News of the Day

[pete]

Believe it or not the most common reason is protect.

That's not the reason for people that show up to the President's events bradishing weapons, though. Folks who carry for protection tend not to be flashy or in-your-face about it. It's a tool, in that case. For the folks who take guns to rallies and talk openly about revolutions, they fetishize guns for their symbolic purposes.

[Hoek]

Originally Posted by dmitry

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/...orn/index.html

We need more porn watchers if we are to avoid future problems

8 hours a day of surfing porn? WTF is the use? I guess it really is an addiction.

I've never understood the point of collecting the stuff either. Like you're really gonna go back through the archives? Just seems more like creating the noose to hang yourself with..

[Hoek]

How Immigration Crackdowns Backfire: The trouble with Arizona's draconian new law

It's no surprise that Arizonans resent the recent influx of unauthorized foreigners, some of them criminals. But there is less here than meets the eye.

The state has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants. But contrary to myth, they have not brought an epidemic of murder and mayhem with them. Surprise of surprises, the state has gotten safer.

Over the last decade, the violent crime rate has dropped by 19 percent, while property crime is down by 20 percent. Crime has also declined in the rest of the country, but not as fast as in Arizona.

Had the government not cracked down at the border, he says, "the undocumented population would be half what it is now." A fence intended to keep illegal immigrants out is serving beautifully to keep them in.

Assigning local police to enforce federal immigration laws would also have unhealthy side effects. The Major Cities Chiefs Association, representing 56 police departments, says it hinders law enforcement by deterring members of immigrant communities from cooperating with cops.

it hinders law enforcement by deterring members of immigrant communities from cooperating with cops.

Very few cooperate now.

[pete]

The law is way too broadly written and is just completely unconstitutional.

Supposedly a lot of cops in Arizona are against the law because they're busy enough without having to worry about doing the INS's job, too.

[RSchmitz]

I'm not against them trying to enforce national law. Being illegal isn't a race, its a crime. And right now the I think Arizona police wouldn't be against it if they weren't so understaffed already, its kind of like Florida teachers being against the new Florida laws in that respect.

Now obviously it sounds open to racial profiling. So it all depends on how the law is worded and implemented.

Being in a national police association and at this time taking part in the Florida Legislative Session has allowed me to talk to several Arizona law enforcement officers over the past few days. I hear that they are not against this law. I have been told that this law may allow them the right to question one's "documentation" but the real reason for this law is because of the failure of the Federal Government to assist the state with the large influx of illegal immigrants that are costing the Arizona taxpayers millions and millions of dollars each year in education and health care benefits. Educational and medical providers will now be able to ask for documentation showing that you are in our country legally before you can get these services. I have also been told that those in serious need of medical care will still receive it, but local law enforcement would be notified.

The issue at hand is how to deal with those that are here without the proper documentation. They claim that the State of Arizona alone has over 460,000 illegal immigrants. That is like the State of Florida supporting the City of Tampa which only has a population of 360,000+. Until Washington takes up the issue as to who can remain and who must leave I have no problem with a State attempting to stop the bleeding of taxpayers dollars.

From CNN:

The Republican governor also issued an executive order that requires additional training for local officers on how to implement the law without engaging in racial profiling or discrimination.

"This training will include what does and does not constitute reasonable suspicion that a person is not legally present in the United States," Brewer said after signing the bill.

"Racial profiling is illegal. It is illegal in America, and it's certainly illegal in Arizona," Brewer said.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/...ex.html?hpt=T1


for those wondering just what the law says, here is a link to the bill.

http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf

[Sotnos]

Originally Posted by Hoek

How Immigration Crackdowns Backfire: The trouble with Arizona's draconian new law

Good link. People are just not using their heads with this & thinking of the unintended consequences.

As for it not being racist...if the aim was to keep those pesky illegal Canucks out, I bet the white supporters would have a little different view.

Originally Posted by WaiverWire

They claim that the State of Arizona alone has over 460,000 illegal immigrants. That is like the State of Florida supporting the City of Tampa which only has a population of 360,000+.

"Supporting"? Outside of education (and do we really want to deny children education?) & the ocassional emergency room visit, these people are not supported at all.

for those wondering just what the law says, here is a link to the bill.

http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf

Thank you, been wanting to read the whole thing but hadn't taken the time to find it. All I've seen regarding employer punishments is making it illegal to hire a day worker, I want to see if they're going after restaurants/hotels at all.

[RSchmitz]

I hope this forces Obama to shift some of his focus to immigration. He could have used this as an opportunity to go over his immigration policy that he spoke about during his presidential campaign, instead of bashing Arizona. Legalize the ilegals, have them pay taxes, and make the border impassable. Then this new law becomes a non-issue.

Originally Posted by TBFANATIC

I hope this forces Obama to shift some of his focus to immigration. He could have used this as an opportunity to go over his immigration policy that he spoke about during his presidential campaign, instead of bashing Arizona. Legalize the ilegals, have them pay taxes, and make the border impassable. Then this new law becomes a non-issue.

I think that is all the State really wants.............for some action to be taken that gets those here on the books or kicked out and doing a better job at closing the border.