[LIConFem]

"In the situation that entailed here, by the time the Cobra would have been legitimately weapons free, it would have already crashed from the thrown rock. "

In this situation, perhaps. Then again, perhaps not. Neither of us was there at the time. But does this single data point mean that there's no merit to arming the patrols?

"The basic principle you uphold here is really no different than what the BATF proudly upheld at Waco--that law enforcement agencies are there to be judge, jury, and executioner against whatever class of criminal is unpopular with the Executive Branch. "

I never advocated using deadly force without provocation.

"Imagine President Hillary Clinton making use of your butched-up Border Patrol against "suspected illegal immigrant smugglers" who just happen to also be "right-wing terrorist extremists." Remember, the military got called in to help incinerate Waco because of an alleged (and nonexistent) drug lab."

That's quite a stretch from armed border-partol agents to preemtive attacks on "right-wing terrorist extremists" who are American citizens.

We're at war, and one of the many threats that we face is the possibility of terrorists coming across our borders from other Canada or Mexico. Do we kill anyone who tries to cross illegally? 'Course not. But border-patrol agents have to be able to protect themselves as they're protecting us. How would you propose we give them that ability without allowing them to use force when necessary?

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

"That's quite a stretch from armed border-partol agents to preemtive attacks on "right-wing terrorist extremists" who are American citizens."

When "illegal aliens" are fair game for application of lethal force without anything resembling due process...you will discover that the Left considers you a special subset of "illegal alien."