7/13/09

Florida Servicemen must get respect, Florida's Capital City MUST GIVE IT TO THEM- HELP US!!!!


We have sent out a number of e-mails requesting citizens from all states be made aware of the shoddy treatment received by soldiers/veterans in the capital city of Florida and help us set things straight.

Below is the letter we have sent this time this date. Within it contains links that lead to other links that describe our ongoing battle with Tallahassee officials and requests that they set the record straight. They will not, they refuse, they blame each other and they flip flop.

Thank God our soldiers act with more honor than the officials we elect to represent us. Imagine if you would, Imagine if our soldiers acted with the same integrity of our public officials.  Feel free to use any or all of the letter below. With the address's. NO SURRENDER, NO COMPROMISE, NO RETREAT



fromr c
toCharlie.Crist@myflorida.com
ccJeff.Kottkamp@myflorida.com,
proctorb@leoncountyfl.gov,
Deslogeb@leoncountyfl.gov,
Daileyj@leoncountyfl.gov,
SummerlinL@leoncountyfl.gov,
bradyk@leoncountyfl.gov,
Jonesc@leoncountyfl.gov,
thaellc@leoncountyfl.gov,
campbell@leoncountyfl.gov
dateMon, Jul 13, 2009 at 9:48 PM
subjectGetting respect for veterans in the Florida Capital
mailed-bygmail.com
hide details 9:48 PM (8 minutes ago)
Reply
Follow up message
 Also sent to:
 mike.smith@wctv.tv
 http://tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=CUSTOMERSERVICE03
 http://www.talgov.com/email.cfm?id=commissioners
 http://www.talgov.com/tpd/
Honorable Governor Christ, After watching you send off the 779th we realized that you  may not be aware of the treatment our servicemen are getting here in the Capital City.  That the treatment received by the 779th may have just been a show put on by the Tallahassee Police Department for your honor. We have been working for a number of years now trying to get the Capital City to give the same respect to veterans given by Florida Communities and equal the respect the capital city gives to football players and on one occasion at least, a horse.

The Following links should make you aware of the current situation.

Marianna-PGR sends off 144th and we say bullshit to Capital of Florida and it's Lt. Governor, what wasn't reported

Tallahassee, Florida a State Capital where patriotism is dead.

It's shame we have yet to see a site such as this in Tallahassee.

http://blip.tv/play/AYGJ5h6YgmE


We have written the Tallahassee Police Chief and The Leon County Sheriff.  Both of whom have said they would provide escorts and then flip flopped.  You got an escort for the 779th. The 144th got an escort from Marianna to the Leon County line at which time the officer had to turn of his lights and motorcyclists had to take on the duties law enforcement should have assumed and does in most other Florida Counties.

You should also be aware that we have witnessed Alabama Troopers escorting football players through red lights in downtown Tallahassee. Yet a Florida officer escorting Florida servicemen must turn his lights off??? 

Where is the respect in THE action of that sir?  Where is the honor in that type of action or lack of action.

I am writing this in the hopes that you are not aware of this situation and that being made aware you will help to rectify what should have never been allowed to happen even once.

The Lt. Governor said he would look into this for us and get back to us. Since he did not ask how to contact us we felt we should write.

Will be forwarding this to everyone we can think of and posting on Bigbendbikersforfreedom.comhttp://www.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com/

We humbly await your response.

With respect

rc
Let Freedom ReignAdd to Technorati Favorites
--> Read more...

