Posted on 11/15/2002 8:14:13 AM PST by 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.
You wouldn't think an illegal, Mexican day-laborer would be crazy enough to get in a pick-up truck with an American Patrol bumper sticker on it, would you? That is kind of funny.
The illegal alien driving it probably bought or stole it with that sticker already on it. It's good camouflage.
Good point ---that could be it.
I know people who drink and drive who have MADD bumper stickers figuring they're less likely to be stopped and checked for DWI by the police when they're driving home at 2:30 am from the bars if they have those.
Who is it that first coined the idea that tens of millions of Mexican citizens had a manifest right to come here? I'd like to know. Why do they have that right?
The government of Mexico needs to clean up it's act. It needs to spur corporations and small businesses to the degree that it's citizens will prosper on it's side of the border. We have no obligation whatsoever to fix Mexico. Mexico has that obligation.
We do have a responsibility to provide a nice home for our own citizens. With just three issues I can represent this issue easily.
Can Los Angeles Freeways where the average commute speed is now between 15 and 30 miles per hour, handle another five million drivers in three years? Can the LAUSD handle another 2 million students in three years, despite the fact that k-12 grade campuses now look like a mobil home park, due to the explosive student populations? Can Southern California which is already struggling to provide water to the folks who are here, handle an additional ten million residents in three years?
Those who suggest that open borders would solve all our problems, are ignorant beyond redemption on these issue.
Tell President Bush that. He doesn't seem at all concerned. I thought we were a country of Laws.
Not unless the INS office is in a single-unit dwelling getting remodeled.
You wouldn't think an illegal, Mexican day-laborer would be crazy enough to get in a pick-up truck with an American Patrol bumper sticker on it, would you?
Would you happen to know what a sticker showing a hand with the thumb and forefinger making a capital "L" means if you're in the Phillippines? I do, but I was there at the time that was an issue.
That is kind of funny.
Yeah. About as funny as a screen door on a submarine. Forgive me if I don't take you folks seriously.
The illegal alien driving it probably bought or stole it with that sticker already on it. It's good camouflage.
I've heard the guy talking to the day laborers. He must be one of those illegal aliens jumping across the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.
The majority of Americans in both parties are against illegal immigration.
The next thing you'll tell us is it was Glen Spencer.
I'm telling you what I saw. Deal with it.
He could easily be a contractor who often hires illegals but uses the bumper sticker as a decoy to mislead INS agents or others who might become suspicious.
Poohbah's pretty sure it was Glen Spencer, himself.
Can you believe it?
>sarcasm<
The only ones dumb enough to be mislead by that are too dumb to get suspicious in the first place.
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