Gangland and Texas gang identification

[Hoi Polloi]

I just watched the video on the Bandidos. It said they embrace white supremacy and have the signs, insignia, and ideology of the SS interwoven in the club.

You can see where they discuss it at 7:40 here.

(Not to rehash what McKnife saw. Just fascinated with the racial and racist overtones to these gangs.)

[alvins]

i often wonder why they advertise themselves so much when their not in a group.isnt that kinda asking to be pulled over by hpd?ofcourse i guess no one said they were super smart.

[kyreb]

I regularly attend the big cycle rally in Galveston every fall even though I do not ride nor own a bike. The Banditos are always a big presence there.

I have never seen them get out of line with anyone. They just seem to mind their own business.

[speedsix]

...well, most folks 'round here don't remember that the Bandidos ARE mostly white...they based in Shreveport in the 60s and 70s, and they left La for Texas when the Crips and Bloods moved in and started taking over the drug trade...got too violent for them...I'm still looking for Gypsy...he oughta be about 68 now...love to share a coupla beers with him and talk old times...my gang dealt with his gang real often...

[fulano]

This is way too tedious.....

When I see someone who has failed to remove their Halloween costume, I heighten my awareness.

Who cares what all their crap signs and garb means. To study and validate it gives them unearned and undeserved power.

[speedsix]

...evidently SEVERAL of us have interest and care...we learn a lot here...rather than taking a dump on the thread, perhaps you could see your way to simply pass over it and on to something that interests you....

[Hoi Polloi]

i often wonder why they advertise themselves so much when their not in a group.isnt that kinda asking to be pulled over by hpd?ofcourse i guess no one said they were super smart.

The videos said that they feel invincible and above the law. They take pride in being able to flaunt their membership in front of the police and all of creation and to have people fear them. I thought it was interesting to see how pride in group affiliation is changing. A white supremacist in one of the videos (I don't remember which) said he has nazi symbols and slogans all over him and most people can't look at him twice without peeing in their pants. He loved that fear he inspired and took pride in claiming the group identity. For most of these gangs, they've had to suffer beatings and numerous other things in order to be identified with them and they know they'll face severe punishment if they bring disrespect to the group name.

The Tango Blast group is different, though. They're more like Al Queda--a loose network. They don't have a military or corporation structure like most gangs. They all do their own thing and they have an alliance of people who will have their back. They wear local jerseys and telephone area codes and will tell the police they just love their city. They pride themselves more on getting out of a police encounter than on showing respect to the group. The police and gang experts said it is a scary dynamic that's being created because now nothing will keep these hopeless, live for the minute, expect to die, often high, youth in check and then who knows what they'll do. And there are so many of them that if they united on a common cause, we'd be in some serious trouble.

[speedsix]

...no doubt gangs have changed like the rest of society to have less respect for LEOs...and citizens...and life...
...in the 70s, they'd shove someone around or kick their car door in...surround them and scare 'em...now, not that that was right, but all my life I've seen folks dis motorcycle riders and sneer at them...provoking an angry response...seen cars and trucks put them in danger on the road...so I know something of both sides of it...when I was a cop we had very little serious problems from the 70-80 in S'port...and I would treat them fairly...and get treated fairly...
...I know that when you bring drugs into it...it escalates everything and is much more evil and dangerous...but if we were to see their list of grievances...we'd find out that society hasn't been fair with them, either...(and I've never ridden a cycle)...not excusing their crimes, either...just acknowledging that they've been shunned by "good people" for decades...and have developed their OWN society...

[LongHairedRedneck]

whose headquarters is in San Antonio.

Just a little FYI on the Bandidios: Formed in San Leon, Texas and their national hub is Galveston.

[03Lightningrocks]

The Gangland series is quite shocking in showing how these gang member live
and do their business.

But although they are bad actors, it seems like they usually stick to their own
low rent parts of cities, and tend to mix it up criminally with other gangs more so
than the average working citizen.

My theory on this is that if the gang members started too much random violence on
decent people, the LEO's would turn up the heat fast, and make it too hard on the
gangbangers to travel around and "do business".

Anyone have another perspective for where these gangbangers fit into life?

SIA

This is how I see it also.

[Mike1951]

Good to know about the red and blue bandannas that I sometimes wear as sweatbands.

Thinking that my bib overalls might be a clue, though.

[Hoi Polloi]

My theory on this is that if the gang members started too much random violence on
decent people, the LEO's would turn up the heat fast, and make it too hard on the
gangbangers to travel around and "do business".

Anyone have another perspective for where these gangbangers fit into life?

SIA

Someone comes to you and asks you for a recommendation on a car mechanic, a song to play at a party, or a place to pick up a shirt, what are your answers going to be? Are you going to consider the little hole in a wall shop with the bars on the windows in a part of town you've never been in? It won't even occur to you.

This isn't a deliberate choice on your part to not encourage or support criminal behavior or to keep them from noticing your neighborhood. It's just what you know and are familiar with and appreciate.

I think the same is true of gang members. They stick to what they know, like the rest of us. However, what some of them know is being hired hit men, robbing big targets, infiltrating banks, etc where they and you are likely to intersect paths. Many home invasions are done after being cased by home service repairmen like carpet cleaning, AC repair, etc. It expands their circles. There's no organized plan to keep their trade routes open; just crimes of opportunity and more opportunities present themselves among the areas they tend to frequent. That's my opinion.

[SWAMPRNR]

I regularly attend the big cycle rally in Galveston every fall even though I do not ride nor own a bike. The Banditos are always a big presence there.

I have never seen them get out of line with anyone. They just seem to mind their own business.

I see them regularly out and about on the weekends in Killeen at a place i go to.They always stay to their selves and mind there own business. With all the burglaries and shootings in the Killeen area i have never seen one of there members in the news.

[Art S]

...well, most folks 'round here don't remember that the Bandidos ARE mostly white...they based in Shreveport in the 60s and 70s, and they left La for Texas when the Crips and Bloods moved in and started taking over the drug trade...got too violent for them...I'm still looking for Gypsy...he oughta be about 68 now...love to share a coupla beers with him and talk old times...my gang dealt with his gang real often...

In the late 60's early 70's there was a branch in galveston. Very rare to hear about them in the news, for more than little stuff. their was a shooting on the seawall by the flag ship at one point but, that was internal, fighting over a girl. Biggest news for them was when they all came to Ben-Tuab to donate blood during a shortage. Again mostly White guys keeping to themselves.
Later,
Art S.

[speedsix]

...there are "good" bad guys and "bad" good guys...I've developed a fierce support for bikers after living a long life hearing "folks" bad-mouth and look down on them...they don't get a pass but they do get equal+ in my book...