Posted by rc  

Post a Comment

7/11/09

Update: Heal a Nations Shame-Leave none Behind-POW-MIA


On 6-29-09 we posted the following:

YOU CAN HELP HEAL A NATIONS SHAME-POW-MIA

Support:

H. Res. 111: Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs
Full text of which can be found here, the operative words being:

RESOLUTION
Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.
Resolved, That there is established in the House of Representatives a select committee to be known as the Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.
FUNCTIONS

Our Post pointed out the following:

Since the 1950s the DOD has listed thousands of military personnel as missing in action. There are more than 2,600 American servicemen listed as MIA from the Vietnam War; approximately 8,900 from the Korean War; and an additional 80,000 from World War II. If one considers only the immediate family members missing servicemen, the number of people affected by the MIA tragedy is in the hundreds of thousands.Admittedly those numbers may be high. But then again they may not be because as one writer wrote:

"It is not conspiracy theory, not paranoid myth, not Rambo fantasy. It is only hard evidence of a national disgrace: American prisoners were left behind at the end of the Vietnam War. They were abandoned because six presidents and official Washington could not admit their guilty secret. They were forgotten because the press and most Americans turned away from all things that reminded them of Vietnam."[45] 
Wikipedia

And what is happening in congress relating to this issue and how you can help. Following is an update:


June has been a good month, going from a slow start bringing it up to 36 cosponsors for June. If your congressman/woman isn't on yet as a cosponsor call him again and make sure you speak with the staff person that handles military and POW/MIA matters. Those of us that work Capital Hill often have to call the offices 10 times until they sign on, once a week to help get this on the agenda to bring before the congressmen. Calling and speaking to whoever answers the phone isn't good enough, you could wind up getting a summer student or new staffer who doesn't convey your message as you would.
You Can Call Congress Toll Free at 1-866/727-4894. Ask the operator for your congressman, then ask for the military and POW/MIA staff person, tell them to have the congressman cosponsor, we need him to sign on now.

H. Res. 111 :06/26/09, 177 co-sponsors, D = 92 = 51.9%;     R = 84 =  47.1%
State
Cosponsors
111th Congress - 2009
D
R
100%
Alas
  1/1
Young
1
100%
AL
  7/2
Aderholt, Griffith
1
1
AR
  4/2
Boozman, Ross,
1
1
AZ
  8/1
Mitchell,
1
CA
 53/15
Rohrabacher, Schiff, Harman, Lungren, Issa,
Bono, Capps, Tauscher, Cardoza, Calvert, Gallegly, McClintock, Bilbray, Filner, McNerney,
8
7
CO
  7/1
Perlmutter,
1
CT
  5/2
Murphy, Larson
2
Del
  1/
FL
 25/12
Buchanan, Mack, Brown-Waite, Klein, Diaz-Balart, Posey, Putnam, Meek, Sterns, Rooney, Kosmas, Miller
3
9
GA
 13/2
Price, Linder,
2
HI
  2/
ID
  2/
IO
  5/2
Boswell, Loebsack,
2
IL
 19/7
Manzullo, Costello, Foster, Shimkus, Johnson, Guttierez, Rush,
4
3
IN
  9/3
Souder, Burton, Donnelly
1
2
KY
  6/6
Rogers, Davis, Yarmuth, Chandler, Whitfield, Guthrie
2
4
100%
KS
  4/3
Moore, Tiahrt, Moran,
1
2
LA
  7/2
Flemming, Boustany, Cao,
3
MA
 10/
MD
  8/4
Sarbanes, Bartlett, Edwards, Cummings,
3
1
Maine
  2/2
Michaud, Pingree,
2
Mich
 15/2
Kildee, McCotter, Hoekstra,           
1
2
Miss
  4/
                  
MN
  8/8
Bachman, Paulsen, Ellisen, Oberstar, Peterson, Walz, Kline, McCollum,
5
3
100%
MO
  9/2
Emmerson, Akin,
2
Mont
  1/
Rehberg,
1
100%
Neb
  3/1
Terry,
1
Nev
  3/1
Heller,
1
NC
 13/7
Myrik, Foxx, Butterfield, Cobel, McHenry, Kissell, Miller,
3
4
ND
  1/
NH
  2/2

