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BLOOD RUNS
or
... 46 & 2
Motorcycle
gangs have been in existence since shortly after World War
II. The legendary “outlaw” clubs are still around
and are just as mean as they’ve always been. Today’s
bikers find themselves dealing with issues similar to those
members in the past — drugs, prostitution, illegal fire
arms. motor vehicle theft and assorted crimes of
violence.
Structurally, outlaw motorcycle gangs
are comprised of local chapters and a “Mother Club,”
which supervises the local chapters. Each local chapter has a
Mother Club advisor who, in effect, exercises direct
supervision over the membership. As the overseer, the Mother
Club establishes and enforces policy for the organization,
schedules mandatory “runs,” and has final
authority over club matters.
One characteristic of
outlaw motorcycle gangs is their use of wives and girlfriends
in their activities. They also use women to gather
information that may be useful to the gang. Females
affiliated with an outlaw motorcycle gang are also expected
to engage in illegal activities, such as go-go dancing or
topless dancing.
Most gang members have little regard
for their women as human beings. Often referred to as “Old
Lady, Mama, or Sheep,” females are considered
subservient and are expected to cater to the whims of the
men. While a women known as an “Old Lady” is the
wife or girlfriend of a member (and is spoken for), “Mamas”
or “Sheep” are available to all members, usually
for exploitation.
Aside from recognized involvement in
tattoo parlors, auto body shops and related motor vehicle
businesses, the outlaw bikers’ interest in other
legitimate areas seems to be on the rise as recent crack
downs by law enforcement officials have forced many of these
“outlaws” to resort to new ways of generating
income. New members - though quirky they may be -
consider the pharmaceutical drug industry, the government war
machine and the gas companies as the ways to make money in
today’s ever changing society.
However
this goes against their anti-social mantras of the past and
works right into the mantras, “Live to ride, ride to
live” and “Ride hard, live free”.
Due to successful interdiction efforts by law
enforcement, coupled with the diminished demand for illegal
drugs and the high price of gas, outlaw motorcycle gangs are
generally considered by many an organized crime force in
decline. Club advisors and some of the loyal followers of the
46 gangs operating in the Southwest have met at The Lodge to
sort out their “differences” and determine the
“directions” they should go.
United by a
love of powerful motorcycles, the open road and the spirit of
the drifting American outlaw, these “outlaws”
live by their own code of ethics and laws. Bound together
through the principle of loyalty toward the organization and
their fellow members these individuals will do anything for
their “biker brothers” — ANYTHING ... and
murder is just one of those necessary evils.
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