Introduction
The motorcycle gangs are groupings of people with a common purpose and social anthropology seeking for an identity. Initially their membership was from lovers and funs of choppers and motor cycling who enjoyed traveling in wads and tourists who enjoyed adventure on two wheels.
There are thousands of motorcycle gangs in the United States but only four are recognized as outlawed which include the pagans, hell’s angels, the outlaws and the Bandidos (Custom Choppers Guide, Para 1-3).
The motorcycle gangs
The outlaw motorcycle clubs have lived since the genesis of motorcycles. Immediately the production of the cycle started the clubs started emerging though the out laws have emerged much later. The clubs brought together the lovers of motor riding and other events including music. The first motor cycle club to emanate was the McCook outlaws in the mid 1930s. The group was formed with the purpose of touring and racing for long distances with alcohol consumption as secondary theme though important (Wheeler, Para 1-3).
With the end of the Second World War, the young soldiers on return home were in search for adventure. The active war men were seeking for their other survivors for companionship and motorcycle riding was entwined in these relationships. The clubs were acceptable then to an extent they got support from the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) especially after the war. In the late 1940s an allegation was made that the disorder that had occurred in California was caused by the motorists. This statement which was suspected to have been released by the AMA made some of the clubs detach themselves from association and later they turned out to be the outlaws.
Outlaw motorcycle clubs aggressed all over the United States which included the Bandidos and hell’s angels among others. With the beginning of the Vietnam War, clubs’ membership rapidly increased as the veterans who were given freedom found console and comfort in the clubs upon acceptance. This is where the culture of drugs originated in the history of the gangs; it was an introduction of the veterans from Vietnam, who had been introduced to illegal drugs in Asia in their sovereignty as soldiers. This led to the clubs receiving corrupted labels and in conflict with the law enforcers (Wheeler, Para 4-6).
Cultures have taken a view of featuring the motorcycle gangs as vigilantes, individualistic and rebels on a silver plate or screen. The bikers are known to be corruptive of their neighborhood and intimidating, though they seem less vital to their aims. The members of the outlaws insist that illegal activities should not be labeled on every one, for only a small fraction of the group deal with illegal drugs and violence. The outlawed clubs have had an impact on the history in the 21st century despite their negative perception; this sub-culture has greatly influenced the American culture (Custom Choppers Guide, Para 4-6).
How the society viewed the gangs then
The motorcycle clubs were initially viewed as groups to help people develop and enjoy the talents within themselves. They were known as racing teams which were accepted even by the governments to points of being supported for example by the AMA. They were set of people with common personalities and drives seeking for identity.
Other groups were formed in search of brotherhood like the warlocks motorcycle gang and to be able to offer security to each other. This was the good spirit of being a brother’s keeper. The families whose members made up this gang that started in Philadelphia had no problem with their sons being members of the group. This in itself made the society have a positive attitude to the groups. The society and the members of the gang proclaimed that before its formation there was lot of violence which had reduced with their existence hence an advantage (Dulaney, Para 11-16).
These groups lived in the confines of what they would do and achieve together. For example the Hell’s Angels claimed to be patriots who abided with the law. Their name is just a brand of honor of what they were capable of accomplishing. Comprising of ex-members of the United States 11th airborne Army who were trained as paratroopers, they believed they would rain death in the camps of their enemies (Manning, Para 5-8).
Contrary to the initial purpose, a segment of the gang has involved itself in illegal activities which have made the whole group be stereotyped over the time, which they claim it has been so due to wrong media sensation. Hollywood also took advantage and reflected the negative view in their movies of the violent perception hence a sub-culture developed surrounding the group.
The good notion people had for motor cyclers were also seriously affected by the tattoo labels they used on their bodies and clothing especially the leather jackets. Initially, the tattoo was brands used by criminals; also identified with people whose culture was totally unfit to the human race. They are a true identity that signifies who the wearer really is. They at a point used a skull tattoo which changed the good the society had for them. The society therefore branded them as outcast of which they were proud of (Best Tattoo Gallery, Para 4-7).
How the society views the gangs today
The world has changed in all aspects may it be economical, physical, cultural and even morally. With the rapidly growing technology and hard economic times things have changed seriously to points and standards far of the times these clubs began.
Today the word gang despite where it is being used has been interpreted as a group of individuals who transact with drugs or personal security providers, extortion and other crimes that take over the territory of the cities. The term gang can represent a group of people with a positive motive and concern.
In addition, following the many media exposures of activities whether true or not involving the gangs, the perspective the society had has really been distorted and corrupted. The inhuman actions that are revealed in the movies which may also be a creativity result using technology has made the society term these groups like outcasts. The fearfulness of their outward look is one in question and open to all manner of conclusion that an individual or group would want to make especially if there is some other evidence to support the same.
The many media report all over the world, concerning the social evils the members of these groups are engaging in are enough evidence for the society to conclude that these people are drug traffickers, extortionist, and rapists among others. For example in western Sydney, the government after taking precautions against the gangs it only seemed to them a short-term distraction and they confidently hit back for what the government had done.
An ACC investigating groups have established that the motorcycle gangs are involved in money laundering, trafficking of firearms, and tax frauds among drug production with the help of some criminal networks. This have presented big threat to the nations like Australia due to the geographical wide spread and the size of these gangs in this nations (Pratt, Para 6).
Bloody clashes between the warring gangs are a concern. This has consequently raised public anxiety concerning the gangs. Most governments are now looking forward into making laws to govern and limit the power of these groups. They are on the business of separating them and making it hard for a member of the gang to associate with another (China Daily, PP11).
Conclusion
It is not all motor cycle gangs that engage in illegal activities though over the time they have gained a bad reputation especially in the last half a century. The motorcycle gangs started in good faith, most of them with no intention to rebel. Over the years due to factors that may range from economical hardships to journeys to fame and popularity among pursuit for security they have ended up in many illegal activities that were never in their mind.
Some of these groups still show their humanity like the booze fighters who support children with mental retardation by organizing fund-raisings together with the mental health retardation society. Example of this is the Tarrant County Toy Run in Texas for debilitate disease impacted children.
This statement does not rule out the fact that there are those whose initial purpose and primarily goal was rebellion. Not forgetting mass-manship having contributed a great deal. Out of either the creation of man through technology or the reality happenings the gangs have gone beyond what was thought to be their purposes. Hence, different nations and statesmen should enforce laws or come up with some that will guard its citizens from the social evils being carried out by these gangs.
Works cited
Best Tattoo Gallery. “The Rising of the Biker Gang Tattoos”, BestTattooGallery.com. 2009. Web.
China, Daily. “Australia moves quickly to pass anti-biker gang bill”, China Daily 2009. Web.
Custom Choppers Guide. “What Are Biker Gangs Exactly?” Custom-Choppers-Guide.com. 2005. Web.
Dulaney, William. “A Brief History of “Outlaw” Motorcycle Clubs”, International journal of motorcycle studies. 2005. Web.
Jeff West & Garvin Brian. “Warlocks Motorcycle Gang and Its Roots”, EzineArticles.com. 2009. Web.
Manning, Mary. “Six search warrants served on Hells Angels motorcycle gang”, Las Vegas Sun. 2009. Web.
Pratt, John. “Motorcycle gangs are terrorist organizations”, Webdiary Pty Ltd. 2008. Web.
Wheeler, Tom. “The History of Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs”, EzineArticles.com. 2009. Web.