Art American Flag on the Side Is Money Sign and Is Made of Weapons Los Angelas
W J Emerg Med. 2014 Jul; 15(4): 523–528.
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs: Aspects of the One-Percenter Culture for Emergency Section Personnel to Consider
Anand Northward. Bosmia
*Children's of Alabama, Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Birmingham, Alabama
James F. Quinn
†University of North Texas, Section of Rehabilitation, Social Work, and Addictions, Denton, Texas
Todd B. Peterson
‡University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Emergency Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama
Christoph J. Griessenauer
§University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Neurosurgery, Birmingham, Alabama
R. Shane Tubbs
*Children's of Alabama, Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Birmingham, Alabama
Received 2013 Apr 9; Revised 2014 Jan 20; Accepted 2014 Feb 21.
Abstract
Outlaw motorbike gangs (OMGs) are an iconic element of the criminal mural in the U.s.a., the state of their origin. Members of OMGs may nowadays to the emergency section (ED) as a result of motor vehicle accidents or interpersonal violence. When one member of an OMG is injured, other members and associates are likely to make it in the ED to support the injured member. The extant literature for ED personnel lacks an overview of the culture of OMGs, a civilization that promotes the brandish of unique symbols and that holds certain paraphernalia as integral to an outlaw biker's identity and pride. The objective of this manuscript is to talk over various aspects of the civilisation of OMGs so that ED personnel may amend understand the mentality of the outlaw biker. Knowledge of their symbols, values, and bureaucracy tin can exist crucial to maintaining gild in the ED when an injured outlaw biker presents to the ED. Nosotros used standard search engines to obtain reports from police enforcement agencies and studies in academic journals on OMGs. We present the observations of 1 author who has conducted ethnographic research on outlaw bikers since the 1980s.
INTRODUCTION
The emergency department (ED) is at specially high risk for violence confronting healthcare workers.1 , 2 The arrival of an injured gang member should cause ED personnel to get more vigilant for tearing outbursts. The Gang Threat Assessment published past the National Gang Intelligence Center in Nov 2011 indicates that there are an estimated 1.iv one thousand thousand active street, prison, and outlaw motorcycle gang members in more than 33,000 gangs operating in all 50 American states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.three Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) are an iconic element of the criminal landscape in the United states of america, the country of their origin. ED personnel may meet members of these groups. The authors aim to elucidate sure aspects of the civilization of OMGs so that ED personnel can ameliorate empathise the mentality of the outlaw biker. OMGs present a claiming to ED personnel in that they are well organized and thus able to mobilize their members quickly to help an injured comrade, and are often impulsive and heavily armed. These gangs have expertise in sophisticated weapons and possess an intricate intelligence network.iv
Outlaw bikers refer to their organizations as "ane-percenter" motorcycle clubs (MC) rather than gangs. The term "one-percenter" originated from a argument fabricated past the American Motorcycle Association in response to a motorbike rally held in 1947 in Hollister, California, that turned violent.5 The American Motorcycle Association stated: "99% of the motorcycling public are law-constant; there are 1% who are non." Thus, the "1%" patch (Figure ane) is worn only by clubs immersed in misdeed and big enough to defend the claim to exist the "blue-chip of the bad" against all.6 , vii
The "one-percenter" patch.
CRIMINAL Hierarchy
Quinn and Forsyth7 dissever one-percenter clubs into 4 categories:
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Support clubs, which accept minor to moderate involvement with criminal activity and maintain a relationship with a larger ane-percenter club for protection and to bolster their reputations (due east.g., Gray Ghosts MC).
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Satellite clubs, which are created and controlled past members of the larger one-percenter clubs and serve equally sources of recruits to the larger clubs; members of a satellite club perform tasks related to the criminal activeness of the larger club (e.g., Reddish Rockers MC).
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Regional clubs, which accept limited membership and territory (east.g., Devils Disciples MC); these groups unremarkably have some links to larger one-percenter clubs and may or may non claim one-percenter status.
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The larger one-percenter clubs (e.g., Hells Angels MC, Mongols MC, etc.) are at the acme of the criminal hierarchy in the earth of the outlaw biker and determine much of its dynamics.
