Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
This ludicrous idea from Sen. Sylvia "6,000 years" Allen (R-Snowflake) has already cleared our Tea-Publican Senate. Tea-Publican Senate votes to give the governor an 'Arizona Special Missions Unit' border militia.
The bill, SB 1083, is backed by "states’ rights" advocates and anti-immigration zealots. What could possibly go wrong? (Jan Brewer and her teabaggers are recklessly irresponsible enough to create an international incident or start a war).
The House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee approved SB 1083 on a party-line 6-3 vote after lengthy debate on Wednesday. Bill to establish armed, state militia passes hurdle:
[The Arizona Special Missions Unit] would [purportedly] help secure the border and help local law enforcement pursue, detain and arrest those involved in "cross-border criminal activity." The unit also could respond to natural disasters and search-and-recovery efforts.
It would be funded with $1.4 million a year in gang task-force funds.
When called into duty, unit members could detain and arrest suspects until a law-enforcement agency took over and would have immunity for acts that occur while on duty — similar to immunity granted to police and other law enforcers that prevents prosecution while doing their jobs.
The legislation also would allow the state militia to seize assets in instances where it cooperates with state or local law enforcement agencies.
The governor would oversee the unit, and local police or county sheriffs could request the activation of the unit to supplement their law-efforts.
Border experts have told The Arizona Republic it would be the first such volunteer border-enforcement force in the nation.
That's because nowhere else in America is a legislature stupid enough to take a bunch of volunteer redneck border vigilanties, arm them with guns and legal immunity, and set them loose on the public to violate the public's civil rights and seize its property, acting as the personal militia of a governor who clearly has issues with "brown people." This has "disaster" written all over it.
Opponents of the bill, including the Arizona Cattlemen's Association, are concerned about funding, liability and training for the volunteers.
Jennifer Sweeney, an Arizona Association of Counties lobbyist, said 14 of the state's sheriffs oppose the bill. She said Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu stands alone in his support of it.
No responsible law enforcement agency has supported this bill (which automatically excludes Sheriff Babeu).
The bill’s author, "Sen. Allen, previously had said Middle Eastern terrorist groups like Hezbollah have been coordinating with Mexican drug cartels to infiltrate the United States through the Arizona-Mexico border, which has been largely discredited. But Allen did not mention that alleged threat during Wednesday’s committee hearing." I'll bet. House committee passes border militia funding bill - Arizona Capitol Times:
Allen acknowledged that she has consulted with military-style tacticians to draft possible plans for equipment, training and standards, which would still have to be made official after funding is secured.
Democrats on the committee who opposed the bill harped on that point, saying that because Allen has led the research done into what a border militia would need, its standards and protocols may essentially have been crafted and overseen by Allen only.
Oh, hell no! This woman is a certifiable loon.
And then there is Rep. David Gowan. Bill to establish armed, state militia passes hurdle:
Rep. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, said his constituents overwhelmingly support the measure. He characterized the Arizona-Mexico border as a "war zone" rife with drug-cartel traffic and violence.
"I don't know how to do it any other way if the federal government doesn't have the will," Gowan said.
A "war zone?" This kind of irresponsible hyperbolic rhetoric is completely out of touch with all current crime statistics and immigration statisitics. It was rejected just this week by the legislature when Rep. Peggy Judd (R-Wilcox) killed her bill to declare Baja Arizona a "danger zone" after the leaders of border communities objected to her false characterization. Bill to declare Baja Arizona a 'danger zone' is killed.
This ludicrous bill passed with only Republican support, and will next move through the House Appropriations Committee.
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