IT’S one thing to upset the Hells Angels, but state laws designed to make life uncomfortable for motorbike riders have riled the heavenly endorsed God Squad.
And the Pilgrims, the Saints, the Brotherhood, and Bikers4Christ.
The 14 members of the Christian Motorcycle Clubs and Associations have condemned Queensland’s Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment laws (VLAD), the dramatically-named crackdown on bikie gangs introduced by the former government of Liberal Campbell Newman.
The laws hurt outlaw gangs but also have been used against innocent motorbike riders with no criminal involvement. Most notoriously, they restricted who and how bikers could meet. And they were followed by consorting laws in NSW and similar legislation in other states to become a national issue for the 750,000 Australians with bike licences.
“We do not believe these laws fit with the Australian ideal of justice and a fair go for all,” the Christian Motorcycle Clubs decided at their 15th annual conference, this year held in Queensland.
The aim of the conference was to “develop a Christian response to the growing trend of governments in Australia to punish riders’ associations rather than behaviour”.
“Christian motorcyclists, along with most clear thinking people, are appalled at these anti friendship laws and the negative impact they can have on our community.’ said Conference Spokesman Greg Pendlebury from Brotherhood CMC.
A conference statement said new state laws had changed the nature of crime from “What you do?” to “Who you meet with?”.
“The laws result in people being punished for innocent activities,” said the statement.
“They make it a crime for some people to meet socially, have a meal together, or go to the footy. The VLAD laws apply to a club or a league or to any group of three or more persons, by whatever name called, legal or illegal.
“Every Queenslander has the potential to be impacted.”
The Christian biker clubs called fo repeal of the laws “that punish people for association rather than for crime”.
The conference supported the fight against outlaw gangs saying, “All crime, no matter who commits it, should be investigated thoroughly, tried justly, and punished appropriately.”
http://www.news.com.au/national/christian-motorcycle-clubs-want-vlad-scrapped-to-protect-innocent-riders/story-fncynjr2-1227286578658
And the Pilgrims, the Saints, the Brotherhood, and Bikers4Christ.
The 14 members of the Christian Motorcycle Clubs and Associations have condemned Queensland’s Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment laws (VLAD), the dramatically-named crackdown on bikie gangs introduced by the former government of Liberal Campbell Newman.
The laws hurt outlaw gangs but also have been used against innocent motorbike riders with no criminal involvement. Most notoriously, they restricted who and how bikers could meet. And they were followed by consorting laws in NSW and similar legislation in other states to become a national issue for the 750,000 Australians with bike licences.
“We do not believe these laws fit with the Australian ideal of justice and a fair go for all,” the Christian Motorcycle Clubs decided at their 15th annual conference, this year held in Queensland.
The aim of the conference was to “develop a Christian response to the growing trend of governments in Australia to punish riders’ associations rather than behaviour”.
“Christian motorcyclists, along with most clear thinking people, are appalled at these anti friendship laws and the negative impact they can have on our community.’ said Conference Spokesman Greg Pendlebury from Brotherhood CMC.
A conference statement said new state laws had changed the nature of crime from “What you do?” to “Who you meet with?”.
“The laws result in people being punished for innocent activities,” said the statement.
“They make it a crime for some people to meet socially, have a meal together, or go to the footy. The VLAD laws apply to a club or a league or to any group of three or more persons, by whatever name called, legal or illegal.
“Every Queenslander has the potential to be impacted.”
The Christian biker clubs called fo repeal of the laws “that punish people for association rather than for crime”.
The conference supported the fight against outlaw gangs saying, “All crime, no matter who commits it, should be investigated thoroughly, tried justly, and punished appropriately.”
http://www.news.com.au/national/christian-motorcycle-clubs-want-vlad-scrapped-to-protect-innocent-riders/story-fncynjr2-1227286578658
