Isolated Arizona Town Resorts to Second Amendment to Save Itself

Center for Individual Freedom ^ | Dec. 14, '07 | staff

[T.L.Sink]

Our Founding Fathers insisted upon including the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights because they recognized the fundamental human right of self-defense, whether against government tyranny or individual criminal aggression. To left-wing activists, that notion is a quaint remnant of a long-bygone era. Such ideologues ignore events as recent as the 1992 Los Angeles riots, when Korean shopowners defended themselves against murder and mayhem amid the absence of police protection. Now, the tiny isolated town of Aguila, Arizona provides the latest evidence that the right to keep and bear arms remains critical. The community of 1,064 has found itself victim of a methamphetamine-related crime surge, with police protection almost nonexistent since a sheriff's substation 25 miles away closed. Today, the nearest substation is some 60 miles away. The crime wave has already left two residents dead. In addition, literally every single business owner reported multiple burglaries during the past year. The Arizona Republic reports that community residents don't even bother reporting crime or calling 911 anymore. "We've called 911 for assaults, and 24 hours later, they show up," said Fire Chief Bob Edwards. Even Aguila Elementary School found itself victimized... As noted by the federal appeals court that recently overturned Washington, D.C.'s [third-rated city in the U.S. for violent crime] firearms ban, "the importance of the private right of self-defense is hardly surprising when one remembers that America lacked a professional police force until the middle of the nineteenth century..." The Founding Fathers insisted upon inclusion of the Second Amendment because the right to keep and bear arms PRE-EXISTED the Constitution and "shall not be infringed."

[T.L.Sink]

This beleagured little town is suffering from the illegal invasion. More than 90% of the methamphetamines are brought into the U.S. by the Mexican drug cartel. In addition to this there are the usual felons, sexual predators, and those who want to join the welfare bonanza. Aguila is a microcosm of what's happening throughout the nation.

[atomic_dog]

We should treat the right to keep and bear arms in the exact same manner in which we treat the right to have a lawyer present when being questioned by police. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you.

[silentreignofheroes]

Bill of Rights:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

We just can’t have this..

[donna]

It’s in Maricopa County - Sheriff Arpaio could be notified. Maybe Arpaio is more than they want, LOL.

[Das Outsider]

“I’m not going to be a victim without somebody having a bullet in their [posterior region]. We’re going to take this town back.”

This helps illustrate two things:

1. Decades of anti-firearms pap doesn't mean a thing when one is faced with the stark dichotomy of life or death. Michael Savage used to issue the following litmus test, and I paraphrase: When an intruder breaks into your house, do you reach for your Glock, or reach for the phone to call the ACLU? And in light of that:

2. Illegal immigration is the crisis of our age in the United States.

[alpo]

No comma between arms and shall

[donna]

Declaration of Independence:

He Congress has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages illegal aliens, whose known rule of warfare slave/drug running, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

[pianomikey]

Can a banglister keep tabs on this? I’d love to see crime drop 50% in a year...

[westmichman]

The time may come when we will need our second amendment right to take our government back from control by the U.N.

[silentreignofheroes]

You’re right,,Got it off a bad site,,the copy on my wall has a comma...

can we get the post removed...?

[silentreignofheroes]

Am reading you wrong,,,?,,been along day

[CDFingers]

When seconds count the police will be there in minutes hours.

[silentreignofheroes]

http://usinfo.state.gov/404.html

Read This,,

[robertpaulsen]

The real reason the citizens of Arizona can arm themselves in this situation is that the Arizona State Constitution protects their individual right to do so. Article II, § 26 of the Arizona Constitution states: "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the State shall not be impaired ..."

NOT the second amendment. The author better learn what document protects his right to keep and bear arms -- otherwise he may lose it.

[Iron Munro]

Very few, if any, police departments are organized, managed, or staffed to protect most people and their property or to deter significant amounts of crime.
There just aren’t enough policeman anywhere to do all of that.
Generally police departments are more effective at apprehending criminals than they are at stopping a crime before it takes place.
It isn’t the policeman riding in a squad car that ultimately deters crime - it is fear of the resultant punishment once caught.

But that deterrence is vanishing because of lenient judges, sentencing laws and guidelines and the change in philosophy from punishment of criminals to attempts at rehabilitation.

How many times do we read of a criminal with 10 or 20 previous convictions and very little or no prison time?
And then when they do get sent to prison, instead of confinement at hard labor they have access to TV, gyms, libraries, conjugal visits, etc.

[KarinG1]

Most people are unaware that firearms are also effective when dealing with zombies.

[dcwusmc]

Bump and ping

[T.L.Sink]

Absolutely. By the way, that quote from Savage made my day! Our lawmakers should be required to read all the objective and scholary research that clearly demonstrates that the possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens actually decreases the commission of violent crimes. They could start with John Lott’s highly acclaimed and thoroughly researched book. But I doubt that facts would make much difference to them. They’d rather pander to emotionalism and the anti-gun lobby just as they ignore the Constitution in favor of the ethnocentric and business special interest groups who support the illegal alien invasion.

[Das Outsider]

Absolutely. By the way, that quote from Savage made my day! Our lawmakers should be required to read all the objective and scholary research that clearly demonstrates that the possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens actually decreases the commission of violent crimes.

I'm a CCW holder, and, for example, you can check the state of Florida on how many firearms-related offenses have been committed by CCW permit holders in the last few years. Anti-gun advocates, if they haven't already read and ignored the data, would be surprised.

They could start with John Lott’s highly acclaimed and thoroughly researched book. But I doubt that facts would make much difference to them. They’d rather pander to emotionalism and the anti-gun lobby just as they ignore the Constitution in favor of the ethnocentric and business special interest groups who support the illegal alien invasion.

The intrinsic right to national sovereignty and the Constitutional right to bear arms both come together at some point.

[T.L.Sink]

I think there’s a mental connection between those who support the NAU, SPP, etc. and those who take the UN seriously. It’s outrageous that our taxes should be supporting this corrupt, dysfunctional institution run by Third World thugs - and which is vehemently anti-American and anti-Semitic just to top off the absurdity of it all!