A great thread! I have been reading with interest and learning a whole new perspective on the biker club known as the Hells Angels. (Actually I have met members before but I want to cast all preconceived notions aside.)
Well let's see the points for and against just saying, “Hey, cops! Leave those guys alone!” (Might make a nice Pink Floyd variation from, 'Another Brick in the Wall!' Here are some of the points defending this venerable subgroup of our society:
Pro:
- When it comes to crime in our society we should accept that we will always have it so should accept the Hells Angels as the criminals of choice.
- They are preferable because statistics say they kill less of a number of innocent victims than others recognized as the criminal elements of society.
- Killings are usually done against rival gang members and may help to get a patch but that's okay because they try not to shoot any of us in the process.
- If we just leave them alone and make it easy for them to carry on business (i.e. legalization of whatever) their presence will protect us against other violent criminals. Beats paying taxes to sustain a police force and criminal justice system. No way these guys will ever make mistakes like we see in the established criminal justice system. That's a relief!
- If in turf wars or whatever an innocent child is killed, word comes down from the top and the errant member is killed and his remains dumped in the river. There is a code of some sort which determines right from wrong and dispenses a true and just consequence. Since this code determines who is to live and who is to die we presume it covers all transgressions even lesser ones and never errs. If any of you ever get into a tight situation not of your own choosing don't go looking for a lawyer eh!
Now this does not cover the pros and cons of the drug trade, as to be quite honest, I couldn't quote you street value on anything to save my life. Nor could I discuss with any knowledge the ins and outs of the day to day workings of the business. In any event the one consolation that I can take away from this is that if I ever get caught in the crossfire between the HA and whoever, my relatives will have the satisfaction of finding a body floating in the river the following week. Kudos to the boys!
Hard to know what to think eh? Are these a positive force for good in our lives or are we the ones with the illusions as to how our social structure should be defined. Maybe it wiil take a bit more thought...................
