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Please fence me in (Rancher-Minuteman Fence)
Sierra Vista Herald ^ | Monday, July 24, 2006 | Jonathan Clark

Posted on 7/24/2006, 5:55:22 AM by Anti-Bubba182

PALOMINAS — Back in the 1970s, it was a major event when a Mexican cow would wander on to Jack and John Ladd’s borderfront ranch in Palominas.

But after tightened border security in San Diego and El Paso began to funnel illegal immigration though Arizona in the early 1990s, holes began to appear more regularly along the 10 miles of barbed-wire fence separating the ranch from Mexico. The holes, cut by individual migrants or blasted out by fence-crashing vehicles, also created an easy passageway for cattle.

So, in an effort to keep Mexican cows out and their own cows in, the Ladds would devote an entire day each week to repairing the breaches.

About three years ago, they gave up......"

"............Then, last spring, he got a call from the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps offering to build a border barrier on the ranch.

“I told them, ‘If you want to put up a barbed-wire fence with a vehicle barrier, let’s do it,’ ” Ladd said.

On Memorial Day weekend, the Minutemen broke ground on 2 1/2 miles of a reinforced, five-strand range fence on the Ladds’ 14,000-acre ranch. And while the group’s volunteers eventually ran out of steam and had to hire a contractor to finish the job, most importantly to the Ladds, the fence was completed.

“They put up a fence and it’s working,” Ladd said. “I don’t have a lot of people coming through that area now, and I don’t have any cows coming through.” ........"

"............Ironically enough, Ladd said, just a few years back, he had one of his sons build a fence to keep out the Minutemen.

Before the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps existed, Ladd had allowed the group’s eventual founder, Chris Simcox, to access the property for immigrant-spotting outings.

Then as Simcox’s project picked up steam and more and more border-watchers began following him onto the ranch, Ladd became concerned about liability issues and shooed them away.

But after the Minuteman launched their campaign in April 2005, Ladd noticed the flow of migrants across his land had slowed to a trickle. And he was impressed.

“These people are just regular Americans who are sick of what’s happening to this country,” he said. “I believe they’ve done a big service to expose the problem, and they’re doing something about it.”

So when illegal immigrants began once again to cross his ranch near the end of 2005, Ladd was ready to give the Minutemen another chance — though he wasn’t interested in the 14-foot, Israeli-style barrier the group was pushing.

“They have to be more aware of how they present themselves,” Ladd said of the Minutemen. “They’re doing a good job, but they should put up a picture of our fence (on the group’s Web site). The Israeli design just gives the critics fuel.”................"


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: aliens; fence; immigration; mcdc; minutemanproject; mmp; simcox
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The Minuteman fence from the rancher's point of view.
1 posted on 7/24/2006, 5:55:24 AM by Anti-Bubba182
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To: Anti-Bubba182

Yep he got a free cattle fence. Good for him. LOL


2 posted on 7/24/2006, 5:56:11 AM by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: Anti-Bubba182; Amelia; unsycophant; catholicfreeper; Rex Anderson; Texasforever; Howlin; onyx; ...

Ping


3 posted on 7/24/2006, 5:56:28 AM by Anti-Bubba182
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To: Texasforever

Lol, he sure did! But, he never wanted the Israeli style fence! You would not need the Minutemen to give away free cattle fence.


4 posted on 7/24/2006, 5:58:45 AM by Anti-Bubba182
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To: Anti-Bubba182
I am beginning to wonder who is conning who here.
5 posted on 7/24/2006, 5:58:55 AM by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: Anti-Bubba182

"...but they should put up a picture of our fence (on the group’s Web site)."

Curious to see - is there a picture of his fence?


6 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:02:17 AM by my4kidsdad
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To: Texasforever
Don't. It's you conning yourself.

L

7 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:03:22 AM by Lurker (2 months and still no Bill from Congressman Pence. What is he milking squids for the ink?)
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To: Anti-Bubba182

Thanks for the ping.


8 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:04:42 AM by nopardons
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To: my4kidsdad
Curious to see - is there a picture of his fence?

Nope. Donations would come to a full stop if folks believed they were just giving free cattle fences to Ranchers. They need that $150 per ft per foot Gaza Fence as a fundraising hook.

9 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:05:09 AM by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: Lurker
Yeah. Ladd is laughing his ass off at you. I hope you sent money.
10 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:06:02 AM by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: Texasforever
I am beginning to wonder who is conning who here.

Yes it sure seems funny to see a farmer that owns 14,000 acres get a free fence from the dumb city slickers.

But the key is that this is a graphic demonstration of what even a simple, inexpensive fence will do for our border security. Look at it this way: the Minutemen got free land to do a demonstration fence on.

11 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:11:11 AM by ikka
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To: ikka
But the key is that this is a graphic demonstration of what even a simple, inexpensive fence will do for our border security

HUH? Do you think a 5 wire high cattle fence is going to stop a Human? LMAO. The guy got a free fence that is the only "statement" that has been made.

12 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:12:52 AM by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: Anti-Bubba182
"From our perspective, the whole idea of the fence is to keep Mexican livestock out. We know a barbed-wire fence isn't going to keep people out," said Jack Ladd, on whose property the fence is being built. "We want to make it clear that while we oppose illegal immigration, we weren't necessarily trying to keep Mexicans off the land."

Source: Arizona Daily Star

13 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:13:22 AM by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: Lurker

Ladd is more interested in keeping his cattle in, and Mexican cattle out.


14 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:14:39 AM by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: BigSkyFreeper
Yep the only PEOPLE he fenced out were the Minutemen themselves until they built him his new cattle fence. This old boy just pulled the horse trade of the century. I love it.
15 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:16:43 AM by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: my4kidsdad
Curious to see - is there a picture of his fence?

Picture in your mind a 2.2 mile long, 5-strand, barbed wire cattle fence with 5 foot tall steel posts spaced evenly apart the entire distance. That's the fence.

16 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:17:15 AM by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: Texasforever

Yeah, he fenced his property in for free, and he probably put a "No Trespassing" sign at the gate. LOL


17 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:18:23 AM by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: jan in Colorado
Since you are awake ping!

“These people are just regular Americans who are sick of what’s happening to this country,” he said. “I believe they’ve done a big service to expose the problem, and they’re doing something about it.”

18 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:21:34 AM by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
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To: Texasforever

I believe the 2.2 miles that was fenced was the south side of the Ladd Ranch.


19 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:22:03 AM by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: BigSkyFreeper
Simcox is not going to like this article. He may repossess the fence.
20 posted on 7/24/2006, 6:23:42 AM by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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