Bordering on insanity; Rise of vigilantes clear evidence of pitiful policy

AZ Republic ^ | 12/19/02 | Editorial Staff

[hsmomx3]

Don't call them heroes. Or patriots.

Vigilante groups along Arizona's southern border are a threat to civil order, a danger to the public and an invitation to human rights abuses.

Citizens who took up arms to patrol the border are part of the problem.

And it was a doozie of a problem without these bozos.

Illegal immigration a long Arizona's southern border is, undeniably, a big and enormously complex problem. Law enforcement, in the form of the Border Patrol, has, undeniably, failed to resolve a situation that has unacceptable costs on both sides of the line between Arizona and Mexico.

Past border strategies have forced immigrants to attempt to cross in more remote, dangerous locations. Last fiscal year, 145 people died trying to cross Arizona's deserts. That's tragic. Current practices assure illegal immigration will continue because, despite laws against hiring the undocumented, employers have no real disincentive to hire them. That's hypocritical.

And it's nothing new. This enduring problem demands sustained attention both from politicians and patriotic Americans. In the short term, the federal government has to reimburse border communities for the law enforcement and medical costs of illegal immigration.

In the long term, it has to reform immigration policy so that willing workers can get to the employers legally, without risking their lives. Or facing a band of vigilantes.

Real patriots know that this nation of laws is rich in mechanisms for average citizens to demand orderly change. It doesn't need a bunch of unelected, unappointed, self-styled avengers to play have-gun-will-travel in the desert.

In addition to the danger these vigilantes pose to their own feet, they also create an atmosphere in which racist and bigoted views can flourish. A report released Wednesday by the grass-roots group called Border Action Network says the vigilante movement "furthers the political message of hate against people of color."

That might not be the intent. But intent hardly matters.

Groups, such as Ranch Rescue and Civil Homeland Defense, that claim to patrol the border for the sake of private property rights and national security further destabilize the situation along the border. The Cochise County Board of Supervisors recognized that when it passed a resolution discouraging vigilantism.

The vigilantes are more evidence that a solution to the border problem is overdue. Arizona lawmakers Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain, Rep. Jim Kolbe and Rep.-elect Raul Grijalva recently toured southern Arizona to see border problems firsthand. Kyl plans hearings next year focused on border security. Arizona's entire delegation has to make sure Congress faces this challenge. Civic-minded Arizonans can amplify that demand for action.

Vigilantes can have no productive role in the debate until they stop playing cop.

[hsmomx3]

This editorial staff is in dire need of a crash course on our Constitution.

[Xenalyte]

Past border strategies have forced immigrants to attempt to cross in more remote, dangerous locations.

Jeez, what planet is this writer from? Border strategies are designed to secure the border.

[Nea Wood]

Get a load of this.

[ExpandNATO]

The editorial staff claims to be for all sorts of solutions, but the only people they truly slam are those defending their own property.

[Cicero]

Well, it's true that when vigilantes appear, it means there are problems with law enforcement. Whenever the law fails to work, sooner or later frustrated Americans tend to take matters into their own hands.

Where this article gets it wrong, of course, is to imply that the problem is too strict enforcement of the laws--forcing illegals out into the deserts to die. No, the problem is failure to enforce the law. Weak or unjust law is invariably the cause of vigilante action. If a sherriff refuses to arrest cattle rustlers, then the ranchers run them down and string them up. Who one ever heard of vigilantes operating where the law was effective?

[joesnuffy]

Don't call them heroes. Or patriots.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA yep...better to call them sheep...or victims...or corpses...
If your govt. wont defend Americans from a Mexican invasion I am glad at least someone is tyring...

[robowombat]

The idiots that wrote and approved this editorial obviously feel that the following is an insignificant concern. As with most of the nation's self proclaimed elites their atttitude is that the ignorant masses need to be instructed in how to live in a borderless global community. A little terrorism from time to time is a small price to pay for this evolution in the human community.

Illegal Immigration and Terrorism: The single greatest threat to the lives of American’s remains
FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | December 18, 2002 | John Perazzo


Posted on 12/18/2002 3:57 AM PST by SJackson


The single greatest threat to the lives of America’s 280 million people remains, to this day, utterly unaddressed by political leaders afraid to lose the votes of ethnicity lobbies that would be "offended" by tighter government controls of our nation’s borders. It is that simple.

