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Am J Crim Just (2011) 36:231249
DOI 10.1007/s12103-011-9106-6
Karen Katz
Received: 10 February 2011 /Accepted: 15 March 2011 /
Published online: 4 June 2011# Southern Criminal Justice Association 2011
Abstract When there is a period devoid of sensationalistic biker news, the publics concern about outlaw bikers can be quite low. All it takes is one overt act of violence to heighten the publics fear of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are the most current dangerous class which have been the subject of a moral panic in Canada. Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs as organized crime bodies are deemed to be the single most serious threat to the countrythe enemy within. The gang war in British Columbia is fuelled by drugs supplied by the Hells Angels and there is a wide spread fear that these evildoers are trying to harm and tear apart the fabric of our society. This article provides a critical in-depth analysis of the construction of an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang moral panic with the focus on Canada. The roles played by the media, politicians, and the public in using isolated, violent incidents to support their interests will be examined along with the interactions between these groups and the resultant punitive actions directed toward members of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.
Keywords Moral panic . Outlaw motorcycle gangs . Hells angels . Outlaw bikers
By definition, on Outlaw Motorcycle Gang1 represents:
Any group of motorcyclist enthusiasts who have voluntarily made a commitment to band together and to abide by their organizations rules enforced by violence, who engage in activities that bring them and their club into repeated and serious conflict with society and the law (Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), 1994, p. 3).
1The terms Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs are often used Synonymously. The term Outlaw Motorcycle Gang holds more of a negative connotation and is the term most often used by those in law enforcement. For the purposes of this article, however, the terms Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs are used interchangeably.
Karen Katz has a B.A. and M.A. in Criminology and a LL.M. specializing in Criminal Law.
K. Katz (*)
URL: http://www.behindthepatch.com
Web End =www.behindthepatch.com
The Enemy Within: The Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Moral Panic
232 Am J Crim Just (2011)...