Interclub relations are complex. Interclub affiliations may reflect a temporary brotherhood (primarily among large clubs) or a partial surrender of a pocket-size local order to a larger international club. While many regional clubs take surrendered their "1%" logos, these clubs retain the aggressiveness, impulsivity, and intense personal loyalties that typify the culture of the outlaw biker. Satellite clubs provide an expendable criminal labor force for the larger clubs and serve every bit proving grounds for men who desire to join large international clubs. Furthermore, OMGs are almost entirely white in the U.South., with the exception of the largely Chicano Mongols MC. Many outlaw bikers are racists, and there are strong links between the corresponding cultures of outlaw bikers and white supremacists.
Blackness OMGs exist, but these groups operate within a different milieu and have their own symbols and values. OMGs composed of African American or mixed race members are less extreme in their entrepreneurialism and system compared to OMGs composed of white members, and exercise not use the Internet as much as white OMGs practise. Most black OMGs are local or regional rather than national or global in their accomplish, and are commonly encountered on the East and West Coasts of the U.S. Many simply non all black OMGs have a colour scheme. For example, the California-based Chosen Few MC use red and white, just the Pennsylvania/Due east Coast-based Wheels of Soul MC practise not appear to have a color scheme. These are the most powerful and widely known among the black OMGs. Blackness OMGs often use slogans, symbols, and even names of white OMGs. For instance, a white OMG based in Canada and upstate New York that is loosely affiliated with the Outlaws MC as well bears the name "Chosen Few MC." Sports bikes are ofttimes used among members of black OMGs, just sports bikes are anathema to most white OMGs. While members of white OMGs in the U.S. are required to have a Harley-Davidson motorbike, the use of Harley-Davidson motorcycles varies among black OMGs. Although blackness OMGs are repressed past most white OMGs, affiliations between these two groups do exist. For example, the Baltimore-based Thunderbirds MC answers to the Pagans MC.8 , nine
The Hells Angels, Bandidos, Mongols (Effigy ii), Outlaws, Sons of Silence, and Pagans MCs are the near powerful OMGs.7 Statistics regarding membership for these clubs tin be found at http://www.justice.gov/criminal/ocgs/gangs/motorcycle.html. ED personnel should be enlightened of which OMGs are agile in their state of do. The Los Angeles County Sheriff'due south Department10 and the Rocky Mount Information Network11 listing which OMGs are active in each land. Because such national information are often out of appointment and may neglect smaller clubs, they should be supplemented with information from local authorities or the clubs' ain websites. Some of these websites provide information about smaller clubs affiliated with the larger society. All the same, not all clubs will have such websites (east.thou., Pagans MC):
The "colors" of the Mongols motorcycle society.
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Bandidos MC: http://www.bandidosmc.com
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Hells Angels MC: http://world wide web.hells-angels.com
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Outlaws MC: http://wwww.outlawsmc.com
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Sons of Silence MC: http://www.sonsofsilence.com
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Mongols MC: http://www.mongolsmc.com
In addition, links to the websites of major OMGs can be found at http://www.bikernews.org/wtn/news.php.
GANG INSIGNIA
Patches and tattoos reflect the sect-like symbolism of a gang's subculture12 , 13 and can provide information about a gang member's social history, such as past incarcerations, drug use, and allegiance to the gang.fourteen Central to the attire of outlaw bikers is the sleeveless and collarless jacket that identifies the specific club to which a biker belongs. These jackets, referred to equally "colors," are made from leather or denim.five The patches, or "rockers," that betoken total membership to an OMG are embroidered on a biker's colors, and are regarded with peachy reverence by members and club affiliates.15 The back of a biker's colors typically has a peak rocker, which bears the society's name; a center patch, which bears the social club'south logo; and a lesser rocker, which indicates the location of the chapter of the society to which the biker belongs.5 A biker'southward colors are integral to his identity every bit a fellow member of the lodge. Should a biker's colors be removed during the course of his care in the ED, physicians and staff would exist prudent to treat his colors with respect or otherwise risk a hostile reaction from the biker and his associates.
Because there are then many OMGs active in the U.Southward. it would be impractical for ED personnel to memorize every specific logo or insignia associated with each one. Nonetheless, the authors advise ED personnel to exist familiar with the hues worn past each locally active OMG and its support and satellite clubs, and the ubiquitous "1%" patch. Near OMGs accept ii hues associated with their respective insignias. For example, the Hells Angels MC use red and white with their "Death's Head" logo (Effigy 3), whereas the Bandidos MC use cherry-red and gold with their "Fatty Mexican" logo (Figure four).7 Non-fellow member assembly of the lodge and members of support and satellite clubs ofttimes utilise the color scheme, but never the insignia, of the larger sponsoring club. For example, the LA Riders MC are a support club of the Bandidos MC and incorporate red and gold into their colors, which consist of a red and gold paradigm of the state of Louisiana, but do not habiliment the "one%" patch or the "Fat Mexican" logo of the Bandidos MC. Merely "full-patch" members may brandish the society logo. Total-patch members are fiendishly protective of the exclusivity of their insignia, and clubs hold copyright on their logos and other major symbols.
