3 border agents shot at in 2 weeks

Arizona Daily Star ^ | October 5, 2002 | Tim Steller

[Selmo]

Three U.S. Border Patrol agents have reported being shot at in separate incidents west of Tucson since Sept. 23.

Only once did an agent return fire, agency spokesman Ryan Scudder said. No agents were injured, and it was unclear whether anyone was struck by the agent's gunfire.

In the first incident, about 2 a.m. on Sept. 23, an agent was driving west along the border, about a mile east of San Miguel Gate, when he heard three shots fired from the Mexican side of the border, Scudder said. One round struck the left rear side of the agent's marked Chevrolet Tahoe.

The agent left the area and did not return fire, Scudder said. The agent did not see any people or vehicles in the area where the shots originated.

San Miguel Gate is a popular but informal border crossing on the Tohono O'odham Nation, about 30 miles south of Sells and 65 miles southwest of Tucson.

At about 4 p.m. on Sept. 26, an agent was driving south toward Serapo Gate, another informal crossing on the reservation, about 20 miles west of San Miguel Gate. Another vehicle going south passed the agent, and someone fired at the agent as that vehicle passed, Scudder said.

That agent returned fire, but it was unclear whether he struck the vehicle or anyone inside, said Scudder, who did not have a vehicle description.

About 3 a.m. Tuesday, an agent working on foot had just discovered a group of border crossers in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument when he heard a gunshot, Scudder said. The agent also said he heard a bullet ricochet off a rock.

Agents searched for eight hours but could not find evidence of the bullet or the shooter, Scudder said.

The three incidents were the latest in a series of gunfire attacks on agents in Southern Arizona this year. Tucson Sector agents reported being fired on at least seven times in the fiscal year that ended Monday, Scudder said.

In March, a drug smuggler fleeing back to Mexico fired repeatedly on agents near Naco.

In May, an agent working near Papago Farms, about 100 miles southwest of Tucson, reported being fired on by Mexican soldiers driving a Humvee.

In July, an agent working in the same area reported being chased and fired on by men in a pickup, and returning fire. No one is known to have been hit in any of these three incidents.

But in August, a man believed to be a drug smuggler shot and killed National Park Service Ranger Kris Eggle as he worked alongside Border Patrol agents in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. In that case, Eggle's killer, Panfilo Murillo Aguila, was then shot to death by Mexican officers on their side of the border.

Edward "Bud" Tuffly, the president of the agents union in Southern Arizona, said agents are wondering whether there will be a response to the shootings.

"If something is being done, they're not being told about it," Tuffly said. "That has a demoralizing effect on the agents."

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Edward "Bud" Tuffly, the president of the agents union in Southern Arizona, said agents are wondering whether there will be a response to the shootings. "

Sure. Bush will cuddle up to Mexico and tell our agents to stop shooting back.

[PatrioticAmerican]

The sad thing is that we have 16-32,000 troops in South Korea to protect their borders but we don't have troop one protecting ours.

[apochromat]

Satellite laser beams.

[apochromat]

On second thought, just build lots of armored towers in a row across the whole region, and put lots of air-conditioning in them.

[apochromat]

Run a "Guard Lottery" at a dollar a ticket to fund it.

[MissAmericanPie]

I agree, it should be a big issue now. Personally, I have decided to do what I can to get some segment of FR what they want, a Republican house and senate. Then I want them to explain to me, why nothing conservative is happening.

By 2004 lame excuses will just not do anymore. The near worship of Bush is unsightly. I don't worship or admire a politician until they are out of office and have done something admirable, trying to pass 245i three times, is in no way admirable. To me they are employees, nothing more, nothing less. If they do the job, cuddo's, if they don't do the job fire them. If they turn out to be admirable, admire them, if they don't, then be honest about their failures, especially to yourself.

Start lying to yourself, covering and burying the short comings of your man in office and the country is set up for a fall.

[antivenom]

Go take a little blue pill and get back into your circle jerk...

[B4Ranch]

The sad thing is that we have 16-32,000 troops in South Korea to protect their borders but we don't have troop one protecting ours.

62 posted on 10/6/02 7:24 AM Pacific by PatrioticAmerican
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[FreedomFriend]

What's your problem? MarineInspector is a border patrol agent. We're living in a different world, one in which is not like it appears to many.

[antivenom]

The USA doesn't use troops to protect it's borders...they use lame UNION MEMBERS, half ass flunkies, "good enough for government work can we get another federal holiday losers" led around by a fat ass UNION boss by the name of Colleen Kelley...yes we have problems on the border.

REMOVE ALL UNIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOW!!!

[Dutchy]

The border war the media is not reporting..

[antivenom]

I don't care WHO he is...I have never decided to DISCUSS my opinions on THIS matter with him...he keeps interrupting MY posts to other people...I can't help it if he persists with jumping up and down in the background acting like an over active child making petty insults while I post my observations and opinions to "others" on THIS THREAD...if he wants to throw petty insults in my direction in the manner of MOST TROLLS...he will treated with the same RESPECT he doles out...

Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander...

[Joe Hadenuf]

bttt

[B4Ranch]

May I ask a personal question? Have you written a slow mail letter to your wonderful, most loved and admired President about your thoughts or are you just whining on FR for everyone to see? If you don't take time to do something about the things that are wrong with America, they'll only get worse.

So please get out your pen and hand write a few letters. Show us that you do LOVE AMERICA!

[Marine Inspector]

Agreed.

[Marine Inspector]

Clueless. Closing the borders will d a great deal as the terrorist, that are not US citizens, are using it to enter the US.

George "RINO" Bush's wants to give these folks a free green card.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Clueless. Closing the borders will do a great deal as the terrorist, that are not US citizens, are using it to enter the US. George "RINO" Bush's wants to give these folks a free green card.

You bet he does...

[Marine Inspector]

The sad thing is that we have 16-32,000 troops in South Korea to protect their borders but we don't have troop one protecting ours.

That's because the North Koreans don't vote in our elections. Now if they told George "RINO" Bush that they would all vote "RINO", Bush would pull the troops and send transports to bring them back here for the election.

You know how those RINO's love to pander to voters.

[Regulator]

The reason so many shootings, beatings (remember the Sunland train robbery) and attacks by Mexican illegals on US authorities are taking place is simple: they no longer fear the US authorities.

They see them as weak now, and therefore legitimate targets. They are incited by the Mexican government to hate US police, and they know that generally, nothing will happen to them if they perpetrate an attack. This is a signal to them that the 'other side' is willing to give up.

As an Israeli Kibbutznik said about living on the Lebanese border: "If you don't fire back, then you are weak. And in the Middle East, if you are weak, then you are dead".

Same's true on the Mexican border.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Bump......When the next terrorist strike occurs, what will the federal government's excuse be for not guarding our borders better?