Shea-Porter, Hodes,
2
100%
NJ
 13/13
Rothman, Smith, LoBiondo, Frelinghuysen, Garrett, Lance, Holt, Pallone, Andrews, Payne, Sires, Pascrell, Adler
8
5
100%
NM
  3/1
Teague,
1
NY
 29/11
Ackerman, Crowley, Bishop, Maloney, Arcuri, Mccarthy, Israel, Rangle, Weiner, Clarke, Lowery,
11
OH
 18/7
Kaptur, Ryan, Jordan, LaTourette, Latta, Schmidt, Space,
3
4
OK
  5/1
Boren,
1
OR
  5/2
Wu, DeFazio,
2
PA
 19/13
Holden, Bradey, Murtha, Altmire, T.Murphy, Fattah, Platts, Dahlkemper, Schwartz, Carney, P.Murphy, Gerlack,
10
3
RI
  2/1
Langevine,
1
SC
  6/3
Brown, Inglis, Wilson,
3
SD
  1/1
Sandlin,
1
TN
  9/7
Davis, Cohen, Blackburn, Gordon, Roe, Wamp, Tanner,  
4
3
TX
 32/11
Paul, Poe, Gohmert, Burgess, McCaul, Sessions, Olson, Neugebauer, Marchant, Johnson, Hall, Granger
1
11
UT
  3/
VA
 11/6
Moran, Wolf, Wittman, Scott, Forbes, Connolly,
3
3
VT
  1/
WA
  9/
WI
  8/3
Sensenbrenner, Baldwin, Kagen,
2
1
WV
  3/1
Capito,
1
WY
  1/1
Lummis,
1
100
GU,VI, M DC,PR,SA
  5/2
Christensen, Bordallo,
2
Totals
177/435
= 40.6 %
92
85


Progress has been made. BUT "progress" is not "succeeding".  Which means now is not the time to give up if we want to "win" the goal of insuring that  "America does not rest until "ALL" who have served her have been accounted for!"

So again , Get on the on the phone and call your congressman/woman. It's a free call the only cost is a couple of minutes of your time. Ask them to support :

 H. Res. 111: Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs
Full text of which can be found here, the operative words being:
RESOLUTION
Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.
Resolved, That there is established in the House of Representatives a select committee to be known as the Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.
FUNCTIONS

HOWEVER you  must call, our experience is that e-mails only give them another address to send their news letters to.

Below we include the links that were posted with the original post should you need more info:

Letter From the:

And many others like it that raise some concerning questions. In fact while looking for one piece of information I ran across so many stories similiar to above I was astounded and sickened.  I'm sure this is no surprise to the many families that still have no closure in regards to family members whose end has never met a final conclusion.  I hope it comes to somewhat of a surprise to some who have ignored this issue.
Remember: The third Friday of every September is POW/MIA recognition day.
Rember: nothing changes what you do not become involved in changing it!
Other links of interest regarding MIA/POW:

POW/MIA Links:

Archives:
More Links:

McCain and the POW Cover-up
http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/pow_mia/
http://www.rftw.org/index.asp?lg=1&w=pages&r=0&pid=88

From the  POW/MIA Tables of Honors
REMEMBER – all of you served with them and called them comrades, who depended upon their might and aid, and relied upon them, for surely, they have not forsaken you.
 
 
REMEMBER
HONOR ME WITH FLAGS IF YOU WILL
HONOR ME WITH PRAYERS AND PRAISE
BUT IF MY CAUSEE WAS DESERVING OF YOUR HONOR
THEN PICK UP MY RIFLE
SO THAT MY DEATH MAY NOT  HAVE BEEN IN VAINAdd to Technorati Favorites
--> Read more...

Posted by rc  

Post a Comment

Help veterans get respect in Leon County, Tallahassee Florida


Some of us in the Tallahassee, Florida area are frustrated by the lack of respect demonstrated for those who have fought and died for this country.  What compounds the egregiousness of the local attitude is the fact that this is the home of the state Capital and Two major Universities.

This is what we would like to see: http://blip.tv/play/AYGJ5h6YgmE

Read these two links to see the situation we have:
link  http://www.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com/2009/07/marianna-pgr-sends-off-144th-and-we-say.html

(link) Tallahassee, Florida a State Capital where patriotism is dead.

