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A Message from our Founder, Richard M. Lester
H.R. 1279 ON THE FAST TRACK - WE MUST ACT NOW

It is critical that we get these letters that we have been passing out at our Confederation of Clubs meetings signed and sent to your Senator and Congress Members.

While we have been pushing these letters to Senate and Congress regarding all these bills that are taking our rights away as American Citizens, Congress has managed to sneak in a new bill, which we have talked about at the meetings. The bill is H.R. 1279, which is related to S. 155, and H.R. 970, which is all Gang, related bills. HR. 1279 was introduced on March 14, 2005 by Representative Randy J. Forbes: this bill has made it further under the chain of command then any other Gang Bill, and as you all know that if you ride in a group of three or more you are considered a Gang. We all have to get our letters in to Senate and Congress to get this bill stopped, it is moving so fast we will have to work quickly. A Mark-up session was held on April 13, 2005, the views of both sides are studied in detail and at the conclusion a vote is taken to determine the action of the subcommittee. It may decide to report the bill favorable to the full committee, with or without amendment, or favorable, or without recommendation. The subcommittee may also suggest that the committee “table” it or postpone action indefinitely. Each member of the subcommittee, regardless of party affiliation, has one vote. Proxy voting is no longer permitted in House committees. It was ordered to be reported amended on April 20, 2005, to a full committee meeting. Final committee action is a full committee meeting; reports on bills may be made by subcommittees. Bills are read for amendment in committees by sections and members may offer germane amendments.

Committee’s amendments are only proposals to change the bill as introduced and are subject to acceptance or rejection by the house itself. A vote of committee members is taken to determine whether the full committee will report the bill favorably, adversely, or without recommendation. As you can see time is of the essence, we are going to have to move fast on the bill as it is on the fast track, this bill has passed further through all the committees and subcommittees than any other Gang Bill, while we set idly by and let it happen without evening knowing it. As American Citizens our rights are being stripped from us and we don’t even know it. As American Citizens we must all stand together and let the government hear our voices, as we are the voices for this country and we have that right to be heard. We are Not Gangs, we are men and women from all walks of life that enjoy the freedom of riding our bikes, enjoying the company of other fellow riders, and enjoy life and they are trying to take that away from us. What’s next, they go after our children for hanging out with friends, and riding their Bicycles. What is this country coming to, that they can tell us we can’t ride in a group of three or more or if we do we are a Gang, or they will deicide who you can associate with. I thought we lived in the Land of the FREE, which is no longer. The government is trying to dictate our lives and that is not being FREE. What happened to FREEDOM of CHOICE?

Status of Bill H.R. 1279 is as follows: