It is my opinion that these folks should leave their guns at home. Please bring the wife and kids with you there is some wonderful history in this area. Please take the time to know us before you stage an armed invasion into our communities. How selfish and foolish is it to come to someone else's hometown with guns in your hands when the citizenry have told you that you are not welcome in that capacity! I respectfully request that Jim Gillcrest or whoever is leading this group kindly ask them to "stand down". Thank you, I am not experienced at starting threads, but this issue is doom hanging over our homes. Their presence may only cause the deaths of more Border Agents or Local or Federal agents or some (perhaps well meaning) people who think they are coming here to accomplish something in a month that they are not trained to do.
Here's a thought. Put pressure on the Bush administration and congress to secure the border and enforce the laws and civilians won't need to patrol the border.
When the homes and ranches of American citizens stop being over run by illegals the citizen patrols will stop.
Though many of your citizens do not want these volunteers to come and 'help' out, many of them apparently DO want the help.
This is part of the confusion created when the government does not do its consitutionally appointed job to defend the national sovereignty.
Maybe your efforts would prove more fruitful if you addressed your concerns about the border to the federal authorities.
The vast majority of BP Agents do want then, it's mostly management that does not want them.
I agree these people are not helping.
What WOULD help, however, is volunteers to build a real barrier along the border.
This is largely private property. The ranchers are tired of stuff getting stolen, fences cut, dangerous thugs (coyotes and drug dealers more so than immigrants, illegal or no) on their property.
Most ranchers would welcome a large, serious, wall/fence, perhaps with accompanying ravine, roads for Immigration to inspect and repair, and places for monitors.
I would like to know what the average field agent thinks instead of some talking head who get instructions from his superior.
I'm new to this subject, but it sounds to me like you are part of the problem...
"Many of the Citizens here do not want the Minuteman Project, the Local Law Enforcement doesn't want them, the Border Patrol doesn't want them." This is crap. When the Government (our Government) does not protect us then it is the responsibility of the citizenry to do the job. As far as training, how long does it take to train. Does this mean citizens are so stupid they can't train themselves. What makes law enforcement the only training. All the training needed is a careful detaining, cut a hold in the fence if there is one, and shove them back. Hand them a piece of paper saying, try the proper border crossing next time. Maybe not said good here, but get the message. Either Government does the job or we will.
Earth calling the Border Patrol...
As LEOs need to be reminded from time to time, in a sane world you are the help, not us!
Or, to put it as clearly as is humanly possible, we are the masters and you are the servants. If you disagree, please, do elaborate.
It's about making a political statement as much as it is "helping" patrol the border. The political statement needs to be made. As far as assisting in border patrol, what is stated by this article may actually be the case.
If the locals won't do anything, then prepare for invasion. This is a national problem. But I agree with the idea that they aren't properly equipped and trained. What's needed are teams of rangers, all good men, fully equipped and organized to protect the borders, with more choppers than the border patrol now use, with more effective means, and with an eye not to harming any but the 'coyotes' or gangsters behind these incursions.
Don't let them intimidate you. If they start chasing you around/stalking you on other threads, hit the abuse button because thread jumping is forbidden here.
"It is my opinion that these folks should leave their guns at home. Please bring the wife and kids with you there is some wonderful history in this area. Please take the time to know us before you stage an armed invasion into our communities"
1) Open carry is the law in AZ.
2) Your town is already being invaded.
3) They'll be on public land and private land they have permission to traverse.
"Also, Nicley said the project's volunteers are not trained in law enforcement."
The sad thing is that cops get their powers from us, yet, they claim we don't understand those powers.
I have no training in gravity either but I can catch a ball.
So what is YOUR hometown going to do about OUR border?
Hmmmm last i knew the border belonged to all of us not just one community and i sure as heck am not going to bring my wife and kids to someplace you deem yourself and the border patrol deems unsafe
Your telling this to us why aren't you telling it to the illegals ?