[FreeTally]

Oh, Good LOrd!

Vigilante groups along Arizona's southern border are a threat to civil order, a danger to the public and an invitation to human rights abuses.

Uh, no, they are a danger to people entering illegal and destroying the property and livestock of citizens who live in those areas. No one engaging in crime or entering the country illegaly needs to worry.

Citizens who took up arms to patrol the border are part of the problem.

No, stupid, pompous ass "journalists" like this author are part of the problem.

And it was a doozie of a problem without these bozos.

So, call them names, but show no "problem" armed patrols have caused.

Illegal immigration a long Arizona's southern border is, undeniably, a big and enormously complex problem.

No sh!t? The authors tone could have fooled me.

Law enforcement, in the form of the Border Patrol, has, undeniably, failed to resolve a situation that has unacceptable costs on both sides of the line between Arizona and Mexico.

Unacceptable costs to Mexico? What the hell is this guy smoking?

Past border strategies have forced immigrants to attempt to cross in more remote, dangerous locations.

Oh, cry me a river. Lets just pave them a road.

Last fiscal year, 145 people died trying to cross Arizona's deserts. That's tragic.

No, that's just too bad.

Current practices assure illegal immigration will continue because, despite laws against hiring the undocumented, employers have no real disincentive to hire them. That's hypocritical.

Then come out against the minimum wage, so that legal citizens can bargain with employers who need UNSKILLED labor.

In the long term, it has to reform immigration policy so that willing workers can get to the employers legally, without risking their lives. Or facing a band of vigilantes.

The author is still intentionally being ignorant. There is a policy for legal immigration. Its no different, nor should it be any different, for mexicans.

Real patriots know that this nation of laws is rich in mechanisms for average citizens to demand orderly change.

And when the government does not protect one's rights, the person will take it into their own hands. We will NOT sit around and wait while illegal mexicans destroy the country.

It doesn't need a bunch of unelected, unappointed, self-styled avengers to play have-gun-will-travel in the desert.

Apparently it does, jack ass.

In addition to the danger these vigilantes pose to their own feet, they also create an atmosphere in which racist and bigoted views can flourish.

Ah, it took a few paragraphs, but the author finally plays the race card. "Those mean old white men are just oppressing those brave, good-hearted mexicans.

A report released Wednesday by the grass-roots group called Border Action Network says the vigilante movement "furthers the political message of hate against people of color."

Yes, enforcing laws against "people of color" is always seen as "hate" by the race-baiters.

That might not be the intent. But intent hardly matters.

Nope, not to racist jerks like you, author. You ivory tower elitists have a monopoly on deciding what everyone else "thinks". F*** you all.

Groups, such as Ranch Rescue and Civil Homeland Defense, that claim to patrol the border for the sake of private property rights and national security further destabilize the situation along the border.

Destabilize? How do you destabilize something that is not stable to begin with(Im sure teh answer is to end immigration laws). And you prove your claims by what? Some silly claim of "fostering a climate of hate against people of color"? Again, Go F*** yourself you self-righteous pompous ass jerk.

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors recognized that when it passed a resolution discouraging vigilantism.

Resolutions are nothing but a piece of paper. Who cares what those idiots think.

Vigilantes can have no productive role in the debate until they stop playing cop.

What debate? There is no debate. The Mexicans can stay on their side of the border and there will be no problem. They enter legally and most people will care less.

This author can not even be coherent. Admits there is a problem, admits the Feds have failed, but says there can be no progress until the "vigilantes" stop enforcing immigration laws. This dufus does a bad job of disguising his blatant "open-border/no immigration laws" policy.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Illegal immigration a long Arizona's southern border is, undeniably, a big and enormously complex problem.

It may be a big problem, but it is not a complex problem unless you really don't want to solve it.

[FreeTally]

It may be a big problem, but it is not a complex problem unless you really don't want to solve it.

Yep!

Like I posted in the last sentence of my length critique at #8, "This dufus does a bad job of disguising his blatant "open-border/no immigration laws" policy".

