Posted on 04/08/2005 4:21:55 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
About 35 people attended the first meeting for a group that Yuma resident Flash Sharrar hopes to build into a border watch program. The first meeting, held at Team RAMCO, 4701 E. Gila Ridge Road, was to assess what resources volunteers could offer the fledgling project.
"We're about nonviolence," Sharrar said. "We need to be getting resources and equipment together."
Sharrar's son, Matthew, was allegedly robbed at gunpoint in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area on March 27, and, in response, Sharrar has spearheaded the effort to create a citizen's group that will decrease illegal entry into the United States.
The program is similar to the Minuteman Project that is ongoing in southeastern Arizona.
Sharrar said the group needed lights, radios, telephones, four-wheel drive vehicles, sand tires, contact phone numbers, maps, compasses, global positioning devices and other items. He said volunteers would also need to be trained in watching the border and first aid.
"This is not about being a vigilante or color or creed," Sharrar said. "It is about this country being overrun by people who pointed a gun at (Matthew's) head. It is our civic duty as citizens of Yuma to stop this crisis."
Agent Joe Brigman, spokesman for the Yuma sector Border Patrol, declined to comment.
A sign-up sheet was passed around, so willing participants could list what equipment they had that could be used. Sharrar said the next meeting would be Wednesday to start work on training.
Dennis Franklin, who is helping Sharrar to organize the group, said a training plan was being put together. He said it would likely take place over a weekend.
Lt. Steve Gutierrez of the Imperial County Sheriff's Office came to the meeting to gather information after being invited by Sharrar. He refused comment about whether the proposed plan would make things easier or more difficult for the agency.
"First, I have to know their mission, and I don't believe it was clear tonight," he said.
The area to be monitored was not discussed at the meeting. Sharrar had said previously that it would be in Arizona but watching the border in California was discussed as well Wednesday night.
Sharrar said the aim was to deter the entrance of illegal aliens — not to apprehend them. He said guns should not be used by border watchers.
Josh Webb of Yuma said there are more illegal aliens coming across than the Border Patrol could handle. But he did not like the idea of monitoring the border unarmed.
"If I go fishing or booneying, I always have a gun," he said. "I don't want to be vulnerable."
Webb did not know if the program could be successful. "It's hard to say," he said. "If it's run right."
Darrel Hall of Yuma said he would have no problem with being unarmed. He said a program like the one Sharrar is proposing is necessary. "We need to protect our borders, number one," Hall said. "Our borders are unsafe. And the people who are coming across are being taken advantage of."
This could catch on and become something big...I suspect George and company are looking at this very seriously...
And since the Bush group are die-hard globalists, I'm guessing they will take action to stop the 'vigilantes' before they can do too much political damage...
Interesting times we are living in...
What wasn't bad...The marriage, or Yuma???
Some questions and ideas for you to think about.
What do you think would happen if a popular football or other sports star was to start off the project by donating 5 or 25 million dollars to build fences on private property that adjoins the border?
Then a few more sport stars each throw in a couple of million of their own money while asking all "True Americans" to send just one hours wages to the FENCE FUND?
Do you think that the politicians would be able to stop this from growing out of control and the voters demanding that the Feds "fence our land"?
Do you think the politicians would listen or ignore a million calls a day to their offices?
Never underestimate what the American people can do when they decide they want to do it.
While I'm at it, we could start a "Name and Shame List" of companies that hire illegals. Name the banks that loan money to a tax number when the illegal doesn't have a phony Social Security number. Name the mortgage companies that favor home loans to illegals, using our money for their downpayment.
Some questions and ideas for you to think about.
What do you think would happen if a popular football or other sports star was to start off the project by donating 5 or 25 million dollars to build fences on private property that adjoins the border?
Then a few more sport stars each throw in a couple of million of their own money while asking all "True Americans" to send just one hours wages to the FENCE FUND?
Do you think that the politicians would be able to stop this from growing out of control and the voters demanding that the Feds "fence our land"?
Do you think the politicians would listen or ignore a million calls a day to their offices?
Never underestimate what the American people can do when they decide they want to do it.
While I'm at it, we could start a "Name and Shame List" of companies that hire illegals. Name the banks that loan money to a tax number when the illegal doesn't have a phony Social Security number. Name the mortgage companies that favor home loans to illegals, using our money for their downpayment.
Locked and loaded.
If you have ideas or questions, throw them out here. I'm sure there's FReeper who can answer most of the questions or critique your ideas.
The Feds have created a vacuum, and, as you know, nature abhors a vacuum... even if Bush does not!
I sure hope you're right. We've got to stop the invasion before it's too late, if it isn't already.
From what I recall about NM politics, I seem to remember reading years ago that Bill Richardson's mother was from Mexico.
That alone should tell you where he stands on the issue.
I knew he was half but I've never heard that his mother was from Mexico. I know he speaks Spanish very well, and I know he supports giving illegals amnesty. IF the Minutemen were to try to branch out to NM, I'm sure he would stop it even if it meant sending in the National Guard.
I personally think the man would be dictatorial as our President, so I hope he never gets elected. I've seen how he treats other legislators, and it's not good. He's VERY arrogant.
Maybe a fund should be started that the athletes can contribute to. I would try to get permission from the Pat Toomey family to start a fund in his name with proceeds used to buy equipment and support groups like MM and the new Yuma group. Maybe former teammates and others would give quietly to something like this.
I'm envisioning something that would cover all the private property across the four border states. If we can take care of the private property then the Feds would have a darn hard time of saying, "We can't do that" in their squirmy voice.
How do we get the football, basketball, baseball, NASCAR, every organized sport to join in? Maybe the musicians too.
"You know what, I forgot Yuma was in AZ! Oh well."
That's ok, yesterday they moved Scottsdale down to Tuscon. So I guess they can move Yuma to Ca.
Based on that list of what they need, I'd say it's a good indication that the people involved have never so much as been camping as mounted a surveillance operation in the desert. I hope they have a few experienced hands to show them the ropes before somebody gets hurt.
I haven't heard anything of the suit. However, the government routinely settles when agents shoot illegals in self defense. It wouldn't be a stretch to assume the families recieved a nice payday.
L
I live in IL and I have everything but the sand tires. There's not much call for that around here. I do have a gnarly set of chains for the Durango, though.
From what I understand, the MM didn't start with anything but an email list, and they seem to be managing alright.
I'll cut this guy some slack. He's trying to do something and he's already stressing the nonviolence aspect.
From what's been evident so far, a couple of hundred folks with minimal training and very basic equipment have made a major dent in illegal crossings in one admittedly very small area.
Let's give this thing a year or so. If it catches on...who knows how many illegals could be stopped.
Every one is a good thing in my mind.
L
Don't get me wrong, I think the more people we have out there, the better. I'm just not wanting the American equivalent of those poor Mexicans who try to walk from the border to Phoenix with a single gallon of water and a sandwich.
For the weekend in Yuma, the marriage was fine!
:D
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