Posted on 08/16/2005 2:29:11 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Leaders of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, the Tombstone, Ariz.-based outfit that has gained national attention for organizing citizen patrols of the U.S.-Mexico border, are in Midland today to recruit and train volunteers for an October patrol of Texas' southern border.
U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland also will appear on the Fox News "Hannity & Colmes" show, broadcast live from a ranch southeast of Midland where the Minutemen will meet and train.
The Minutemen formed several years ago in response to what group members say is an insufficiently protected national border with Mexico.
"We have a thirty minute training DVD and we basically just go over the finer points of the operation," founder and national president of the Minutemen project said of today's training.
"Training stresses that we're going to be working on private property, there is no contact (with suspects). We observe and report and assist border patrol in spotting and reporting suspicious and illegal activity."
Simcox said he expects "anywhere from 20 to 50 people" for the meeting and training session.
Opponents have criticized the Minutemen for taking the law into their own hands and according to the Associated Press, President Bush has expressed opposition to border "vigilantes."
Mike Zuniga Jr., senior advisor for the League of United Latin American Citizens and former director of the League's state district that includes Midland, told the Reporter-Telegram the district is organizing an opposition movement to the Minutemen project.
"I think the United States government should put enough money for the border patrol to work the borders instead of having people that, as far as we're concerned, are malicious vigilantes. We don't need that," Zuniga said.
Organizer of the Midland-Odessa Minutemen chapter, Pat Kennedy, said members of the group are not vigilantes and understand the project as a way to raise awareness and publicity of failing border security.
Sean Hannity of "Hannity & Colmes" has followed the group's progress for several years, Simcox said.
Hannity took his show to the Ariona.-Mexico border when the Minutemen patrolled the border there in April and asked to give the group coverage for their current Texas operation.
"We sent out a press release that we were on this Texas tour," Simcox explained. "He contacted us and said he wanted to participate and we said, 'no problem.' It's good publicity."
Minutemen training sessions were held recently in Houston and the Dallas area and are scheduled for Wednesday in Alpine and Thursday in El Paso.
For more information about today's Minutemen training event and meeting, call 520-457-2320 or visit www.minutemanhq.com.
I think this is going to be a big issue in 2008. The Republicans could sweep every election if they'd just realize how important this is to US citizens.
Texas Minutemen Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
Thanks for the Ping!
All the Men here at work will be attending. Me? I have to..work!
I am excited to have the Minutemen so close. (I'm in Odessa,not far from the Ranch where they are)
Conaway is MY Congressman, he has supported HR 418 (Real ID), HR 1817 (to increase funding for Border Security), and co-sponsered House Concurrent Resolution 50 which deals with the current "totalization agreement" with Mexico that gives benefits to illegals.
I'll have to watch some local news (ugh!) instead of FoxNews so I can see how this is going over. I know the local liberal rag is againts them..
*BUMP*!
Contact Governor Perry here:
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact
Now is not the time to play politics. We need a strong bipartisan coalition.
ping
Formed several years ago? What, is ol' Simcox an octagenarian? LOL.
They also serve, who stay at work and give financial support.
That IS interesting, seeing as how The Minuteman Project was originated by James Gilchrist about ONE year ago. Prior to that the Minuteman project didn't exist and Chris Simcox was Civil Homland Defense.
Sean, waz up?
They absolutely have my financial support!
I'm just a bit irritated that I can't get the time to do the REAL work, although my husband has expressed interest to meet up with them in Las Cruces.
We have some good 4x4 Jeeps that could come in handy, I think.
He is a waste of time, he could care less about the border situation. He has bigger fish to fry, like building TOLL ROADS.
What a P.O.S.
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