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.

[dirtboy]

Repost of article yanked because of a certain comment.

[dirtboy]

Took the liberty of re-posting this after the intial post was yanked.

[dirtboy]

ping again to re-post

[Bikers4Bush]

Can sheriffs still deputize in a time of crisis?

[Flint]

This is EXACTLY what the Constitution means when it says,"a well regulated milita being necessary for a free state". Good for them!

[Kerberos]

Well this should be no surprise. People are getting tired of our government’s refusal to fulfill their Constitutional obligations and provide for the security of the people.

Fortunately there are apparently some people who are willing to do more than sit around and complain about it.

[x1stcav]

If I was living along the border I'd be doing the same thing. They can count on my support.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[ctnoell]

We need militias organized in the lower 48 states to combat illegal immigration and to do our part to ensure homeland security.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[Tancredo Fan]

I see nothing wrong with the people protecting the nation at all. This administration is doing jack squat about the borders, so it's the duty of the people to take care of business.

Isabel Garcia ought to be in prison... she's one of those Aztlan nut cases. She also works for the Pima County, AZ public defenders office, and runs some sort of anti-American fifth-column outfit called Derechos Humanos.

Just today I have seen news about a Mexican illegal being arrested for rape in Oregon after having been deported several times, and also see that the useless INS has declined to interfere with illegal aliens getting their fake Mexican ID cards after being asked to do so by Tom Tancredo.

If the government won't protect the people, the people themselves should be doing it.

A dead fish rots from the head. Enough.

[glc1173@aol.com]

"Can sheriffs still deputize in a time of crisis?"

Yes - in Arizona, Arpaio is already doing it. It doesn't even have to be at a "time of crisis"; Arpaio formed up his posse (under that name) before 9/11.

Sheriffs most anywhere have broad authority to hire and fire deputies. Here in North Carolina, training requirements for unpaid volunteer deputies would limit things somewhat as to calling them "deputies" - but volunteer squads along the line of the local Burlington police force's "reserve" (as opposed to "auxilliary") division are obviously possible.

As for "time of crisis," any sheriff in southern Arizona could easily say that illegals are overloading the jail he must manage - plus overloading local schools.

Get the sticker!

[Travis McGee]

Border bump.

[Skooz]

Why do I have pictures of "Mad Max" and the "Road Warrior" in my head?

[HiJinx]

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

By George, I believe she's finally getting it! We are very hostile to her kind. She's the one who said (after the shootings at Red Rock) that private citizens don't have the right to make arrests. That's a blatant lie and ignores the legal requirement in teh Arizona Revised Statutes for citizen's arrests.

And this person is a Public Defender in Pima County? Oh, wait, that's right...Pima County is our Blue Blight!

[Eternal_Bear]

Totally Constitutional! The federal government better butt out or give aid to the militia.

[Tancredo Fan]

Oh, wait, that's right...Pima County is our Blue Blight!

I hear the Tucson police chief, Richard Miranda, is a big cheese in despicable LULAC and the equally disgusting Chicanos Por La Causa. He also refuses to cooperate with the INS. Both Garcia and that Tucson cop ought to be rotting in a cold, dark cell somewhere.

[tracer]

Prosecuting these beleagured American ranchers while failing to prosecute The Invaders for doing that which has made necessary the course of action taken by said ranchers denies them of equal protection under the law as mandated by the US Constitution.

Cases dismissed........