Park Ranger Cites Militia Leader, Seizes His Gun

The Arizona Daily Star ^ | Monday, January 27, 2003 | Tim Steller

[MrB]

He must have been carrying it openly, as an honest citizen should be able to do.

Had he been hiding it, some smarmy lawyer could probably get him off on a technicality.

[HangFire]

Give a bureaucrat a uniform, badge and a gun, and they seem to forget they serve the taxpayers,

Well put, I agree 100%!

Where can I get one of them jobs?LOL

[dirtboy]

Had he been hiding it, some smarmy lawyer could probably get him off on a technicality.

Well, I don't think state law applies here, since it is federal land and the nit-picks at the Park Service at that. Once again, I don't agree with what is going on, but I think this will be tried in federal, not state court.

[RKV]

At what point do we say "The law is an *ss?" I understand about not giving the opposition ammunition, but we do ourselves a disservice if we give up our rights.

[azsportsterman]

Unfortunately, most of the locals have been badgered into submission by the advocates for the illegals. Most of the ranchers won't allow the citizen's watch groups onto their land. I don't know if you've ever been to this forest, but its southern border is against Mexico. It's prime land for illegal entry.

[dirtboy]

At what point do we say "The law is an *ss?" I understand about not giving the opposition ammunition, but we do ourselves a disservice if we give up our rights.

Well, right now the battle is for the minds of swing voters on the issue, because if the polling numbers come around, the politicians will have to eventually follow or find new jobs. Which means it's a war of words and images, and the side that controls the tone of the debate wins the battle. The border groups, IMO, need to decide which battle they wish to fight and run their affairs accordingly.

[MosesKnows]

carrying a loaded weapon and operating without a permit at Coronado National Memorial

What was being operated without a permit?

[dirtboy]

Unfortunately, most of the locals have been badgered into submission by the advocates for the illegals. Most of the ranchers won't allow the citizen's watch groups onto their land. I don't know if you've ever been to this forest, but its southern border is against Mexico. It's prime land for illegal entry.

It only takes a few private landowners to create a platform for the border groups, and they're already drawing a tremendous amount of attention to the border issues with their actions so far. They can't stop the tide of illegals by themselves, but they can drive public opinion to force the government to take action. That IMO is where the battle needs to be waged, and the border groups need to be acutely aware that their opponents are waiting to pounce on the SLIGHTEST misstep, as this incident aptly demonstrates.

[justshe]

Everyone that works for the government in any way what-so-ever has been given instructions to "turn in their neighbor" for the slightest suspicion of anything... Now, someone is gonna ask me to prove that...sorry, I can't as it was done... "off the record" in the name of "Homeland Security"...



You realize, I suppose, that anyone could say ANYTHING and then make your statement, don't you? That hardly makes it credible. It just makes it a statment without source...and hence, NOT to be taken seriously.



You will take it seriously when and if it happens to you..!!!

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That is a non-response to my point. But if it makes YOU feel better, so be it. You HAD to have heard this from SOMEONE....or read it SOMEWHERE....or you work for the government and were TOLD this by someone? Which is it?

[Robert_Paulson2]

I wonder if her name was "Officer Maria de Silva, Fox-Rodriguez?" (OK a made up name... but you get the point.)

---

Could she possibly be clearing the pathway for her "coyote" friends to get another flock of communist worker's party illegals through the pass?

This lady should be investigated for possible connection to the "illegal immigrant railroad" that is running rampant on our southern border.

Yes... I think there are probably a few "dirty federal agents," on the take from the illegal "import mafia" dons of the nations of mexico and certain south american countries... fox, chavez, castro and de Silva....

The law that empowers this kind of behavior by leos, is wrong. As are the leos who selectively enforce it. It tends to make them targets for corruption, and makes them useful to the bad guys... with but a little bribery and blackmail.

[MineralMan]

"That IMO is where the battle needs to be waged, and the border groups need to be acutely aware that their opponents are waiting to pounce on the SLIGHTEST misstep, as this incident aptly demonstrates.

