General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsArmed border militia confronts 'smugglers' that turn out to be camping biologists
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/04/1327208/-Armed-border-militia-confronts-smugglers-that-turn-out-to-be-camping-biologistsWho would have thought that having roving bands of heavily armed conspiracy theory freaks roaming the desert looking for "justice" to dish out would lead to problems.
A group of heavily armed militia surrounded and confronted a group of people near the U.S.-Mexico border who they thought were illegal migrants or smugglers, but who turned out to be a group of conservationists conducting a wildlife population survey. [...]
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada told TNN that the militia men who are civilian volunteers and not actual federal border patrol agents were riding ATVs, wearing camouflage and brandishing weapons when they came upon the group of scientists.
Obviously, they mistook them for smugglers or illegal entrants, said Estrada.
Aside from surrounding and "confronting" the camping biologists (they were doing a study of the local bat population), there was no gunplaypresumably because the scientists spoke English and so therefore could swear at the dumbasses in their native language.
Estrada said that one of the border militia apologized to the angry and frightened scientists, but they werent having any of it. [...]
Gardner Canyon is a popular spot for camping and hiking and people are often there at night, said the biologists. The militia are needlessly putting peoples lives at risk, they sa
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Chief Estrada.
One of the few reasonably insane Sheriff in Arizona.
malaise
(269,049 posts)on theor own fucking border. This is going to get ugly.
tridim
(45,358 posts)An obvious un-Constitutional and anti-American activity which I believe is punishable by catapult.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)951-Riverside
(7,234 posts)Fast forward to 1:01
And here they are harassing media on a public road
TeamPooka
(24,229 posts)And I'm going to laugh my ass off no matter how many are killed..
CanonRay
(14,104 posts)Idiots with guns in the back of a pick-up.
underpants
(182,826 posts)underpants
(182,826 posts)Within a week World Net Daily will have convinced their readers that the bat-counting biologists were in fact part of a secret cartel to smuggle vampires across the border, and the militia sites will suddenly be peppered with advertisements for buying garlic and Holy Water. If they can freak themselves out over finding a soccer jersey, just imagine what drama they'll be able to wring out of "scientists counting bats."
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)fruit bats carry ebola.
panader0
(25,816 posts)Here in next door Cochise County we have Miller, Ramsey and Ash Canyons in the Huachuca Mts. They too are very beautiful,
running streams, tons of trees and wildlife. The Huachucas are the highest, most southernmost (did I say that right?) mountains in the US, with Miller Peak at over 9600'. The last time I went up Miller Canyon I found it trashed with garbage. Mexican garbage, mostly food packages. A shame. Next time I'll take a large trash bag.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)COLGATE4
(14,732 posts)"The shit doesn't fall very far from the bat".
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)This is criminal behavior, and with the brandishing of weapons, probably a felony.
ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)tk2kewl
(18,133 posts)lpbk2713
(42,759 posts)They terrorized American citizens. They must be held accountable.
whereisjustice
(2,941 posts)eridani
(51,907 posts)another_liberal
(8,821 posts)That is clearly their intent. They have used intimidation by deadly weapons to try and enforce their version of the law.
Calista241
(5,586 posts)Of the 'militia' members threatening anyone. Clearly nobody was shot, nobody was detained, and no stuff was stolen. Otherwise, they're a bunch of dudes riding around the desert in atv's.
We may think they're complete idiots, but if they'd done something illegal, the article should have mentioned it.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)What in any of that is alarming, right?
(sigh)
freshwest
(53,661 posts)TeamPooka
(24,229 posts)JHB
(37,160 posts)Feral Child
(2,086 posts)Racist Scum.
As mentioned by the Magistrate upstream, they committed several felonies. False arrest, brandishing, to start the list.
Sooner or later one of these self-righteous, grandiose thugs is going to hurt someone.
Law enforcement needs to act to curtail their dangerous adventurism.