Published: 30 Jan 11 13:42 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110130-32763.html
The Hells Angels biker gang says it will challenge any legal bid to ban it across in Germany – as far as the European Court of Justice.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
President Barack Obama said Russian and US nuclear weapons should be slashed by up to a third in a keynote speech in front of Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate in which he called for a world of "peace and justice." READ () »
A German dentist who was so desperate for cash that he cut off his own finger for the insurance money has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to a year in prison to be served on parole. The man said he was the victim of an attack. READ () »
The Local met a colourful crowd gathered to glimpse First Lady Michelle Obama in Berlin on Wednesday - from the Dutch man who came all the way to Germany to see her, to the commuter annoyed to find his way to work barred by police. READ () »
Germany has the third highest population of millionaires of any country in the world, and according to a study released on Wednesday, their piles of gold are growing faster than the world economy. READ () »
Find movies playing in English in Germany with The Local’s cinema guide. READ () »
With temperatures creeping up into the high thirties on Wednesday Deutsche Bahn said broken air conditioning systems could see train cancellations across the country. The network is still battling to get back on track after the floods. READ () »
It's been a tough few days for Social Democrat chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrück. At the weekend he made headlines for crying at a party event and just three months before the election, support for his party is at an all-year low. READ () »
Barack Obama follows JFK and Ronald Reagan in his Berlin speech on Wednesday. Can he match being a Berliner or calling for Gorbachev to tear down that wall? The Local List has six other famous US quotes about Germany. READ () »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
886 jobs available
582 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
Your comments about this article:
¦quot;Do we blow up buildings? Do we deal weapons or tons of cocaine? No! We would never do that.¦quot;
I find the statements made interesting, but largely because of what they don't say. He never declares they wouldn't injure, maim, or kill rival gang members, or extort protection money, or generally raise hell. Those would be much tougher statements to make believable, given their history.
Although I don't know too much about their record in Germany or Europe as a whole, their track record in the US is...hmmm...bad. They have no one but themselves to blame for the bad PR they've received, and if a new gang has arrived in town, I have no doubts that trouble will follow.
I'm not too sure about banning them, but...in the words of the Bard..."methinks they doth complain too much."
wa
Well, you take the good with the bad. As long as drugs and prostitution are illegal, gangs will have their place in society. Hells Angels are not your local church choir, no. But, I can almost guarantee that you prefer your Local 81 to the alternatives; Middle Eastern, Aftrican and Russian Gangs.
Have you ever told a magazine all the crimes you would NOT commit?
At least while they wear their 'colours', you can identify them. If they are banned, then they fade into the background.
Helping evolve your or any society, they aren't.
But the various Gangs serve as a method of keeping them away from the rest of us.
A plague upon all their clubhouses.
What problems have muslim religious groups caused in Germany?
Governments should deal with threats proportional to the level of threat - and gangs are here and now and real
@catjones - I think you have identified the problem
The uk is getting itself in an awful mess trying to force people to be sociable. First they tried banning orders for anti-social behaviour (ASBOs) which just made it cool to be anti-social: I have a certificate proving I'm an idiot! Beat that!
Now they're trying to ban outward signs of gang membership - anyone betting on the price of a used biker jacket next year? But, forget the football scarf.
Its just a way to keep People from outwardly expressing affiliation (dress code) with a group. The question is, who is next to fill the Hells Angels shoes?
1. The Russian Mob doesn't wear 'Colors'. No, a Jump Suit and Gold Chain is not a 'Color'. Or, maybe it is. FAIL
2. Middle Eastern Gangs ' Unless Germany is going to ban a Headscarf... Nope. FAIL
3. African Gangs. Lol Afican Gangs don't give a Poo p. FAIL