[johnb838]

OK, that does it. I'm sending some money to Ranch Rescue. No one in Washington is willing to do anything but fiddle while the country burns. I'm going to support those who are pushing the issue. Anybody care to join me?

[thepitts]

This editorial staff is in dire need of a crash course on our Constitution.

Among other things.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

It's pretty clear that the editorial staff of the Arizona Republic would have lasted about 10 minutes in any Arizona frontier town of the last century- of course, most newspapers these days are staffed by effeminate men and manly women who majored in "Journalism" or "English"- and don't know anything about their subject, or much of anything else.

Journalism is a good career for lazy, stupid people. It keps a lot of them out of the welfare office, anyway.

[hot august night]

So, according to this pompous blowhard elite "journalist", the law-abiding American citizens on the border should just ignore the vandalism and destruction to their own private property, and ignore the fact that they and their families are being, in some cases, robbed and raped. That's not even mentioning all the theft being caused to them and us as well, as we suckers are footing the bill for all the social services stemming from all this corruption and law-breaking.

Based on his "logic", this jackass should leave his front door unlocked before he heads to the newsroom every day, and post a billboard on the highway that highlights his address and says, "Welcome Undocumented Immigrants: Eat all my food, steal all my possessions, mess up my house, destroy my yard...I welcome you with open arms! "

[Mr. C]

Actually the driving force here is, once again, all these illegal immigrants sneaking into the country - and becoming good DemocRATS by swelling the welfare rolls and the poverty stats so that the "Party of the People" can scoff more of our tax dollars. Then if you can sneak them onto the registered voter rolls, using false documentation, as "Registered Democrats" you can steal,er, win, elections real easy now!

I'm NOT into namecalling or vulgarity, but I will say this much: These people are full of SH%T! and are real scum. The United States lets in people of all Races, Creeds and Colors Legally and has been for years. Regardless of whether or not we like it, but that's the truth. If you get here legally you can look like ET for all I care. Why? Because 99 times out od 100 that means the immigrant is coming here to get a better life.

I don't live in Arizona, but I empathize completely with all of you who live on the border. This is an issue that effects everyone, and it just amazes me that journalists and politicians just don't seem to get it that if the government does nothing to protect its citizens, the citizens have every right to protect themselves.

[.45MAN]

A nice place to vacation... Sunny Arizona, maybe we can get a vacation group of CCW people to spend their vacations there. Riding the Range in the Old West living off the land
getting back to nature, cleaning up the borders...I can see it now.....

[Darksheare]

"Last fiscal year, 145 people died trying to cross Arizona's deserts. That's tragic."

Yeah, tragic. Less votes for the Democrats. Aww, poo.

[Sabertooth]

Where this article gets it wrong, of course, is to imply that the problem is too strict enforcement of the laws--forcing illegals out into the deserts to die. No, the problem is failure to enforce the law. Weak or unjust law is invariably the cause of vigilante action. If a sherriff refuses to arrest cattle rustlers, then the ranchers run them down and string them up. Who one ever heard of vigilantes operating where the law was effective?

Agreed.

The writer plucks the vigilantes, who are a downstream consequence of Washington malfaesance, to hold them responsible for any possible ethnic strife which would also be a consequence of that same malfeasance.

In short, the writer attempts to use an avoidable consequence of a failed border policy to justify a worse one.

[thinktwice]

Modern liberals remind me of Revolutionary day "Loyalists"; to liberals (or loyalists), nothing is (or was) wrong with the existing tax/legal/law enforcement system.

During the American Revolution, these are the people that patriots stripped naked, tarred, feathered, and carrying out of town on split wooden rails.

[exmarine]

The vigilantes will force the government's hand on the issue. Eventually, Mexicans are going to shoot and kill the vigilantes (they have already threatened them) and with any luck, the liberal anti-American media will pick up on it and cause a storm. At the very least, Fox News, internet and talk shows will pick up on it!

[kaktuskid]

More crap from the editorial board-du-jour at the Gannettstitized AZ Repulsive!

[mommadooo3]

The Mexicans have been reported as shooting at the Border Patrol, employed by the govt. If they are THAT wacked in the head to shoot at/threaten govt agents, then WHO'S dumb enough to think that everyday citizens/vigilantes WON'T be targeted? And WHO'D be dumb enough to welcome that kind of lawbreaking culture? OOOOPS, I keep forgetting, the demoncraps would....they crave those illegal votes.

