AZ border militia

[SFC]

A longstanding local border-militia group is trying to form a paramilitary squad with permission to confront smugglers or other suspected wrongdoers.

Cochise County Militia founder Bill Davis put out the word Monday that the group is planning to form a “private military company.”Although that category normally refers to contractors such as the company formerly known as Blackwater, the militia’s paramilitary squad would not work for money, Davis said


Read more: AZ border militia to offer armed patrols in Cochise County

[B2Tall]

This is a recipe for disaster on so many levels.

[Treo]

This is a recipe for disaster on so many levels.

I never thought I'd ever say this but I am in 100% agreement

[Iam2Taz]

As much as I don't like criminals, illegals, drugs and other crap comming accross our border, I am not sure this is the best method. Since most of us only have crappy media BS to review, there is no telling what is really going on in the area. I don't live there and don't know their situation.

[Grognard Gunny]

Now wait a minute here..... we have a volunteer border patrol force willing and able to assist in border protection? Hell yeah! ... and, apparently, MOST cost effective.

Oh, just one kicker, they are duly sworn in as either Fed border agents or Sheriff's Deputies (Auxilliaries) and as such are under exactly the same "Rules of Enguagement" as any other LEO. That might keep any ideas of vigilanteeism under control.

Otherwise, more than happy to see someone willing to perform public service without an agenda or a "payoff".

GG

[revjen45]

Agree with GG above. The Sheriff could, using the terminology of olde "muster the Fyrd" i.e call up the yeomanry at arms to deal with a situation that threatens the safety of the People and the civil order of the body politick. They would be auxulliary deputies, trained as such, and anybody exibiting overt belligerence, racism, or the propensity to abuse authority would be rejected.
IIRC, Fyrdthegn has been one of the duties/honorifics attached to the office of Sheriff dating back to Anglo-Saxon England.

[Grognard Gunny]

Exactly so! Good call.

GG

[Treo]

I am rethinking. I knew something was wrong if I was in agreement w/ B2Tall

[the_right_reverend]

The squad would consist largely of U.S. military combat veterans, already a significant contingent of the group Davis formed in 2001, he said.

“They all have confirmed kills, from Vietnam or later on. They’re not wannabes who go out and buy a set of camos and go out in the woods with a rifle,” Davis said.

I am sure there are a few Scout/Sniper's teams in there that could shoot up a few water jugs or take out a couple vehicles and then a psychological factors would start to set in

[B2Tall]

Many police agencies use Citizen Observer Patrols to augment their force. I would have no problem with trained volunteers equipped with radios and GPS trackers acting as another set of eyes for the Border Patrol, but a "militia"?? Not a chance. A bunch of gun-toting, Rambo Jrs wandering around in the desert would turn into a nightmare rather quickly. Forget about the potential body count and lawsuits flying around, it'll probably only be a matter of hours before some of these yahoos get stranded somewhere in the desert prompting a large (and expensive) SAR operation.

I can see it now.....the darkness pierced by the TV camera crew's lights as Floyd, Earl, and Bubba emerge from the rescue helocopter shivering in blankets, dehydrated, and all their hard-earned "militia cred" gone down the drain......