"

Bingo! Every time one of these folks gets arrested, it diminishes their message. While they may well feel that they have a right to go armed into the Nat. Parks, the law says that they do not. As you say, private land and publicity are going to be the keys here to winning public opinion over.

Given the general conservative nature of farmers, ranchers, and other large landowners, though, I wonder about that statement that most ranchers don't want these folks on their property. There's something here that's not being said.

[Spiff]

I just got off the phone with Simcox's secretary (I know her) and she offered more information.

In addition to the legal firearm, legal two-way radios, and legal scanner, his legal camera was seized. This camera is the same camera he uses as a tool of his business as he is the editor and a reporter for the Tombstone Tumbleweed newspaper.

Also, not reported, was that the female park service officer that stopped these hikers held a gun on them. I'm trying to get confirmation from Simcox himself, but apparently the female agent was of hispanic descent and she stated to the hikers that she "doesn't agree with what [they're] doing."

Simcox himself does not know under what specific statute he was given a citation. He doesn't know - no one has told him - what law he supposedly broke.

[Dead Corpse]

If it was Federal land, then the regulations cannot forbid the carrying of firearms as per the Second Amendment. Even by the gun grabbers twisted logic.

They never should have allowed a Park Ranger to confiscate their possessions.

[Chemist_Geek]

That IMO is where the battle needs to be waged, and the border groups need to be acutely aware that their opponents are waiting to pounce on the SLIGHTEST misstep, as this incident aptly demonstrates.

Who cares about image! But they can't take away our rights! What part of 'shall not be infringed' don't they understand? Traitors!

There. I think my impression of the politically-tin-eared, mouth-breathing libertarian FR poster is spot-on.

[dirtboy]

Also, not reported, was that the female park service officer that stopped these hikers held a gun on them.

I think the ranger might be in more trouble than Simcox. It would be interesting to see Park Sevice guidelines for drawing a weapon on someone. Was he carrying his gun openly or concealed? That would be a factor, because if he was carrying it concealed, how would she know he was armed?

I'm trying to get confirmation from Simcox himself, but apparently the female agent was of hispanic descent and she stated to the hikers that she "doesn't agree with what [they're] doing."

If that turns out to be the case, I figured as much. Thanks for the update.

[Chemist_Geek]

Oh, I forgot to add something about the "hoards" of illegals coming over the "boarders." But you get the point...

[duk]

About 10 years ago I took my BB gun to the Pictured Rocks National Park. I had thrown in the water (Lake Superior) several sticks and was shooting them. Other than my wife, no one was on the beach. A Park Ranger came up from behind me and asked what I was doing with a firearm in the Park? I told him three times it was a BB gun. He had to walk over 100 yds. of sandy beach to get to me, so he knew what I was doing and what I was armed with. He had his hand on his sidearm the entire time.
According to the rules, BB guns, slingshots, crossbows, bow and arrow are all considered firearms!! He escorted me to my truck where I put my firearm behind the back seat of my truck. He took my name and said if it happens again I would be cited.
If it can happen here in the U.P. of MI, I can only imagine how bad it is elsewhere.

[dirtboy]

Who cares about image! But they can't take away our rights! What part of 'shall not be infringed' don't they understand? Traitors!

There are two battles in this situation - the battle of the border groups against immigration, and the 2nd A issues of the Park Service guidelines. The border groups, since they are formed to combat illegal immigration and the lack of enforcement against such, need to focus on that particular issue, and not give their opponents PR ammo to use on the brain-addled voters who probably think the 2nd Amendment is the name of a new boy band. If you don't like the Park Service regulations prohibiting what you and I would consider to be the lawful exercise of 2nd A rights, then I suggest you engage in the level of effort to combat those regulations that the border groups are engaging in to combat illegal immigration, so they can focus on their particular mission.

There. I think my impression of the politically-tin-eared, mouth-breathing libertarian FR poster is spot-on.

Actually, you just did a dandy impersonation of someone oblivious to modern political realities.

[dirtboy]

They never should have allowed a Park Ranger to confiscate their possessions.

From Spiff's post #52, it looks like the ranger had the draw on them.