I think this country ought to implement a 'plan' of taxing the demoncraps so that THEY can cough up the cash, to support/feed/doctor/house, ALL those illegals that they want living here. When the money starts coming out of their OWN pocketbooks, instead of EVERY American's, they just MIGHT see the wisdom in closing down the flow of illegals through America's backdoor.

[Rockyrich]

Address for letter to the rag:

http://www.arizonarepublic.com/opinions/sendaletter.html

[Slipjack]

BIG A*S PING

[hsmomx3]

Good luck getting anything "conservative" printed. I have better luck getting my letters published in the east valley or west valley sections.

[Slipjack]

Excellent Reply to a Bunch Socialist SOB’s that wants to again Spend our Tax Dollars on Worthless Crap when it should be spent on our own People.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[Texas_Jarhead]

the editorial staff is in dire need of trans-rectal cranial extraction surgery

[11B3]

Screw it. BUILD A DAMN WALL AND GET IT OVER WITH!!!!!

[wcbtinman]

"Don't call them heroes. Or Patriots."

How would he know?

This guy wouldn't make a pimple on a Patriots ass.

[janetgreen]

I'm sending some money to Ranch Rescue

I already did, and I encourage others to do the same.

[JoeGar]

Last fiscal year, 145 people died trying to cross Arizona's deserts. That's tragic.

No, that's justice.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Let's see..

Law enforcement won't stop the problem and the Government will not send troops to patrol the border.

Therefore a Civilian Border patrol is started. Liberals and other low life maggots get involved and send law enforcement officers to stop them (or Troops to force the CITIZENS of the country off the border).

Problem solved, law enforcement or Military force is now on the border. Not for the reason we wanted, but now they are on the border :)

Semper Fi

[usurper]

Vigilantes can have no productive role in the debate until they stop playing cop.

Actually, they are the only reason this is even being discussed. The media managed to keep this issue under the radar for years and now they are loosing control.

Do I think vigilantes are the answer or even a good idea to secure the border? Of course not, but I am forced to admit they are getting the national spotlight focused on this issue and seem to be driving the liberal open border crowd nuts. Which is productive in and of it's self.

Sadly I am compelled to admit that there would be no debate without them.

[MoGalahad]

Even if our government were not selling us down the river, the police cannot be everywhere. Why would the police or political order refuse such well organized help? The only reason that makes sense is that they want the illegal immigration to continue.

[TigersEye]

Past border strategies have forced immigrants to attempt to cross in more remote, dangerous locations.

Excuse me? Who is forcing them to cross the border from their country into ours?

[demosthenes the elder]

agreed. well put.

[NovemberCharlie]

A similar thing happened here in Houston a few weeks ago. A bunch of residents of a low-income neighborhood reacted to the chronic gang problems and lack of police presence by patrolling the streets themselves with two-by-fours and other makeshift weapons. Of course the city and various luminaries were not pleased with this development, and a large argument developed over the idea f this vigilante force.

It faded away when the HPD announced it was assigning more officer patrols to the neighborhood, and the citizen patrol responded by disbanding, having fulfilled its mission of safer streets.

[Uncle Bill]

Attention Illegal Aliens: Get Free Social Security Cards And Coffee

Must come in person to:

The Arizona Republic
200. East Van Buren St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004 Contact: Bushee, Ward or Lovely, Randy (Editors)

This offer lasts for two days only. Amnesty petitions given by request only. See White House homepage for details.

Act now or be left out.

[hsmomx3]

Yes, I heard Jeff (?) Flake R-AZ say on O'Reilly the other night that the illegals come here to work and pay into our social security system. In other words, he was saying how good it is for our economy. Yeah, right, and look at the crimes many of these illegals commit. Phoenix crime is on the rise.

[MoGalahad]

I understand your point. However I would bet that they take a lot more out of the government kitty than they, as a group, put in. I don't know about you, but I am tired of paying for medical care, legal expenses, and basic needs for people who come here against our laws. It makes me feel like the 'Law' is there to support them and persecute me.

[hsmomx3]

I agree with you. We have to pay for all of these people while many of us go without.