After reading the Newsweek article, "A Very Hellish Journey," by Eve Conant, I discovered that the consequences for working undercover in order to bring criminals to justice are quite dangerous. Jay Dobyns, a 15- year agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) who worked undercover as a member of the motorcycle gang, Hells Angels, has been on the run ever since he was able to arrest 52 Hells Angels, to which 16 of them were charged with racketeering and murder. After the raid in 2003, Dobyns has been receiving death threats and his house was even set on fire last summer. In my opinion, I don't think his job was worth it because he placed his life and his family's safety in danger. As a husband and a father of two, Dobyns should have thought of the consequences that would follow, such as the Hells Angels taking vengeance for the arrests by hurting or even killing him and his family.
A Hells Angel told Dobyns after the raid, "We know where you live. You'll run the rest of your life." I think anyone would be scared if they heard that from a big man with tattoes all over. Dobyns is currently "running for his life," however, the ATF isn't doing enough to hide his identity or respond to the threats. How unfair is that? Wouldn't you expect the bureau that you have worked and risked your life for to atleast protect you from the bad guys? I also don't think that it was a smart idea of Dobyns to publish a book about his operation on the Hells Angels, which is titled "No Angel," because it would bring more attention to him. The Hells Angels then might be able to gather information from the book and track him down. What was he thinking when he published the book? Did he just want to make more money? If so, then that's just being selfish and negligent.
However, despite their threats, Dobyns says that he doesn't want to keep moving or be scared all his life. He tells Newsweek reporters brave words, "I am not afraid. I will not be intimidated and forced to wear a wig and a plastic nose and mustache. I am going to live my life." But how could he and his family live life as regular American citizens knowing that there are people at his neck? I think being a Hells Angel in order to pursue justice is probably the biggest mistake that Dobyns has ever made, in regards to his and his family's secuirty. He is living in constant fear which is, in my opinion, a lot like Hell.
Here's a link for more information about the Hells Angels motorcycle gang:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hells_Angels
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I'd be scared. It would be hard to continue with my life knowing that a gang was trying to kill me. I'd also be angry with the bureau. If I worked on a dangerous mission like that, I'd expect my employer to look out for my safety, especially if my house was set on fire because of it.
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From that experience, I can understand that it would change your life entirely. I would imagine that everyday you would have to be cautious about where you go, what you say, everyone around you. Despite this dramatic change of lifestyle, what Dobyns did was courageous. I mean, if we all thought like you and Jennifer, that he shouldnt have taken the job because of the danger, would there be heroes in society? Who else would stop those bad people in society.
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