Arizona security firm defends assault rifle wielding thugs at wisconsin mine site

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/s3095032.shtml

The owner of an Arizona security company says its guards at a Wisconsin mine site needed guns because of strange and threatening behavior by mine opponents.

Bulletproof Securities pulled its guards from the Gogebic Taconite mine site in northern Wisconsin on Wednesday because they lacked state licenses. Gogebic spokesman Bob Seitz says the guards will get licenses and return to work within days.

Bulletproof Securities president Tom Parrella told the Wisconsin State Journal on Thursday that some mine opponents posted online what appear to be death threats and others have exhibited strange and threatening behavior. Parrella says the company will not put guards in risky situations without a way to defend themselves.

He says guards were carrying lightweight rifles because handguns wouldn't have been effective.

[pscot]

1. Hired brownshirts

[badtoworse]

2. If I believed the threats against my business were credible...

I would take steps to defend it. Who wouldn't? There is such a thing as environmental terrorism.

[pinboy3niner]

4. Absolutely! And my first go-to would be a special ops kill team!

[badtoworse]

8. You really need to be practical here.

If someone is threatening litigation, I would hire lawyers. If the IRS is threatening an audit, I would hire tax accountants. For death threats to my employees, I think armed security is the appropriate response. The kill team might not be necessary.

[pinboy3niner]

13. "The kill team might not be necessary"

I think that's the point here--the overkill.

Nobody objects to their having security guards. But guys in camos geared up for combat with with assault-type weapons? They're out in the forest --not protecting a nuclear reactor.

[badtoworse]

14. If you were in the forest and people had threatened to kill you,...

...would you go in unarmed and wearing blaze orange? This isn't the same situation as hiring security to protect against shoplifters.

[pinboy3niner]

16. Yeah--"unarmed and wearing blaze orange" is the obvious alternative

I stand corrected.

[badtoworse]

21. What would you wear in the woods if someone had threatened to kill you?

Would you be armed?

[Savannahmann]

17. British police and security wear high visibility colors

The reason is twofold. 1) People can see them and find them if they need help or assistance. 2) People can see them from quite a distance and not commit crimes while they are around.

OK, three fold. 3) People can see them and not run them over in poor weather.

So why wouldn't they wear bright colors? Blaze orange, brilliant yellow, and the other high visibility colors are designed to save lives. Yet you seem to support their stalking, sneaking, and their ability to ambush the protestors because they might be dangerous, those darned environmentalists who for some unknown reason just don't like poisons pumped into the ground water so some jackass can get rich.

Are you sure you know what it is to be a liberal Democrat. I ask because for the most part we don't support militarization of police, and we eschew mercenaries. Now Republicans think such things are fine, and encourage cops to ride along in tanks and cheer when the cops throw a beating on one of those damned malcontents. They even support the mercenaries, private security with military grade weapons. So the obvious question is this. Are you sure you're on the right web site?

[badtoworse]

20. "So why wouldn't they wear bright colors?"

If I were a security guard in this situation, I would assume that the death threats are credible. Given that I'm in the woods, I would expect to be shot at, most likely with rifle fire from a distance. Bright colors would make you a much easier target and being unarmed would leave you defenseless.

As for what I do and don't support, let's not forget that the armed security was hired in response to death threats. In my mind, there is a big difference between non-violent protest and threatening to kill people. If you don't understand that, I don't know what to tell you. If you're OK with the death threats, you're on your own.

[Savannahmann]

22. Rifle fire from environmentalists?

Are you serious? Ok, somebody put this guy on the troll watch.

[badtoworse]

24. People who would make good on death threats are not environmentalists

They're terrorists.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. Environmental terrorism=

Wanton destruction of nature in pursuit of profits

[badtoworse]

7. It also means doing things like spiking trees to injure lumbermen

[Art_from_Ark]

9. We're not talking lumbermen here, though

We're talking about creating a potential 33 square mile hole in the ground, with massive amounts of tailings left over to contaminate groundwater.

[badtoworse]

10. Are you OK with death threats to try and stop it?

I'm in favor of responsible use of natural resources. That means using best practices to protect the environment. You're on your own with the death threats.

[Art_from_Ark]

12. Are you OK with death threats to try to stop protesters?

Because that is what the goons dressed in their paramilitary gear are essentially making.

[badtoworse]

15. I have no problem with hiring armed security in this situation

I thought I'd made that clear already.

[ileus]

3. guards keep people and property safe...who would oppose that

and for what reason???

[Hugabear]

5. Do most guards carry assault weapons and dress up in military garb?

No.

[TheMightyFavog]

11. IMHO, had they hired guys dressed up more like mall cops it would have been just as effective

And probably would not have pissed people off so much.

[HereSince1628]

23. True, no one would oppose typical security that relies on calling the sheriff

but a platoon of tough guys acting and costumed to have the appearance of mercenaries in the north woods?

Well, critics are popping up everywhere. And why not? It wasn't very long ago the FBI was all over the Michigan Militia for such impersonations.

But I do get it...when you have all the authority of a common citizen, and the same common responsibility of calling law enforcement if there is a crime suspected or witnessed, you really must PLAY mercenary because you really CAN'T BE an authentic mercenary employed by the colonials to shoot up the indigenous Na'vi in your quest to obtain Unobtainium.

Didn't you see the movie?

[WinkyDink]

18. "Interfering with corporate profits is terrorism" [tm MsPithy]

[justiceischeap]

19. Is there any proof of the death threats or strange and threatening behavior

or are we just to take this person's word for it? A person that has a clear, financial motive for not being 100% honest?