Last year we mounted an e-mail campaign that forced The Leon County Sheriff and the Tallahassee Police Department to state they would provide escorts.  They have since backed down from there word and provided only "one" escort, that for a photo opp for e Governor Crist who is running for the senate. 

They say they can't, we say they can and they must. They have turned us off. We need your help to turn them back on.  Below are links to every body that should be written, should you be afraid to use your own e-mail, there afree programs that will send e-mail by proxy.

Help us gain the respect and honor our veterans deserve, PLEASE!

Pass these links and the below links to everyone you know and every new organization you now and ask them to ask them to demand the Capital City of Florida. give our veterans the respect they deserve!

Tallahassee Police Chief , Dennis Michael Jones, A Vietnam Veteran 850-891-4200
http://www.talgov.com/email.cfm?id=david.e.mccranie
IF Chief  Jones has an e-mail address we can not find it. It would appear his do  boys take care of business for him. We are not surprised. His detachment from the rest of his department is one of the reasons Rachel Hoffman died.

Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, U.S. Marine Corp Reserves, 850-922-3346
e-mail campbell@leoncountyfl.gov

Tallahassee Commisioners: Use this link to contact all of them at once
http://www.talgov.com/email.cfm?id=commissioners

Use this link to contact all the County commissioners at once:
http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/BCC/email/

Tallahasee Democrat
http://tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=CUSTOMERSERVICE03

mike.smith@wctv.tv


Email the Governor

Jeff.Kottkamp@MyFlorida.com  


Show the Capital City of Florida that the country is watching them. And do not give up. Do not stop until we win. 


NO COMPROMISE, NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDERAdd to Technorati Favorites
--> Read more...

Posted by rc  

Post a Comment

Sergeant First Class John C. Beale-Georgia makes an instructional video for Leon County


Killed in action the week before, the body of Sergeant First Class John C. Beale was returned to Falcon Field in Peachtree City, Georgia, just south of Atlanta, on June 11, 2009 . The Henry County Police Department escorted the procession to the funeral home in McDonough, Georgia. A simple notice in local papers indicated the road route to be taken and the approximate time. Nowadays one can be led to believe that America no longer respects honor, and no longer honors sacrifice outside the military. Be it known that there are many places in this land where people still recognize the courage and impact of total20self-sacrifice. Georgia remains one of those graceful places. The link below is a short travelogue of that day's remarkable and painful journey. But only watch this if you wish to have some of your faith in people restored. Please share widely.

The link below leads to a video of something we have yet to see in this area. What makes it more interesting yet is where comes from, the dash cam of a police cruiser.

Turn your volume up, hit the link and prepare to shed a few tears.

http://blip.tv/play/AYGJ5h6YgmE

Leon County, Tallahassee Florida, How do you respond to this?Add to Technorati Favorites
--> Read more...

Posted by rc  

Post a Comment

7/10/09

A post I do not want to write-ACLU and the Westboro Church


Of late my mailbox has been getting hit with news about the ACLU defending the Westboro Church protesters who show up at military funerals shouting and displaying signs that say our soldiers deaths are God's Wrath against homosexuals? Their logic is convoluted to say the least and their actions despicable.

They are the reason the Patriot Guard was formed and the primary reason I began riding with the PGR.

However this is not new news.  The Lawsuit was filed by the ACLU on July of 2006.

What is new as reported in the Washington Post on Monday, June 29, 2009 is, " A federal appeals court in St. Louis ruled that Missouri cannot enforce the protest ban until the lawsuit is resolved.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied without comment Missouri's appeal of that order barring enforcement."
Though we suspect that the Supreme court will eventually have to hear the case. The problem is appears to be that MO. has two laws with different wording. The ACLU stipulates the law,
"It bans protests in public areas and public streets and sidewalks in a way that the Supreme Court has never allowed to happen," Rothert said.
However there are legal experts who believe that the ACLU has a legitimate case here:

The Thomas Jefferson Freedom of Speech Institute filed a brief on Phelps' behalf. Attorney Robert O'Neil said that he personally finds Westboro Baptist and their message distasteful, but he thinks censoring them would send a harsh message regarding freedom of speech.

