Pubdate: Tue, 17 Jun 2003
Source: Kenora Daily Miner And News (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 Kenora Daily Miner and News
Contact:  http://www.bowesnet.com/dailyminer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/855
Author: Jorge Barrera

BUNKER BYLAW AIMS TO PREVENT BIKER GANGS

Kenora city council launched a pre-emptive strike against outlaw biker 
gangs Monday by unanimously passing a bunker bylaw.

The bylaw, called the Fortification of Land bylaw, will prevent biker 
gangs, like the Hells Angels, from turning a local building into a 
clubhouse fortress.

"It's better to do it ahead of time," said Mayor Dave Canfield. 
"Preventative methods are there in case the situation arises." Canfield 
said council along with the police services board have been mulling a 
bunker bylaw for a year.

Kenora is bookended by a seven-member Hells Angels chapter in Thunder Bay 
and a 13-member chapter in Winnipeg.

The Kenora OPP and the Kenora police force could not be reached for comment 
on the issue.

Gord McTaggart, chairman of the police board, welcomed council's move.

"I think it's the right thing to do," he said. "We're not interested in 
biker gangs setting up in Kenora."

The bylaw forbids using metal bars, steel plates, bullet proof shutters and 
heavy wire mesh to cover windows. It also forbids reinforcing the walls of 
a building with steel sheeting and plates or using extra concrete as a 
barrier to repel attacks by bullets, vehicles, shock and explosives.

"We're closing the door now (on biker gangs) before they come here," said 
Coun. Ron Lunny. "The city can't tolerate that. It's a tourist destination. 
We have to keep it as crime free as possible."

Outlaw motorcycle gangs have been connected to some of the hundreds of 
thousands of dollars worth of drugs, cash and guns seized last year, police 
said during a drug seminar earlier this year.

Although the Hells Angels don't have a chapter in Kenora, they influence 
the drug trade in the city, Det. Const. Dwain Hill of the OPP biker unit 
said at the time.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens