Call them what they are
May 19, 2015, 6:22 AM | Updated: 8:48 am
Authorities investigate a shooting in the parking lot of the Twin Peaks restaurant May 17, in Waco, Texas. Authorities say that the shootout victims were members of rival biker gangs that had gathered for a meeting. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
(AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
He says call them what they are.
That shootout in Waco between white motorcycle gangs in a shopping plaza comes as no surprise to Steve Cook. He runs a group called the Midwest Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigators Association – a group of law enforcement officers. And he thinks it’s time to stop mincing words:
“The Banditos in Shedden, Ontario — I believe it was five years ago — they murdered an entire chapter of their own members because they weren’t following the rules,” Cook said. “They invited them to a party, they executed them when they showed up and they dumped their bodies and vehicles out on a piece of property. These guys are domestic terrorists.”
And yet the Twin Peaks Restaurant in Waco was more than happy to host them for that Sunday confab, despite warnings from the police. Steve said that was reckless, and said these gangs ought to be banned.
“I think it’s time for some of our elected officials to get involved in this and say ‘Hey, what legitimate purpose do these guys serve?'” Cook said. “Yeah, they go pass out toys one day a year. I don’t think that counteracts the other 364 days a year that they are robbing and murdering and slinging drugs.”
The gangs were pretty smart about one thing, though — they only killed each other.
And because of that, it’s easy for the rest of the country to simply say good riddance and go back to worrying about ISIS — until it happens again. Steve Cook said it will.
“It may not be today, it may be three months from now,” Cook said. “This is far from over. These groups are not going to forgive and forget.”
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