"Well, if you suppress their message, then government can also suppress other messages which they  disfavor."


MU Law Professor and Free Speech Expert Christina Wells thinks Phelps and Westboro Baptist have a legitimate case based on the restrictions the law gives.
"There are lots of problems with the Missouri statute, so I think the Phelps unquestionably have, in my mind, a viable free speech claim."
The first amendment meant exactly what it said:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
 the original bill of rights were added to the constitution as the first "ten" amendments when:
ideological conflict between Federalists and anti-Federalists, dating from the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, threatened the overall ratification of the new national Constitution. It largely responded to the Constitution's influential opponents, including prominent Founding Fathers, who argued that the Constitution should not be ratified because it failed to protect the basic principles of human liberty.Wikipedia

However the Constitution and the Bill of rights applied to the federal government and states were beholden to the constitution only where expressly mentioned. For example the first amendment states congress shall make no law establishing religion. Yet many states did. For example:
The North Carolina Constitution of 1776 disestablished the Anglican church, but until 1835 the NC Constitution allowed only Protestants to hold public office. From 1835-1876 it allowed only Christians (including Catholics) to hold public office. Article VI, Section 8 of the current NC Constitution forbids only atheists from holding public office.[4] Such clauses were held by the United States Supreme Court to be unenforceable in the 1961 case of Torcaso v. Watkins, when the court ruled unanimously that such clauses constituted a religious test incompatible with First and Fourteenth Amendment protections. Wikipedia
Which is why despite stating in the Declaration of Independence that, "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed," slavery was allowed to exist in the states.

Our founding fathers left that out understanding that men would place economy over human bondage and suffering.

It was not until after the civil war that the 14th amendment, sometimes referred to as the "First Amendment II" in 1868, section one of which which reads as follows:

 Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
This is the amendment that "insured" the first amendment.  In Gitlow v, New York (1925) the court declared :
that the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution had extended the reach of certain provisions of the First Amendment—specifically the provisions protecting freedom of speech and freedom of the press—to the governments of the individual states.

And we have continued to fight over  what the first amendment means ever since.  When a study of the history by which founders relied upon to arrive at the "FIRST" amendment clearly indicates that it means exactly what it says.

Of course there are still arguments over States rights vs. Federal rights. But would any reasonable citizens among us wish to turn our right to Free Speech over to the state?  Taking a vacation or business trip would be difficult if you had to learn what could or could not be said in every state you traveled through.

An article in the New York Times about a Canadian free press issue printed the following:

Mr. Silverglate seemed to be echoing the words of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., whose 1919 dissent in Abrams v. United States eventually formed the basis for modern First Amendment law.
“The best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market,” Justice Holmes wrote.

“I think that we should be eternally vigilant,” he added, “against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe and believe to be fraught with death.”
Yes there have been exceptions, such as the proverbial, "yelling fire in a theater". But they must meet stringent requirements. Or at least had to in the past.

The last thing we need in this present day environment of "political correctness", "Patriot Acts," the demise of "Habeas Corpus" and ever increasing governmental powers is a Court legislating from the bench watering down the constitution.  Leave it alone while it still has meaning and protects us all.

Remember, it is the document many soldiers have died sworn to protect.

Besides, with out the "Westboro protesters" we would not have the "Patriot Guard".  My experience riding with that group has convinced me that the Patriot Guard has become much more than a buffer between funerals and protesters.  We keep the soldiers mission and his plight up front where it belongs.
I believe the Patriot Guard is doing good in area's it never imagined when it first formed. I have seen it.

We must never let fear, fear of words, fear of terrorists or even fear of our own government scare us into allowing the government to be the arbiter of our freedoms.  That is our responsibility.

