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In reply to your questions, I will try here. I hope we are talking about post #105.

Yes, the Border Patrol is greatly understaffed, doing a VERY dangerous job and sure, we could use more funds and manpower (which does not appear to be coming as promised, but being dribbled over us like someone sprinkling salt onto our wounds).

Most of the agents and their families that I know personally are ARRESTING AGENTS. They can only do what the Government allows as they are Representatives of our Government. Now if there is a problem with these limitations (and I think there may be) perhaps it should be addressed on a Federal level, as the local officers are literally under fire here. I would not object to Military Troops on the border. Trained organized professionals, not a group of irate citizens or as sasafras called them (and so appropriately) "VIGILANTES".

Some of the MMP may be people with good intentions, but some may have other motives for being here. I suspect that they would enjoy having Dan Rather as one of their embedded journalists, good idea? Could be, it appears that at least a couple of members in their group have lied, and how do you know they are not lying to you as well?

Could you tell me what a video tape of the illegal aliens is going to prove? We know they are coming, we are undermanned to stop them, and the knowledge that there is an illegal that you wish to follow on their journey thru our country in itself is ludicrous when you could report them at anytime and have them sent back where they came from.

"Since you are on "the other side of the fence" from me in this matter, I am going to ask you to do all FR.com website members and lurkers a favor. Would you please, starting a few days before the "Minutemen" are supposed to arrive take a few pictures, talk to your neighbors and police officers. Ask them to keep a sharp eye out for these "Minutemen" and to call you with their reports of infractions and any unwelcome behavior."

Sir, their presence alone is unwelcome behavior. We will be watching, but when we make reports we will be making them to Larry Deaver and his deputies or the Border Patrol. As I mentioned earlier, I may leave this up to the others, I will approach some of the folks in the group that I represent and ask them if they would like to report "unwelcome behavior to you via Internet", I suspect most of them would say if you are on the other side of the fence that you could NEVER appreciate it when OUR property lines are crossed and OUR homes and properties are damaged or OUR livestock are injured by this group (as has happened in "missions" of this type in the past), but I will ask if anyone in my group would like to make a day to day report to you.

When you offer money, could that mean that would you like to indemnify the MMP? Who will? That is the information that we really need to know. Who will pay for this group's inevitable damage to our homes, property or citizens?

Unlike some Arizonans I have been frugal and have all the monies and resources that I need to hound the MMP as far and as long as it amuses me to do so, if I should wish to do so, (and I do not). I do not need film for my camera or money to watch them, but I will ask some of the others in my group. I seriously doubt any of them will accept your offer because the majority of them hold deed to their lands, and feel they have a right to protect that which they have paid for and built by the sweat of their brow.

Now you have speculated that there will be no abuse of the illegal aliens, how can you be certain of that? Personally, I do not advocate torture, but once that cat's out of the bag, it may be more than the issue of the MMP vs Border Patrol or Citizens, the Mexican Gov. could ask for your extradition so you can spend some time in one of their prisons.

No Minuteman holds any claim to that which is OURS by legal deed because WE purchased or inherited these properties. At one time I loved living out here, then when the vigilantes from California and their groups started in on us that has become a constant source of annoyance. For all the wisdom that some of these groups claim to have, it seems that they prefer not to read as well as the illegal aliens. *Remember I said the illegals usually avoid my property because it is posted, that is not true with the VIGILANTES. They wander thru my property as if they think they pay the taxes on it (and they don't). I have had more reason to take up my rifle for Americans than I have for illegals in the past few years. When confronted some of these vigilante types have been rude, unsupervised armed and literally had to escorted from my land by Law Enforcement. I suppose I have been called about any name that most of you could think of and all because I want to enjoy some peace and quiet on my property.

While we are speaking of taxes and expenses, do you think that the efforts on the border to detain and transfer and medically treat illegal aliens has not had a serious impact on Cochise County and our taxes? If you think that, then you would be wrong.

The issue of the Minutemen is merely another one of those flies that you spoke of that needs to be swatted down. They are coming here hoping to do something that all of the other vigilantes including the ones who are out there all the time are unable to do without breaking the law. Maybe use your monies to help support the CHANGE of border policies? If I knew any pre-packaged solutions to this problem of illegal aliens, I would give it to you right here and now.

Perhaps the people who will be caring for my ranch will report to you, if the MMP only stay on Private Properties in the area then it's likely that we can avoid problems with them.

I don't think it's right that the Border Agents cannot return fire across the Mexican Border. I never have, still the fact remains that they have been told not to, and they are doing the best they can within the confines of Governmental guidelines. I try to stay out of range of them and also try to remember that we are NOT at war with Mexico (at this time).

B4Ranch, did I answer your questions? I do not intend to be rude, if it was not for others that came before the Minutemen who convinced so many of us that many of the Vigilantes are bad... IF so many of them had not already tried to make the citizens out here their victims (and many of us are tired of that)...This is not the first "mission" near our homes, there is a group that is constantly out there damaging our property, tearing up fences and actually trespassing by going where they are NOT welcome, this group all claim to be Americans who are protecting the border (and if our property gets torn up in the process, so what?) Well we are gearing up to have a so what for them, that's what!

If we do not have the right to speak up or defend our property, then how or who will stand up to deny us that right? The Law is on our side, if they damage our homes or property we will have to use the only means of legal retaliation that are available to us, and that would be the Court system. This could all be avoided if these great Patriots would stage their protests where there are already reporters anxious to give the politicians BAD press. I do not think you are going to find very many reporters wandering around out here in the desert unless they bring Dan Rather with them.

In closing, thank you for your offer, I will at next week's meeting mention that you have offered to pay for people to watch the MMP, but I hope you are not disappointed when you do not get a lot of takers for that offer. They will be watching them but the reports they make about them will probably be to Law Enforcement, not an interested person from the Internet, although I do find your offer of funding for such a project to be a kind one. Thank you.

If I have missed the point of you post or questions, I will be glad to better understand when I come home from Phoenix. I apologize that it has taken me so long to read over your post again and try not to seem hostile. It could be that if I were to meet some of you in a neutral venue, we could agree on a great many things regarding the sad lack of support for our Border Patrol here.

I have felt that my views are being attacked here but that is not important. The important issue here is a solution to the REAL problem of illegal aliens (this includes Canadians who may be in our country illegally) will NOT be solved by Jim Jones GilCHRIST, he is just another huckster from California who wants to sell you all some snake oil, and wants to conquer the legal residents of Cochise County who want to resist yet another group of VIGILANTES in our community. This is my opinion and generally represents some of the Citizens in Cochise County.