Harold

The federal government has posted signs along a major interstate highway in Arizona, more than 100 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, warning travelers the area is unsafe because of drug and alien smugglers, and a local sheriff says Mexican drug cartels now control some parts of the state. The signs were posted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) along a 60-mile stretch of Interstate 8 between Casa Grande and Gila Bend, a major east-west corridor linking Tucson and Phoenix with San Diego. They warn travelers that they are entering an "active drug and human smuggling area" and they may encounter "armed criminals and smuggling vehicles traveling at high rates of speed." Beginning less than 50 miles south of Phoenix, the signs encourage travelers to "use public lands north of Interstate 8" and to call 911 if they "see suspicious activity." Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, whose county lies at the center of major drug and alien smuggling routes to Phoenix and cities east and west, attests to the violence. He said his deputies are outmanned and outgunned by drug traffickers in the rough-hewn desert stretches of his own county. "Mexican drug cartels literally do control parts of Arizona," he said. "They literally have scouts on the high points in the mountains and in the hills and they literally control movement. They have radios, they have optics, they have night-vision goggles as good as anything law enforcement has. "This is going on here in Arizona," he said. "This is 70 to 80 miles from the border - 30 miles from the fifth-largest city in the United States." He said he asked the Obama administration for 3,000 National Guard soldiers to patrol the border, but what he got were 15 signs. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer condemned what she called the federal government's "continued failure to secure our international border," saying the lack of security has resulted in important natural recreational areas in her state being declared too dangerous to visit. In a recent campaign video posted to YouTube, Mrs. Brewer - standing in front of one of the BLM signs - attacked the administration over the signs, calling them "an outrage" and telling President Obama to "Do your job. Secure our borders." BLM spokesman Dennis Godfrey in Arizona said agency officials were surprised by the reaction the signs generated when they were put up this summer. "We were perhaps naive in setting the signs up," he said. "The intention of the signs was to make the public aware that there is potential illegal activity here. But it was interpreted in a different light, and that was not the intent at all." He said there should be "no sense that we have ceded the land," adding that no BLM lands in Arizona are closed to the public. "I kind of liken it to if I were visiting a city I were not familiar with and asked a policeman if it were safe to go in a particular area," Mr. Godfrey said. Rising violence along the border has coincided with a crackdown in Mexico on warring drug gangs, who are seeking control of smuggling routes into the United States. Mexican President Felipe Calderon has waged a bloody campaign against powerful cartels, yesterday announcing the arrest of Texas-born Edgar "La Barbie" Valdez - a powerful cartel leader captured outside of Mexico City on Monday evening. More than 28,000 people have died since Mr. Calderon launched his crackdown in late 2006, and the bloodshed shows no sign of ending. Law enforcement authorities have been warning for more than two years that the dramatic rise in border violence eventually would spread into the U.S. T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents all 17,500 of the Border Patrol's front-line agents, said areas well north of the border are so overrun by armed criminals that U.S. citizens are being warned to keep out of those locations. "The federal government's lack of will to secure our borders is painfully evident when signs are posted well north of the border warning citizens that armed and dangerous criminals are roaming through those areas with impunity," he said. "Instead of taking the steps necessary to secure our borders, politicians are attempting to convince the public that our borders are more secure now than ever before. "Fortunately, some responsible civil servants are candidly warning the public about the dangers that exist not just along the border but, in some cases, well beyond," he said. "This situation should alarm all sensible people, and should spur endless demands that our legislators take whatever actions are necessary to restore law and order to these areas." Rep. Ted Poe, Texas Republican and a member of the House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees, said the federal government's new border security plan apparently is to "erect some signs telling you it's not safe to travel in our own country." "If you are planning on loading up the station wagon and taking the kids to Disneyland, the federal government doesn't advise going through Arizona - it's too dangerous and they can't protect you," said Mr. Poe. "These signs say to American citizens, the federal government has ceded this area to the drug cartels. Don't come here; we can't protect you." Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, called the signs "an insult to the citizens of border states." "American citizens should not have to be fearful for their lives on U.S. soil," he said. "If the federal government would do its job of enforcing immigration laws, we could better secure the border and better protect the citizens of border states." Michael W. Cutler, a retired 31-year U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) senior criminal investigator and intelligence specialist, said the BLM warning signs suggest the U.S. government is "ceding American territory to armed criminals and smugglers." Meanwhile, he said, politicians in Washington, D.C., including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, continue to claim the border is now more secure than ever and, as a result, it is time for comprehensive immigration reform. "How much more land will our nation cede to drug dealers and terrorists? At what point will the administration understand its obligations to really secure our nation's borders and create an immigration system that has real integrity?" Mr. Cutler said. "At the rate we are going, the 'Red, White and Blue' of the American flag will be replaced with a flag that is simply white - the flag of surrender." Ms. Napolitano said this week that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would begin flying a Predator B drone out of Corpus Christi, Texas, on Wednesday, extending the reach of the agency's unmanned surveillance aircraft across the length of the 1,956-mile border with Mexico. Last month, Mr. Obama signed a $600 million bill to beef up security along the southwestern border. The bill funds 1,000 more Border Patrol agents, as well as 250 CBP officers and two more unmanned aerial vehicles. Two years ago, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the investigative arm of Homeland Security, said in a report that border gangs were becoming increasingly ruthless and had begun targeting not only rivals, but federal, state and local police. ICE said the violence had risen dramatically as part of "an unprecedented surge." The Justice Department's National Drug Intelligence Center, in its 2010 drug threat assessment report, called the cartels "the single greatest drug trafficking threat to the United States." It said Mexican gangs had established operations in every area of the United States and were expanding into rural and suburban areas. It said assaults against U.S. law enforcement officers along the southwestern border were on the increase - up 46 percent against Border Patrol agents alone. At the same time, the Justice Department brought a lawsuit to stop a new immigration enforcement law in Arizona, saying it violated the Constitution by trying to supersede federal law and by impairing illegal immigrants' right to travel and conduct interstate commerce. Mr. Cutler said it was "outrageous" for the BLM to direct travelers to dial 911 to report suspicious activities since the calls do not go to the federal government but to state and local police. He said the signs are telling Americans to call state and local law enforcement authorities to deal with border lawlessness while at the same time telling Arizona that only the federal government can write and enforce immigration laws. "You can't make this stuff up," he said. Mr. Godfrey said that just because the signs direct travelers who witness illegal activity to call 911, "that does not mean that only a local agency will respond." "The idea is that people will get help as quickly as they can," he said. Sheriff Babeu has dealt firsthand with the rising violence in his county since his 2008 election. One of his deputies, Louie Puroll, was shot and critically wounded in April after he spotted five men he suspected of transporting drugs along a remote span of desert near Interstate 8 and Arizona 84. He said his experience makes him see the issue differently from the administration in Washington. "The president is only looking at this from a political perspective," he said. "Everything is not fine. Everything is not OK." Signs in Arizona warn of smuggler dangers - Washington Times

