EDITORIAL

Misguided vigilantism
Our position: The Minutemen patrolling the Mexican border aren't helping problem.
December 1, 2007

That's your typical scene along the United States-Mexican border, where Minutemen are on patrol, on the lookout for people trying to sneak in to this country.

Whether it's Windermere or the Arizona border, citizens shouldn't be packing guns, looking for action.




President George W. Bush two years ago labeled these kinds of armed private groups as vigilantes. He's right. This is a tragedy waiting to happen. When somebody gets trigger happy in the desert, somebody is going to get killed -- maybe a Mexican, maybe a civilian on patrol.

And where are the United States Border Patrol agents? They're just thankful for any help they can get. They just ask that the Minutemen limit themselves to spotting and reporting.

Chances are you can thank your local congressman for this mess. By failing to pass a comprehensive reform bill, our borders remain largely unsecured. Vigilantes disguised as patriots aren't the solution. It's nothing more than a quick-fix mentality, which doesn't begin to address root causes or what to do with an estimated 12 million undocumented workers in this country.

Patrolling the border may make some people think America is safer. Far from it. It has become the front line for the chaos that defines this country's immigration problem.

Too bad our nation's leaders can't get past the rhetoric and try to fix it.

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