Tombstone paper calls for militia (to combat illegal immigration)

Arizona Daily Star ^ | 11/15/02 | Ignacio Ibarra

[dirtboy]

Cochise County's "official newspaper" has issued a call to arms and is spearheading the formation of a local militia to combat illegal immigration.

Tucson human rights activist Isabel Garcia said the Tombstone Tumbleweed's rhetoric is the latest manifestation of a militant vigilantism that has long existed in Cochise County with the acceptance and encouragement of local officials.

She said Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever's public friendship with groups like Glenn Spencer's American Patrol, the sheriff's lack of investigation into Roger and Don Barnett's armed detention of illegal entrants and the clear unwillingness on the part of Cochise County Attorney Chris Roll to investigate and prosecute the two brothers have given them credibility and encouraged groups like Texas-based Ranch Rescue and the new Tombstone Militia.

"To have the official newspaper of the county call on people to take up arms is very dangerous, very frightening. Law enforcement and public officials should be concerned," she said.

Garcia canceled an upcoming speaking engagement in Bisbee out of concern over the growing hostility in the county.

Roll, the county attorney, said every case brought to him is reviewed under the same standards. "If we have sufficient evidence that a crime has been committed, we will prosecute."

Sheriff Dever said frustrations with the federal government's inability to stem the flow of illegal immigration has attracted the attention of a number of groups on all sides of the issue.

While he acknowledged attending and speaking at American Patrol meetings, he said his presence should be construed as being a voice of reason rather than a supporter of particular agendas or methodology.

At least 43 people have joined the Citizens Border Patrol militia since the front page call to arms appeared in the Tombstone Tumbleweed last month - under a headline that read "Enough is Enough!" - and support continues to grow, said Chris Simcox, a former California teacher who is now owner, publisher and editor of the Tombstone weekly.

Simcox isn't shy about using the words "vigilante" and "militia" to describe his plans. He sees both as a patriotic obligation in a time of war and a necessity in light of the federal government's failure to stop the flood of immigrants funneling through Cochise County.

His plan is to put armed, able-bodied militia members on private property near the border to create a presence and a deterrent to illegal border crossers.

"This has nothing to do with the Mexican people per se. . . . It's about stopping uncontrolled immigration," he said. "We want local people, we don't want the Rambos, the mercenaries and soldiers of fortune that some of these groups seem to be made up of."

Cochise County Supervisor Paul Newman, who represents the Tombstone area on the county Board of Supervisors said the county has no authority or desire to interfere with the publisher's First Amendment right to publish what he chooses.

But the supervisor said he is concerned that the harsh editorial tone of the newspaper not be represented as the position of Cochise County. He's asked county staffers to look into the newspaper's use of the phrase "Official Newspaper of Cochise County" in its masthead.

According to state law, a newspaper awarded a county's legal advertising contract may be referred to as the county's official paper.

* Contact reporter Ignacio Ibarra at (520) 432-2766 or at nacho1@mindspring.com.

[God is good]

'"To have the official newspaper of the county call on people to take up arms is very dangerous, very frightening. Law enforcement and public officials should be concerned," she said.'

Oh how frightening! The law might actually be inforced for once.

How dare they protect their own land, practising constitutional, autonomous rule instead of leaving it up to the present detached, indifferent, incapable, lying, oversized, overpaid government? They should have no right to protect themselves. They should be made to lay down and take it, then have the police clean up the mess after the fact.


I suppose these desperadoes are also the type to demand religious freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom in general. They must be stuck in a time warp dating back to the founding of America.

If the government would do its job of protecting the people instead of using them for political manipulation, this type of action would not be needed.

[ampat]

Way to go Cochise County!

[ampat]

Seems to me we need more militiamen and fewer lawyers.

[tdadams]

[The publisher] sees both as a patriotic obligation in a time of war and a necessity in light of the federal government's failure to stop the flood of immigrants funneling through Cochise County.

Abso-damn-lutely! No words could have said it better.

Some jelly-spined liberals get flustered just thinking about independent minded patriots forming together to protect themselves from invasion. A hundred years ago, there would have been no argument about this. Welcome to life post-Clinton.