Recent changes in the law require I leave it on the mother ship. Hoping mid term elections fix some of this...

Maybe they are legally always on duty? Do know work way to hard for way to little pay. Reason I ask

Just curious about this haven't seen any issues and simply curious. According to my reading of TCA code LEO can carry at schools if on official business. My question is what about off duty carry say at your son's or daughters ball game on Friday night at the school for example? Does HR218 impact this in anyway? Once again just curious?

12 in glock and another 12 count spare mag in weak side pocket, flashlight, and two knives.

Looking at Sabre Defence AR had a dealer I know recommend it. Just looking for thoughts from anyone that has actually owned and or shot one. I know they do a bunch of military stuff. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?

Had an alarm system installed today at my home. Installer sticks one of those protected by yard signs in plant bed next to front door. Later he hands me pile of stickers I can put on the windows if I like. All this gets me to thinking do I really want all that? Sort of the open vs. Concealed carry debate. In this case do I want advertise with stickers and yard signs "hey I have an alarm so go away" or is it better to not tell and let them find out hard way I have an alarm? What your thoughts? For the that have alarms what did you do? Any LEO's have insight as well?

Say what?

I go once a week and sometimes twice week. I shoot at least 100 rounds each time.

Owned a Ruger LCP and now own a Taurus TCP The TCP just felt better in hand. Not sure what they did differently but personality it didn't quite have the same kick the LCP did. The other thing I like is the fact the slide locking back when empty. Carry the TCP as my BUG..

If you're American before you enter the restroom, and if you're American after you leave the restroom, then what are you while you're inside the restroom? European!

In its second major ruling on gun rights in three years, the Supreme Court Monday extended the federally protected right to keep and bear arms to all 50 states. The decision will be hailed by gun rights advocates and comes over the opposition of gun control groups, the city of Chicago and four justices. Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the five justice majority saying "the right to keep and bear arms must be regarded as a substantive guarantee, not a prohibition that could be ignored so long as the States legislated in an evenhanded manner." The ruling builds upon the Court's 2008 decision in D.C. v. Heller that invalidated the handgun ban in the nation's capital. More importantly, that decision held that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms was a right the Founders specifically delegated to individuals. The justices affirmed that decision and extended its reach to the 50 states. Today's ruling also invalidates Chicago's handgun ban. High Court’s Big Ruling For Gun Rights « Liveshots

Welcome fellow williamson county member..

Needing a electrician to install a ceiling fan with drop down rod and light kit. Yes I know it's a simple project. Here is why I am looking for help, the ceiling is 11 feet tall and my 6 foot ladder not going to reach. Could rent a ladder I know but have no way to carry it. Easier just to hire someone with ladder that will reach and let them install. Anyone interested or have any recommendations if so let me know or PM me. I live in Nolensville about 25 minutes south of Nashville. Thanks.

I live in williamson county and have contacted my district reps. I will try and be there as well on the 14th.

Like Ramsey's response the best. +1

Ok the wife liked it.. Not sure what that says about the show?????

Sounds like a good way to spend Fathers Day...

Love my Taurus TCP 380 is the BUG I carry everyday. Let us know how you like it..

1 and Bang, 2 and Bang, 3 and Bang, 4 and Click.. Gotta get that new move down

I have on a couple of occasions been with friends in a downtown setting carrying my handgun and then needed to enter an establishment where I was not legally allowed to carry. I am not near any other location to secure my handgun. So I have field strip my Glock dropping the barrel, slide, recoil spring in different pockets and putting the frame assembly back into my holster. So my question is at this point do I have a handgun or parts from a legal stand point? Any thoughts?

Good deal glad to hear things fine.

Anyone know how TWRA Range @ Hobson Pike did with the all the flooding?

Kids are pretty good with guns. Both have been to range and we have had numerous talks about safety. Not really worried too much about older one. 6-year-old makes me a little nervous still at his age.. Reason got be able to secure it in someway was needed. I have a gun safe across the room in wall. Just looking to get a little closer and little faster access in case something goes bump in the night..