I asked my DH what he thought about this topic and he said "I don't have a problem with them as long as they don't have a problem with me" and that's pretty much how I feel too. 

Living and working in the CBD I've seen trouble with goths and boy racers and booze/drug fuelled teens and IMO they can be more intimidating.  Last xmas DH and I (from the safety of our car) stopped a fight between about 8 boy racers vs one drunk guy that shot off his mouth.  The stupid drunk was on the ground being kicked and still shooting off his mouth, it took for me to lean on my horn before the kids would leave him alone and then the drunk guy abused us for interferring - dumbass!

Mum2Lucas wrote: if we had an active KKK group here, I imagine there would be a HUGE uproar if they were to wear their gear/cones out in public ...I'm not sure what these gangs policies are and if any follow along the same lines as KKK (except they go against whites) but I liken it to what I've mentioned above.

Damn right there would be an uproar - and so there should be.  Don't quote me but my knowledge of the KKK is that they truly believe that they are God's chosen people and made in the image of God and that anyone who isn't white is an animal and should be treated as such and put in their place if they overstep their position.  I'm not an expert but pretty sure that unlike the KKK the gangs in NZ aren't into genocide.  Infact (and now I'm generalising) if you look throughout recent history it's usually been white people that have tried segregation and genocide (thinking SA's apartheid, the way aboriginals and american indians were treated, the chinese and indians who were made slaves and servants in their own lands and of course the holocaust)

Anyway, the point is (and again I'm no expert) that the majority of gang members don't mean you any harm, just as the majority of "average" citizens don't.

Steph some regional councils have laws against wearing patches but there isn't a National law and I don't think there should be either, next we'd be making laws about wearing burkhas or crosses in public IYKWIM.

I can't say I've ever felt intimidated by someone just because they're wearing a patch, then again I lived in Cannons Creek for a couple of years and my DH knew guys in the mongrel mob.

Umm I dont either. I found myself in a situation where I had to homevisit a house for the first time not knowing it was a gang house until I found myself in the lounge with over 10 mob members and no baby or mother insight. Ekk inside I was suddenly having heart failure and I was on the verge of fainting Turns out the baby was out with mum doing some erans(sp?) and the next minute I am offered coffee, food etc.. I adivsed I could come back but they werent having any of it, they welcomed me and we all had a chat about the kids etc. Turns out it was the 2nd in charge house I was in and all the others were local member including the president (who is the 2nd in charge FIL) was there too.  Yes at first I was thinking great, im going to get raped, beaten, murdered etc but after awhile I settled down and mum and bubba arrived about 15mins later lol. She apolygised and we got on with the visit. I am lucky that I am now known to them all as "the baby nurse" they call me and so I feel comfortable heading into there area.

I have felt threaten when I see a group in the street in town, but try to keep my head up and ignore them.