According to Bartleby.com at the close of the constitutional convention a lady asked Benjamin Franklin as he left Independence Hall, "Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy. A republic replied the Doctor if you can keep it.”

Note the word Republic as opposed to Democracy. Our forefathers knew what they were doing, for a democracy is it's own form of tyranny.

Does this mean I will stand idly by while "protesters" exercise their rights?  No! I have my rights also.
And I will exercise them.  It is an obligation that must be paid to insure my own freedom! Is doing so inconvenient at times? Yes.  No one ever said Freedom was easy.Add to Technorati Favorites
--> Read more...

Posted by rc  

Post a Comment

7/9/09

Australian MC clubs make a kickin video


--> Read more...

Posted by rc  

Post a Comment

More MC news


Former Mongols leader pleads guilty in fed case

By GREG RISLING – 2 days ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former national president of the notorious Mongols motorcycle gang has pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge in a case that accused other members of murder, drug trafficking and violent attacks.

Prosecutors revealed January's guilty plea by Ruben "Doc" Cavazos in court papers filed on June 29. He could face up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in February.

A phone message left with Cavazos' attorney Angel Navarro was not immediately returned Tuesday.

Cavazos and other Mongol leaders directed members to engage in murders, extortion, robberies and drug trafficking to "promote and further the activities of the Mongols gang," according to a 177-page indictment.

Among other things, prosecutors claim Cavazos was involved in negotiating with Mexican Mafia leaders over the collection of payments for drug trafficking in areas controlled by that gang and getting Mongol members to commit crimes against people who challenged the gang's authority.

The indictment said the group, which is mostly Latino, also attacked black people, committed robberies and stole motorcycles. The gang funded itself in part by stealing credit card account information, prosecutors said.

Authorities conducted a sweep last October in six states, rounding up members after an undercover investigation put federal agents inside the motorcycle club where they were accepted as full members.

A number of the 79 members indicted have already pleaded guilty to a variety of charges, but most of the plea agreements remained under seal. The Associated Press has challenged a federal judge's decision to seal the documents.

Cavazos, a former medical technician at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, wrote a memoir of his life titled "Honor Few, Fear None: The Life and Times of a Mongol" that was published by HarperCollins last year.

On a Web site promoting the book, Cavazos wrote: "I would like to thank everyone who has stood by family and I. With your support and prayers, I am confident that I will see all of you on the outside again."

Absent from the site is the group's trademarked logo. U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper has barred members from wearing or distributing the image.

The Web site says, "By order of the federal attorney, image has been removed."

Prosecutors argue the logo should be forfeited because the trademarks were acquired and maintained by Cavazos while the gang was involved in criminal activity.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Welk said in court documents that the Mongols have challenged the injunction.

Welk could not immediately be reached for comment

Hells Angels: Carlton prepares for the rumble of the riders, good and bad


By Beth Jett and photojournalist John Thain, FOX 21 News
CARLTON, Minn. - In about three weeks, the Northland will hear the rumble of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.  It's the talk of the small town of Carlton and the surrounding area.  Residents and business owners aren't sure what to expect from a club with such a controversial reputation.
With the noise of their motorcycles and name of their club preceding them, it's enough to intimidate a small town of just over 800 people.

"I wish they didn't come here because I'm afraid for my little grandkids. I'm gonna watch them close," said Eleera Maki of Cloquet.

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club will converge on Carlton July 29th through August 2nd, for meetings, riding and revelry before heading to Sturgis, South Dakota for a rally.  Area law enforcement is preparing for up to 1,000 visitors, including other affiliated motorcycle clubs joining them for the ride to Sturgis.

Although police and sheriff's departments wouldn't reveal their specific plans, they promise increased presence during the five day event.

The Club's visit to Carlton is all the talk of the town.  Some people are dreading it, others are hoping to profit from it, but most are just hoping it comes and goes without incident.

"Hopefully it turns out ok, they come into town and have fun and get on their way to Sturgis," said Brandon Sell of Carlton.  He owns Third Base Bar in town and hopes the visitors will mean extra business for him.  However, the Club rented out the Lost Isle Bar for the weekend, bringing in their own alcohol, food and wait staff.

Sell said, despite reports of crime and violence towards women in past rallies, his female employees insisted on working.  "All of them said, you know, I wanna work and that's why I have a job here and I wanna work. It'd be nice to have someone here with me so I'm not alone."  Sell plans to be there himself each night, but isn't hiring extra security.

In the meantime, baseball bats crack against balls in a small baseball field in Carlton.  Life continues as normal there, but residents are aware of what's coming.

"I have heard don't be on Willard Munger Trail during the time, don't go out to local bars by yourself," said Stephanie Annala of Carlton.

"I'll probably keep my doors locked at night til their gone," said Pam Koncal who lives outside of Carlton.

"I just really don't believe they're gonna go out exclusively looking for problems unless someone creates them for them," said Adam Bailey.  Bailey is a Carlton City Councilman as well as a firefighter.  He says the fire department is ready for the Club's visit and the city will have extra ambulances on hand in case of need, but he doesn't expect any major problems.  "If I stay outta their way and don't cause problems I don't think they will either," said Bailey.

If you'd like to know more about the Hells Angels' planned visit, there are two public meetings coming up.  The first is on July 14 at Barnum High School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.  A second one is set for July 15th at Cloquet Middle School Auditorium, also at 6:30 p.m.

FOX 21 reached out by phone and email to the Hells Angels clubs in Minnesota and elsewhere but received no response from them.
(Note: Seen to many B movies lately)


Murder trial begins in Conn. biker club shooting

July 8, 2009
 LITCHFIELD, Conn. - The murder trial of a Watertown man accused of killing the president of a Torrington motorcycle club is beginning.

Prosecutors plan to begin presenting evidence in Litchfield Superior Court Wednesday in the trial of 54-year-old Kevin Campbell.

Campbell is charged with murder in the shooting death of 51-year-old Roland LaGasse of Torrington, who was president of the Forbidden Motor Cycle Club.

Campbell, who was also a member of the biker club, has said he acted in self-defense and the gun accidentally went off.

(NOTE: If I'm gonna defend myself it will be no accident that the gun goes off)

 
Witness recounts shooting death at biker club

BY BRIGITTE RUTHMAN REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
TORRINGTON — Jennifer Thebarge told a jury she heard Kevin Campbell tell Roland LaGasse "You're a dead man" moments before a single shot rang out June 27, 2008, off of Winsted Road.

Thebarge testified on the first day of Campbell's murder trial at Litchfield Superior Court on Wednesday. She said she dialed 911 as her then-boyfriend, Eugene Thebarge, tried to resuscitate the 51-year-old LaGasse, who briefly gasped for air but never regained consciousness outside the Forbidden Motorcycle Club's small headquarters along Winsted Road.

"Somebody just got shot," she is heard to say in a recording of the call played for 12 regular and three alternate jurors.

Known as HB, a short version of his nickname, "Hambone," Campbell was one of several club officers who emerged from the clubhouse just before 8 p.m. that night. LaGasse had been at odds with Campbell, of Watertown, and his brother James over membership issues.

"Roland was upset and was followed out the door by Jimmy and Kevin Campbell, then Eugene Thebarge," said Jennifer Thebarge of Bristol. "It all happened very fast. Then pow. I ran over to see if my fiance was OK. He screamed to call 911, then did CPR to try to save Roland's life."

The Torrington man was declared dead at the scene.

Thebarge didn't answer when the dispatcher asked her who the gunman was.

"I said I didn't know because HB was within feet of me with a gun, pointing it in my direction like this," Thebarge said, her hand in front of her.

"I didn't see him pull the trigger, but I saw him with the gun in his hand."Add to Technorati Favorites
--> Read more...

