Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126481
T hus . on e of two concl usions can be made concerning the validity of Walker's testimony. He either got it second hand from m agazi ne and television stories. or , he managed to get the same people used in those stories to com e to Washington (and in the case of Anderson, phone Walker's offi ce) with the scoop on ou tla w motorcycle gang activities. In all fai rn ess, Walker's staff asserts the same people were used. l!\ But when one takes into account the unofficial standing of the task force and committee. the way the testimony is presented and the way the testimony was obtained . a questionable ligbr is thrown on the whole subject. Then , couple this with the outlandish statements Walker makes about outlaw gangs controlling all the drug trafficking in the country - who can believe he is really being honest. And remember, for good measure, Walker threw in a sta tem ent in his bill th at says: "Whereas outlaw motorcycle gangs, as organized criminal grou ps, are involve d in the kid na ping, enslavement and physical ab use of women. " Enslavement? This ,sort of gibberish ~ven promped Walker's legislative aide to wow: "And the Hells Angels are even trying to get into the Gu iness Book of World Records as the world's most prominent outlaw gang. " The same aide also said the gangs constitute only 15,000 to 20.000 motorcyclists nationwide. which breaks down to a bou t .025% of the total motorcycling population . The aide named the O u tlaws. Ban ditos, Paga ns and Hells Angels as the culprits. Yet, Walker choo ses to give enforcement offici als a b road m a nd a te. He does not 'n ame the gr oups in his bill , but uses an ambigu ous term like outlaw and leaves the definition of just exa ctly wha t an ou tlaw is to any local , state and fede ra l officia l. Disturbingly. Walker is not al one in this legislative diarrhea . His resolution has cosponsors, including four Californians: Wayne Grisham (!!rd District), Charles Pashayan . Jr. (17th) . Robert Lagomarsino (19th) and Barry Goldwater, Jr . (20th) . Further shaming this endeavor is the fact that House Concurrent Resolution is the .only motorcycling bill in Congress at this time - strange when one considers how good some legislation would be for motorcycle safety issues. Walker's vi11ification of motorcyclists has not gone unnoticed. The esteemed business magazine. Forbes. ran a Story on it last May. entitled: " In The Name Of Goodness, An Insidious Resolution ." A headline over an editorial appearing in t he Phoenix Gazelle simply read . " Legal Overkill ." And the Lebanon. PA. Daily News, ran an art icle dubbed: . "Walker Blasts Motorcycle Gangs." The real tragedy is that Walker seems to feel only motorcycle gangs arc committing crimes involving drugs . By trying to set up a strike force to prosecute these gangs. wit hout even attempting to define wha t an outlaw is, the prospect of every motorcyclist getting harrassed is increased. Which is a shame during these days when the government is promoting energy con servation programs. There is one saving grace however . A concurrent resolution does not carry the force of law . It must be passed first by one house and then the other. Once done, which is extremely improbable in thi s case , a resolution me rely states the intent of Congress. It would be up to the president to decide whether or not he should ' form the strike force . Meanwhile. Walker . continues to benefit in his home district from publicity stemming from his resolution . And to a congressman who has not done much during his tenure in Congress, every little bit helps. • 250cc World Championship Round 6 Belgian Grand Prix Toni Mang Kawasaki on Dunlop More cydes ride on Dunlop tIww.cmyoth8r tire In ~worIcI' .~!!~-!Yo.~!ZP Jim Zoia .r 15