Arizona bill to establish armed, state militia moves to full House

[Newsjock]

Source: Arizona Republic

A bill establishing an armed, volunteer militia to patrol the Arizona-Mexico border for undocumented immigrants and drug traffickers will be debated by the full House.

Senate Bill 1083, which would create and fund an Arizona Special Missions Unit, advanced Wednesday morning through the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee on a party-line 6-3 vote after lengthy debate. The bill next goes to the Rules Committee for vetting, then to the floor of the House for a debate.

... When called into duty, members of the unit could detain and arrest suspects until a law-enforcement agency takes over, and would have immunity for acts that occur while on duty -- similar to immunity granted to police and other law enforcement that prevents prosecution while doing their jobs.

The legislation also would allow the state guard to seize assets in instances where it cooperates with state or local law enforcement agencies.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/2012/03/14/20120314bill-establish-armed-state-militia-moves-full-house.html

[Justice wanted]

1. What's next will AZ move to seceded

[arcane1]

2. "allow the state guard to seize assets"

Imagine that!

[appleannie1]

3. The Arizona government has gone totally radical Taliban.

[SoCalNative]

4. THey really are trying to out-crazy

Florida and Texas there, aren't they?

[Drale]

5. The funny thing is

back in the day, when the country actually needed Militia's, they had to promise the people free beer inorder to get them to come out to drill.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. At least they are not thinking Carrier Battlegroup

Second state to do this...not good.

[EC]

7. I think they'll regret

this. I see more law suits in their future. There are going to be so many yahoo's thinking this gives them carte-blanc to "catch illegals" any way they can, including with violence. I don't see too many of them waiting for law enforcement.

[crunch60]

15. This rough malitia will probably receive a "bounty" for every illegal they

turn in. Great incentive for these goons. Like $200.00 a head, just like some third world countries.

[woo me with science]

8. There's not just one every day anymore.

It's a constant assault now.

[yellowcanine]

9. Well it is clearly unconstitutional. Only Congress can raise an army.

State militias (National Guard) are subject to Federalization by the President.

And what happens if this group gets into a skirmish with the U.S. Border Patrol?

[Hangingon]

13. Not unconstitutional

Texas has had a state guard for many years and there have been no problems.

[ceile]

16. But the TX Guard is limited

"The Texas State Guard is a state defense force that assists and augments Texas military and civil authorities in times of state emergencies, and in on-going support of National Guard units and local communities."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_State_Guard

And I do not see that changing. Point of fact, no one wants to mess with Border Patrol.

[apocalypsehow]

17. "Point of fact, no one wants to mess with Border Patrol"

Gosh, I guess that's why not a single undocumented immigrant has made it across the border in the last few years.

Oh, wait....

[yellowcanine]

19. Actually it is if the mission is to patrol the border. That is a Federal function.

Call it what you will. It is unconstitutional and the Federal Courts will slap it down forthwith.

[11 Bravo]

10. Kansas and Florida must have pooled their resources and paid Arizona to do a lot of stupid shit.

I guess they decided it was another state's turn to be the national laughing stock.

[ceile]

11. Somehow I don't see our Southern neighbors (Baja and Sonora) being happy about this.

If this passes, how long before Mexican and US troops are involved? I don't think AZ's lawmakers are looking at the big picture...

[cynatnite]

12. I can't imagine the repub AZ lawmakers looking at any big picture. n/t

[Initech]

14. It's official: Arizona's government has gone off the deep end.

[NAO]

18. Arizona now has HB2625, allows ANY EMPLOYER to deny contraception coverage

thread here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1038312

excerpt:

...House Bill 2625, which the state House of Representatives passed earlier this month and the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed on Monday...allows any employer to refuse to cover contraception that will be used "for contraceptive, abortifacient, abortion or sterilization purposes." If a woman wants the cost of her contraception covered, she has to "submit a claim" to her employer providing evidence of a medical condition, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome, that can be treated with birth control...

***

I found the story here:

Arizona Birth Control Bill Penalizes Women For Using Contraception For Non-Medical Reasons
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/arizona-birth-control-bill-contraception-medical-reasons_n_1344557.html

[Kennah]

20. 22 states have State Defense Forces in accordance with 32 USC 109 and SCOTUS has weighed in

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Defense_Force
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/32/109
http://laws.findlaw.com/us/496/334.html

Nothing unconstitutional here.