Posted by rc  

Post a Comment

Motorcycle noise- more money for the till-and lousy activism


Bikers claim harassment by police
By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A crowd of motorcycle riders representing motorcycle clubs and activists descended on the city council Monday to express their frustration about what they perceive as targeted ticketing for loud muffler pipes.

“The City of Mt. Vernon is fast getting a reputation as being biker unfriendly,” ABATE Chapter 27 President Mick Eddington said. “Loud pipes save lives, it’s a fact. Someone may not see us, but they hear us.”

(ED. NOTE: Lord someone please somebody show me the research that this is a fact and not urban legend started by bikers. I myself like loud pipes. I just like them. I'm not risking my life that someone in an air conditioned car with the stereo blasting while they are on the cell phone with kids yellin the back seat is gonna hear them)

Eddington and others claimed that in the last few weeks they have received more than 50 tickets for loud mufflers. 

( Ed. Note: Yepper 50 tickets in a few weeks sounds a bit excessive)

 The groups cited their charity work in the city and other events they sponsor and support, when saying they would “leave town and take the charity events elsewhere.”



“If we feel threatened, and get ticketed every time we come through, we’ll take our money and our charities and go elsewhere,” Eddington said. “We’d hate to see that. But we’re perceiving that we’re being harassed. If it keeps up, we’ll leave, it’s as simple as that.”

(Ed. Note: Damn dude, threaten them with what they want that will get em.)

Ronda Tupper, who organizes the annual toy run for the United Methodist Children’s Home said money raised for charitable events, such as the toy run, is spent in the community to purchase items. Also mentioned is the annual Run For The Wall, which has stopped in Mt. Vernon as the only stop in Illinois for more than 20 years, and the revenue from gas which is purchased for between 300 and 500 participants.


(Ed. Note: O.K. I'm confused, was this meeting about charities or loud pipes)
One biker was ticketed on his way into the parking lot at Veterans Park on his way to the meeting, and Mt. Vernon Police Chief Chris Mendenall said he was behind the squad car that pulled him over.

“I didn’t notice excessive noise,” Mendenall admitted. “But if you have after market pipes they qualify to be ticketed.”
(ED. Note: Cop stupidly admits the law should  be thrown out)
Mendenall said the citations are being given under the state statute — not a city ordinance — which was adopted by the state in 1970.

“We haven’t aggressively enforced it until recently because we have now been receiving more complaints,” Mendenall said, and read the statute, which states that any pipes that have been modified in a matter to amplify the sound from that originally installed on the motorcycle can be cited.
(Ed. Note: See cops statement above)
Mendenall said he has instructed officers to step up enforcement of those who have loud pipes and are being loud in residential areas.

“The intent is not to harass motorcycle groups,” Mendenall said. “I have a license, I enjoy riding. My brother has two Harley’s and there are several officers that have bikes. ... We appreciate the charitable work you do in the community and have even helped escort you through town.”

Mendenall said when directing officers to enforce the statute, there is an element of “judgment” on the part of the officer and when giving directions of enforcement, the officers can interpret and become too aggressive in enforcement.
(ED. NOTE: Most sensible statement yet)
ABATE attorney George Tinkham, a former attorney with the Attorney General Office and the Illinois Department of Transportation, said the state code only specifies citations for pipes that are “louder than stock.”

“What is stock?” Tinkham asked. “The officer would have to know what was original on each and every bike.”

Tinkham also said taking all the cases to court is “one of the worst ways to practice government. Judges are not in a position to make policy, you are.”

(ED NOTE: he gets it)

Mayor Mary Jane Chesley directed City Manager Ron Neibert to set up a meeting with representatives of the various motorcycle groups, the police department and city leaders to get an “overview of the situation” and determine any action that would need to be taken about the situation.

Note to ABATE CHAPTER 27. Next time, shut up and let attorney do the talkingAdd to Technorati Favorites 
--> Read more...

Posted by rc  

Post a Comment

No comments yet