Sorry for this post will be long winded. I'll start with a few facts.
There was a meeting being held at the twin peeks restaurant in Waco that Sunday by the Confederation of Clubs and independent riders. It was a regular meeting in which several clubs and individuals attend several times a year. Not just 1% clubs but all types of clubs. ( they have a website that tells a little more about the confederation) they were going to discuss a few bills that were being voted on in the texas legislation,and other laws dealing with motorcyclist. Before the meeting started a fight broke out in the parking lot and that's when things went south. I have a close friend that attended and is in jail in Waco now. He claims he had just arrived, parked his truck started toward the restaurant and shots started being fired. He and couple that were with him took cover and waited the ordeal out trying to stay away from gunfire. He and nearly everybody on the premises were arrested and detained under a million dollar bond. He is a member of the bandidos and had a gun in his truck ( which is legal in texas) but that's the basis in which they have told him he was being arrested for. They have frozen his bank account and will not let anyone retrieve his truck which is in a impound lot that is accruing a 250 a day dept. (it's evidence) they say. This guy has no criminal history at all. Just as 115 of the 170 they have arrested. He said they are trying to get a hearing to reduce the bond from a million to something reasonable but will probably be June sometime before it happens.
The restaurant has released video from inside that shows nothing started inside. They also released a statement that said the local police never approached their management about the meeting or for them not to let the meeting be held there.
First the number of people killed by police fire was 4 but have recently read it was all 9.
Ap press checked the criminal backgrounds on all 170 and found that 115 didn't even have a criminal record period.
Most of the weapons being recovered have came from inside vehicles in the parking lot. (Again legal in texas)
Most of the (outlaw bikers ) converging on the town shortly after the shooting was people headed to the meeting. Again the shooting happened before the meeting was to start.
Not so much fact but my opinion -- Mr. Swanson of the Waco pd. is obviously very scared of bikers for what ever reason. The restaurant had been holding bike nights and other bike related things and he didn't like it. He may have had some kind of information that there may be trouble at this meeting. But I feel he had hipped his men a little too much and they over reacted.
My hopes would be that if there were bikers shooting at cops they got what they deserved or will be dealt with by the law. And the same goes for cops that may have shot unarmed bikers or killed bikers because of over reaction.
I'm simply a guy who enjoys riding my harley. Not affiliated with anyone but me. But I know not all club members are bad people not even all the people in some of the bigger 1% clubs. I certainly know that my friend isn't and hope all works out for him and the others that are being treated unfairly.
As for the dealer ship closing or being forced to close. (Again opinion) it's probably another overreaction by the pd. And is justifiable in their minds.