The "Decease's Caput" logo of the Hells Angels motorcycle club.
The "Fat Mexican" logo of the Bandidos motorcycle club.
The "1%" logo encased in a diamond-shaped patch is worn on the front or back of the biker'due south colors. Club officers have a patch list their rank sewn onto the front breast of their colors, and some bikers will display the locations of chapters with which they have ties on the side of their colors. Some independent clubs do not wearable the "1%" patch in guild to avoid challenges from larger clubs, but these clubs can exist just every bit fierce as clubs who sport the "1%" patch.7 Thus, the absence of a "ane%" patch does not rule out criminal ties or intense loyalties amid members of the club. Cognition of color schemes is consequently more of import for recognizing members of OMGs.
Members may vesture tattoos, T-shirts, and jewelry that incorporate acronyms, symbols, or logos associated with the lodge.16 Associates may wear "support" jewelry or T-shirts that incorporate a split set of symbols merely apply the dominant club'south colour scheme. For example, the logo of the Outlaws MC consists of a skull and two crossed pistons, but assembly of the Outlaws MC may sport a logo that features a manus clenching a pistol, or a Harley-Davidson logo that reads "Support Black & White," equally black and white are the two chief hues associated with the Outlaws MC. The process of joining a club often involves tattooing the society's logo onto the biker'south body, and these tattoos may be displayed anywhere on the trunk.fifteen Some tattoos are immediately visible, but others will be covered by clothing or lost in a maze of body art. Any biker who is not in good standing with the social club must burn off society-related tattoos, usually past heating a butter pocketknife and applying it repeatedly onto his pare.17 Alternatively, he may have them covered with other tattoos.
Acronyms, such as "LPDP" for "Alive Pagan, Die Pagan" and "AFFA" for "Angels Forever, Forever Angels,"are likewise prominent in the OMG culture. An acronym prevalent among OMGs is "FTW" for "Fuck the World," an expression that has get widespread in the "saloon society" milieu in which the one-percenter culture originated. In addition, references to a specific OMG as a "nation" are also common in their written and spoken vocabulary (due east.g., "Mongol Nation" for the Mongols MC or "Light-green Nation" for the Vagos MC).
POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE IN THE ED
If a gang member perceives disrespect from anyone, including ED staff, the upshot tin be mortiferous, as gang members have an overarching requirement for respect and for saving face up in all encounters and from every individual with whom they come in contact. The gang member volition not hesitate to hurt or impale someone if he believes that person has shown disrespect to himself or his gang.eighteen Power and respect are the master values of OMGs, which are at present equanimous of impulse-driven traditionalists and more conventional entrepreneurs. The latter are more likely to take reasoned deportment within or across legal boundaries, but both are very capable of expressive violence.19 Near members of OMGs are a hybrid of these two personas. Outlaw bikers should always be treated with respect, regardless of whether their behavior warrants information technology.
If an injured member arrives at the ED, other members of his gild will often arrive to protect him or inquire into his welfare. OMGs are an constructing of a tribe, family, and corporation, and an ethos of "ane on all, all on one" prevails, meaning that to assail or injure 1 member is to set on the entire lodge, and restoring the club's honor is a sacred duty to which all members are bound.seven An attack on a homo in 2013 illustrates the reactivity of an outlaw biker against a perceived offender. A human being was declared to have briefly argued at a bar with a fellow member of the Sin Urban center MC, who returned with 15 to xx other members and attacked the man with a machete.20 Multiple news reports evidence that outlaw bikers are willing to fight with members of rival OMGs in public settings.21 , 22 , 23 , 24
The fact that OMGs are well-organized and primed to respond swiftly with aggression in the consequence of a member existence injured should make ED personnel alert law enforcement with greater urgency in the event that supporters of the injured biker start to congregate at the hospital.25 Equally motorcyclists, their mobility aids them in evading constabulary enforcement,xvi and thus police may have a more hard time detaining members of the club and preventing their arrival en masse at the infirmary.
The cause of the biker's injury must be clarified, as some incidents provoke immense anger from the society (e.g., a citizen ramming into a biker with a car or a biker being assaulted by members of a rival OMG), whereas others evoke only concern (eastward.grand., a single-vehicle accident). If a biker's injuries are secondary to interpersonal violence, the biker may avert disclosing this fact to avoid attention. The emergency doctor should accept a thorough history in a non-threatening manner to meliorate his chances of eliciting these details from the biker and thereby avoid not anticipating dangerous complications of the biker'due south injuries. For instance, a fight seize with teeth is a laceration of the manus sustained by striking another individual in the mouth with a clenched fist, and such a wound can result in devastating infections if it is not treated early and correctly.26 Thus, appropriate antibiotics must be administered if a biker has sustained a fight bite.
Outlaw bikers may have weapons hidden on their persons that are discovered as their wear is removed during the form of intendance. These weapons are non limited to guns and knives. Members of a specific OMG sometimes bear a particular everyday item equally a weapon, the possession of which contributes to their sense of membership to the club. For example, a member of the Hells Angels MC may acquit a brawl-peen hammer, whereas a member of the Sons of Silence MC may sport an industrial flashlight. Emergency physicians should exist especially cautious of a biker in the ED whose colors bear a rocker reading "prospect," "probate," or "probationary". A biker with such a rocker is a candidate for membership to the social club and may exist more decumbent to committing acts of assailment than a total-patch member to prove that he is worthy of membership.27 Prospective members spend 1 month to 1 year in a probationary status and are known to carry weapons for full-patch members, and some clubs accept their prospective members commit felonies with full-patch members nowadays to weed out weak candidates and curb infiltration by law enforcement.4
Women who support the gild can besides facilitate violence in the ED. The culture of OMGs is notoriously misogynistic, and women affiliated with these gangs are generally forced into prostitution or street-level drug trafficking.iv Women are not allowed to be members of the gild, but they may wear "property" belts or vests adorned with "property" patches to bespeak their affiliation with a specific club. However, female assembly often practice not display such insignia, which makes identifying their affiliation with an OMG more difficult. Female person associates are often extremely loyal to the club and assist members with illegal activities. ED personnel should be aware that women who arrive to run into an injured outlaw biker may carry weapons or drugs for the biker or members of his club.6
Rivalries amongst OMGs tin can pb to a war when 2 or more OMGs are vying for territory. If the members of rival OMG run into each other in the ED waiting room, a violent altercation is inevitable.27 Emergency physicians should inquire equally to whether an outlaw biker'due south injuries are secondary to a conflict with a rival OMG. If members of a rival OMG injured the biker, the biker's adversaries may come up to the hospital to finish the job.3 Although these incidents are rare, they practise occur.
ED personnel must be enlightened that outlaw bikers do non e'er resemble the stereotypical "drunken, swaggering Hells Angel of 1969." Many outlaw bikers are clean cut, and some even prefer 4-wheeled vehicles. Many OMGs consider themselves to exist in a perpetual state of state of war with law enforcement. Thus, police officers providing security in the ED, particularly if they are in compatible, may accept an inflammatory effect on bikers who make it at the hospital.
CONCLUSION
ED personnel may see outlaw bikers who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents or through interpersonal violence. Knowing the hues of local OMGs and their back up and satellite clubs and recognizing the "1%" patch can assist ED personnel in anticipating gang-related violence. Determining the cause of the biker's injuries is critical, every bit scenarios in which a biker has been injured past enemies of his club or by a denizen can predispose the biker and his assembly to hostile behavior. Outlaw bikers follow a pack mentality that demands that every fellow member support each member to the utmost.7 , 19 Treating these men respectfully at all times is of paramount importance to decrease the likelihood of aggression in the ED. Although OMGs share characteristics of many other types of gangs in the U.Southward., members sport idiosyncratic symbols that reflect the values and bureaucracy of their OMG culture. Noesis of the OMG's symbols, values, and hierarchy tin can help ED personnel understand the mentality of the outlaw biker. The authors hope that this article will encourage ED personnel to conduct formal studies that focus on outlaw bikers who arrive at the ED for treatment and the outcomes of such visits.
Footnotes
Full text available through open access at http://escholarship.org/uc/uciem_westjem
Conflicts of Involvement: Past the WestJEM commodity submission agreement, all authors are required to disclose all affiliations, funding sources and fiscal or direction relationships that could be perceived as potential sources of bias. The authors disclosed none.
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Articles from Western Journal of Emergency Medicine are provided hither courtesy of The University of California, Irvine
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4100862/