Thread: AZ: Rancher's killing draws 350 citizens, officials

Rancher's killing draws citizens, officials
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350 in SE Arizona call for action near border; some want Guard, GI's
Rancher's killing draws citizens, officials

(caption under picture) As the sun sets, Billy Darnell a New Mexico rancher and one of ten area residents to speak, talks to a crowd of a few hundred of his neighbors during a public meeting in the wake of the death of Robert Krantz outside the one room schoolhouse in Apache, AZ., Wed., Mar. 31, 2010

Near Portal - More than 350 people gathered outside a small schoolhouse Wednesday night to deliver suggestions to politicians and law enforcement officials about what needs to be done to restore safety to the area after the slaying of rancher Robert Krentz.

The meeting was calm and orderly, but the frustration and anger felt by the community were evident as ranchers took the microphone. Community members said they've been warning government officials for years that something like this would happen, and that they were ignored.

Apache, where the meeting took place, is about 25 miles northeast of Douglas in a rural area east of the Chiricahua Mountains near the Arizona-New Mexico line. Krentz was fatally shot on his ranch Saturday by someone thought to be a smuggler. Officials believe the killer escaped into Mexico.

The most common demand from the community was for the government to send the National Guard or active military to the border. The Krentz family, through a statement, asked for active military to be sent to the border.

Rancher Don Kimble drew huge applause when he told the officials that the military should not only come to the border but be allowed to use deadly force.

But others urged calm.

"We've all got a take a couple of deep breaths and not lose our cool," said Billy Darnell, a rancher and former sheriff in New Mexico. "And get this guy identified."

The Krentz family asked that in honor of everything Krentz stood for, people work peacefully to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the country. The family said it holds no malice toward the people of Mexico but do for the politicians in both countries who allowed the situation to get this bad.

Some of the other suggestions from community members included:

• Move the Border Patrol to the border instead of having agents patrolling many miles north of the international line.

• Improve radio communications among the local and federal officers in the area.

• Construct cell-phone towers in the area so residents can get faster emergency services.

"We are a long ways away from any help," Kimble said. "We are pretty much on our own to protect ourselves."

The panel of officials included Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.; Border Patrol Tucson Sector Chief Victor Manjarrez Jr.; Matthew Allen, special agent in charge of Arizona for Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Richard Tracy Jr. of the U.S. Marshals Service; and former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth. They were asked to listen to residents. Several spoke briefly and stayed afterward for questions.

Department of Homeland Security officials announced a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the killer. Also, the Arizona Cattlemen's Association is offering a $15,000 reward.

"That's enough to get anybody back from Mexico," rancher Gary Thrasher said.

http://www.azstarnet.com/news/local/bor ... 66dd5.html

This Is going to draw thousands of citizens If the Feds sit around with their finger up their @ss's like they normally do. Lets see If this Is the wake up call that these traitors In Congress need to address this wholesale Invasion of our country. Americans are dying every day at the hands of Illegal aliens. This nonsense has to stop NOW !!

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-5086--0-0.html

Will our government do what it is supposed to do or will we have to take matters into our own hands?