The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are blaming former FX crime drama “Sons of Anarchy” for the rise in Nova Scotia motorcycle gangs.
“I can tell you that it’s growing, ever since the phenomenon of ‘Sons of Anarchy,’” Constable Scott Morrison of the Criminal Intelligence Service of Nova Scotia told the Board of Police Commissioners during a recent presentation, according to the Star Halifax. “Where that television show has seemed to almost socialize outlaw motorcycle gang life, more people want to join that life, think it’s a brotherhood, think the camaraderie is there, based on the television show, and they’re joining up.”
“People look at that and they think, ‘Oh that’s an attractive lifestyle. They’re making money, riding their bikes, they’re doing this, they don’t have any problems with anyone,’” Constable Mike Carter of the Nova Scotia Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit added. “But there’s always … always another side of the coin, with the violence and the home invasions and all that other part of the lifestyle that’s not that attractive.”
There are between 100 and 200 active motorcycle gang members across Nova Scotia, per the RCMP. Read more here about the situation up there, which includes the rise of a local Hells Angels chapter. (“Sons of Anarchy” was actually set in Central California, not Canada.)
“Sons of Anarchy,” which was created by Kurt Sutter and starred Charlie Hunnam, ran on FX from 2008 to 2014. Spinoff “Mayans MC,” which is set in a post-Jax (Hunnam) world is set to premiere in early September.