been judging them unfairly.

No doubt SOME bikers are trash, and that reputation is well-earned. Also no doubt that some of that trash are dangerous, criminally minded people..... and that reputation is well earned. But that doesn't mean that everybody on a chopped big inch Harley wearing a vest with patches on it is a dangerous, criminally minded person. So yeah, when you unfairly judge someone according to their appearance, you are being disrespectful, IMHO.

YMMV.

OTH, if the OP is riding with a known group of trouble-makers, then yeah, they shouldn't be surprised at how they are treated. Since the OP has not identified the group he was riding with, then any conclusions drawn here are mere speculation.

I think you've already done the right thing, and there's not much we can provide in the way of advice. Hopefully your attorney can get results.

Between the Patriot Guard Riders and the Santa runs, the image of bikers is changing a bit. I'm surprised that the officers pushed it as far as they did. Obviously the arrest was the pretense for the search. Any judge worth sitting on the bench should throw that out immediately.