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I read the article. Riddle was the one that was shot, but Riddle was WITH Nethercott.

Nethercott is the one with the criminal record. Chances are good that Riddle has a criminal record also. Thugs usually play with other thugs. They aren't known for their ability to play well with others.

But regardless, Riddle was with Nethercott. Together, they didn't stop and the article says ........Charlene Thornton, special agent in charge of the Phoenix FBI office, said that "actions taken by Nethercott and Riddle led one of the FBI agents to fire his weapon."

Did you get that? The actions taken by Nethercott AND Riddle.

They both were trouble. If Riddle was an innocent bystander why did he participate in something that led to a gunfight? The article clearly indicates that he did something aggressive towards the agents.

Remember that Nethercott told the agents there would be a shoot out. To me that means they had a gun or guns and they intended to use them. With the history of gun related violence by Nethercott they had every reason in the world to take him seriously.

The article says they both participated in activities that resulted in Riddle being shot. Riddle was NOT an innocent bystander.

He cancelled out his "law abiding citizen" status with that willingness to shoot at federal agents.

That means he is a criminal, NOT a "law abiding citizen.

Riddle was acting in an aggressive manner or he wouldn't have been shot.

Riddle was part of a duo that verbally threatened federal agents and then did something that showed the agents that they meant every word.

I have spent lots of time with police officers and I was a reserve officer myself. I taught at a police academy for years.

They frown on shooting people without cause.

I'm not willing to assume the worst about the agents like you and many others seem to be willing to do.

You support the criminal. I support law enforcement.

I don't see how you can defend Riddle. That's just bizarre to me.

I do not support the criminal.

You assume things the article did not give.

Chances are good that Riddle has a criminal record also.
Assumption

Charlene Thornton, special agent in charge of the Phoenix FBI office, said that "actions taken by Nethercott and Riddle led one of the FBI agents to fire his weapon."
But they will not say what those actions were? Seems suspicious to me.

Remember that Nethercott told the agents there would be a shoot out.
An entirely different day, incident, and government agency.

He cancelled out his "law abiding citizen" status with that willingness to shoot at federal agents.
Assumption, nowhere in the article does it say that either man shot at the agents or even showed a weapon.

Riddle was acting in an aggressive manner or he wouldn't have been shot.
Assumption

I'm not defending the men in any way.
There is not enough information to make any assumptions. The only thing we know is that the man that got shot was NOT the man the agents were initially after.
If the men took such drastic action why did only one agent shoot? He was the only one with a vantage point to see the action? Possibly.

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when they deserve it.
Not all government actions are deserving of support. Some are, but some are not.

Without more detailed information I question the shooting of a man that the agents were not initially after. That's all.

The real problem is not with Nethercott or militia types. The mission of the Border Patrol is to protect the border. They are not accomplishing this task, a situation that is not the fault of the agents, but of their superiors and the political elite of both parties. There are not enough agents, they are underequipped, and I suspect their hands are tied with regard to intercepting illegal entrants into the country. It would further appear that the hierarchy of the Border Patrol and the FBI and the Arizona Attorney General are more interested in eliminating these private militias than with doing anything about sealing the border with Mexico.

Last year, three million illegal immigrants entered the United States. There have been several incidents where Mexican Army units have penetrated into American territory and shot at Border Patrol. Where is your outcry against the assaults on Border Patrol agents by Mexican soldiers? I dare say Border Patrol agents are more threatened by Mexican soldiers and violent criminals than they are by these militia members.

The bottom line is that our borders with Mexico and Canada are so porous as to be virtually nonexistent. This is the real problem, and not a few loose cannon gringos.