Trial to begin

[phenrichs]

The trial for 2 Hells Angels members is set to begin here next week. Some of you have heard of this and we have discussed it in previous posts.

I read a story just this morning that really bothered me and I felt compelled to write in about it. Here is a link to the story and I will add the email I sent below.

http://keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=0,75750

Mr. Dunsmoor,
I would like to address a part of this story that concerns me. I the first paragraph of the story there is a line that reads, “Bikers Chad Wilson and John Midmore are charged in the shootout at Custer State Park during the 2006 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. “ I have been riding motorcycles for 16 years and know many individuals that have been riding for more than 30 years. I have friends that are members of these so called 1%er clubs. I myself have no affiliation with such organizations and have no desire to. I do not consider myself a “biker.” The term motorcyclist would better describe my lifestyle. It is from here that my concern arises. I fear that the public usually associates the word biker to anyone on a motorcycle. In referring to these gentlemen as bikers early on I fear that you may have unintentionally grouped many of us who are good law-abiding motorcyclists with these outlaw types. I think it would have been more accurate to have replaced the word biker with perhaps the word members or suspects.

Many of my friends and myself have a great concern in the fact that the trial is happening here in the first place. These things are generally high profile and it may sway opinions of motorcycle riders in a way that may negatively affect a community that has traditionally been friendly and open to people like myself.

I apologize if any of this seems harsh or negative towards you or your story as that is not my intent. I simply wanted to point out a concern that exists within the community. There is a large majority of motorcyclists in the area that are not only law-abiding but valuable and prominent members of the community. My wife and I participate in many motorcycle charity events throughout the year and we have discovered that they are often larger than the events that are not motorcycle related.

Thank you Sir for your time.



I just couldn't sit by and let them group good people, like all of KawaNOW, into the same group as these guys. I have actually considered going to the courthouse to try and get on camera and ask the people of the community not to hold the actions of these miscreants against the rest of us. I would hate for people to treat all of you with disrespect as you pass through on your way to Custer because of this.