Outlaws Motorcycle Club
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The Outlaws Motorcycle Club is an American motorcycle club. Formed in Joliet, Illinois, in 1935, the organization has approximately 200 chapters in the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe. U.S. chapters account for around 2000 members and Europe about 800.
Each chapter has a clubhouse. These clubhouses are used for "church meetings," parties, and privacy. They are usually secured by concrete walls, steel doors, razor wire, guard dogs, and video surveillance.
The Outlaws are "1%ers," or the one-percent of bikers who have rejected societal norms and dedicated their lives to the club. Membership is limited to men who own American-made motorcycles of a particular size, although in Europe motorcycles from any country are allowed so long as they are in the chopper style. Membership dues are divided between the chapter and the region. A prospective member is first a "hang-around" or associate. After having proven himself worthy, he is promoted to "probate" status and, finally, a patched member.
A patched member is entitled to wear a leather or denim vest bearing an Outlaws emblem, called "colors." The patch is surrounded by chapter and club membership information, called "rockers." These emblems are purchased directly from the international president. A patched member is also allowed to attend the weekly church meetings, while associates, probates, and "old ladies" wait outside. After being a member in good standing for a year, an Outlaw may wear a tattoo depicting the Outlaws emblem.
An Outlaw's tattoos can reflect other membership information as well. An Outlaw who commits murder, attempts murder, or explodes a bomb on behalf of the Outlaws is entitled to wear "lightning bolts," a Nazi-style "SS" tattoo. An Outlaw who has spent time in jail may receive an "LL" tattoo, which stands for "Lounge Lizard."
Membership in the Outlaws has its privileges. The Outlaws maintain a list of Lounge Lizards, or incarcerated Outlaws, and collect money on their behalf. Chapters also encourage the Lounge Lizards' "old ladies" and fellow Outlaws to send letters to imprisoned members.
While the Outlaws are allied with the Bandidos, a Southwestern motorcycle club, they have rivalries with several other clubs. Their dislike of Hells Angels is expressed in their slogans "AHAMD," or "All Hell's Angels Must Die," and "ADIOS," or "Angel's Die in Outlaws States." They also dislike the Pagans and the Warlocks.
The Outlaws collect information on their rivalries with other clubs. They primarily collect newspaper clippings regarding incidents with other clubs. On occasion, though, an Outlaws member will bribe a law enforcement officer to obtain information on the location of a rival club's members. Outlaws also travel, at the club's direction, to the funerals of fellow bikers.
According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, the group deals mainly in cocaine.
Country music singer David Allan Coe was a member of the Outlaws.
External link
References
- Indiana Drug Threat Assessment (http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs0/660/cocaine.htm)
- United States v. Bowman, 302 F.3d 1228, 1232 (11th Cir., 2002)