Judge setences rancher for harassing Mexican migrant

Thenewsmexico.com ^ | 11/18/2002 | Jim Robinson

[dennisw]

What this rancher did was wrong but the net effect of the judge's actions is to hang the big old "WELCOME ILLEGAL ALIENS" sign at the border. But what does a gubbermint poohbah care?

[Carbonsteel]

Talk about pouring salt into an open wound.

Those are the kind of groups that allow leftist to label all of us right-wing extremists. The problems down south on the border are bad and these clowns are just going to make matters worse.

[dirtboy]

Those are the kind of groups that allow leftist to label all of us right-wing extremists

Actually, the leftists are the ones doing the labelling here - I bought into some of the allegations against Glenn Spencer, but after some research I don't think he's racist - but a favored method of the left is to brand anyone they disagree with a racist in an attempt to stifle debate.

[dirtboy]

What this rancher did was wrong but the net effect of the judge's actions

What ist the judge supposed to do here? Slap the guy on the wrist for shooting someone in the back? I support the notion of private citizens stopping illegals on private land until the INS comes. But you just can't shoot a guy who isn't threatening you - whether he's an illegal alien or a citizen.

[HoundsTooth_BP]

I am sure many illegals will be buried now, but as much as I respect all human life, word needs to get to these people that if they try to come to the USA, the risks to life and limb will not be worth it. If all that happens to you when you are caught is you are sent back, you don't have much to lose.

[dennisw]

What ist the judge supposed to do here? Slap the guy on the wrist for shooting someone in the back?

The sentence should have been less. The same for the crime if committed in Mexico. This decision is designed, custom-made, to intimidate all other ranchers. So the net effect is to encourage more Mexican border jumping, property desecration and crime. The Mexican counsel down there is happy today.

Like I said, the judge can care less. He's got a FedGubberMint job with all the bennies while other Americans contend with a lousy economy and an immigration invasion.

[dirtboy]

The sentence should have been less

The guy was facing up to twenty years, so the judge didn't throw the book at him. Shooting someone in the back is a pretty serious crime, no matter who they are. I don't think this will have a chilling effect at all for anyone who tries to patrol private land in a lawful manner.

[HoundsTooth_BP]

I have always heard that Mexican people would cut your throat if given half a chance. I am sure there are alot of good Mexican people. But, I would be scared to death if I had illegals crossing my farm and getting into my out buildings. Just imagine how hard it would be to sleep at night down there. These people don't have policemen running up and down their streets every 15 minutes. It is dark out there, and I am sure some of the cabins may not have electricity.

[dirtboy]

I have always heard that Mexican people would cut your throat if given half a chance.

Generally, when someone is shot in the back, they are not coming towards you. My guess would be (and it's just a guess) is that the illegal who was shot was trying to run away from Brown and Brown shot him, and then made up a story to try and cover up what had happened.

[dennisw]

Shooting someone in the back is a pretty serious crime, no matter who they are.

Wrong and cowardly but the Mexican invasion is 200 times worse and 200 times more cowardly. And weren't these Mexicans breaking into a cabin? Now they get to sue this rancher who was sick and tired of this criminal invasion and flipped

I don't think this will have a chilling effect at all for anyone who tries to patrol private land in a lawful manner.

Common sense says it will.
If US troops are put on the border and authorized to use deadly force against drug smugglers this will be fine by me. I hope the border gets mined too. Big "Peligroso" signs can be put up and let the chips fall where they may.

[skeeter]

I bought into some of the allegations against Glenn Spencer, but after some research I don't think he's racist - but a favored method of the left is to brand anyone they disagree with a racist in an attempt to stifle debate.

You deserve respect your objectivity, DB.

[skeeter]

Once more, with feeling: you deserve respect FOR your HONESTY & objectivity.

[dirtboy]

And weren't these Mexicans breaking into a cabin?

From the article I posted in reply #10:

Brown said he then marched the two men back to the caliche road and down to a neighbor’s ranch, where he reported the break-in. He then left before authorities arrived.

But Letsinger said that when he took Brown back to the cabin later that night he could find no sign of a break-in, nor could he find any human footprints over a stretch of soft earth that Brown said he and the Mexican men had traversed.

“He said it must have been the weather,” Letsinger said of Brown’s explanation for the absent footprints. But Letsinger said other footprints and tire tracks made that day had not been erased.

In summing up the case, Letsinger testified, “I can find no reason why Coy Brown shot at either one of those men.

I would guess that the illegal tried to run and Brown shot him.

[jpl]

It must be pretty bad for the Americans down there for them to take such actions.

It's worse than just bad, it's downright tragic. Our law enforcement agents down there are in danger, the American citizens who live close to the border are in danger, and the people who are illegally crossing the border are in danger. And it's all because the federal government is willfully derelict in its duty.

[wku man]

"Shooting someone in the back is a pretty serious crime, no matter who they are."

Actually, here in Florida, you are perfectly within your rights to shoot someone in the back in some cases. A couple of examples given in a recent CCW class I took were an armed burglar you encounter in your home, and a would-be kidnapper running away from you, but going for your kid. Of course, these scenarios don't have anything in common with the shooting on the border, but a shot in the back is sometimes called for and legally justified.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[HoundsTooth_BP]

(Generally, when someone is shot in the back, they are not coming towards you. My guess would be (and it's just a guess) is that the illegal who was shot was trying to run away from Brown and Brown shot him, and then made up a story to try and cover up what had happened.)

And I agree that you should not shoot someone in the back. But, we don't have all the details of the story. I do not believe everything I read or see. I am sure there is alot more to the story. I believe this whole story of this illegal invasion is more an act of war by these people. These illegals that come here are destroying our way of life and I am sick of it. Our freedoms are being destroyed and ILLEGALS are doing it.

[dirtboy]

It's worse than just bad, it's downright tragic.

They need to do something. They basically need to build a high wall, create a 300 yard cleared area on both sides of it and patrol it with dogs, and have random police checks a couple of miles down every road from urban areas. And they need to deal honestly with the labor issues. If we need a certain level of Mexican immigrant labor, then come up with a way for the people in question to be here legally, and it will be better for them and better for citizens. And, once they institute such a program, the feds need to crack down HARD on anyone still hiring illegal labor. Get rid of the demand, and the supply will dwindle.

And finally, change the law saying that anyone born in the U.S. is automatically a citizen - that should only apply to children of folks here legally with a green card who are planning to become citizens themselves. And eliminate most welfare and health benefits for illegals.

[dennisw]

I would guess that the illegal tried to run and Brown shot him.

Probably. They always have running as an exit strategy when their overloaded vans flip on the highways. There're just gone into the brush never to be found by the law.

[taxed2death]

This is such a simple concept.......really. If the illegal trespasser woke up that morning and decided NOT to cross an international border, he wouldn't have been shot.

This is not to say that the rancher was correct in his judgement regarding this situation. But lets look at the COMPLETE chain of events. Who, untimately is responsible for this?

The fault lies squarely with the illegal trespasser. It can be interpeted no other way.

Homeland security begins at the borders. GWB should save his breath and stop BSing the American people. His efforts would be better spent on securing the borders between legal border crossings, until then "homeland security" is mere window dressing.