Texas Town on High Alert

[karder]

The spill over is happening. Authorities are downplaying things, but we have had people kidnapped in El Paso and found murdered in Mexico and others shot down in front of their homes in broad daylight.
This is not the fault of our local law enforcement in anyway. The problem is just too big and they (Police, Sheriff, and Federal Agencies) are trying to hold things together as best they can. The cartels operate with immunity in Mexico and are crossing the border to get anyone who tries to come over here for safety.
In the past two weeks cartel gunmen targeted and killed two U.S. Consulate works and a Sheriff's Detention Officer in Juarez. The target was the Sheriff's officer. One of the Consulate workers was his wife driving with him, and the other Consulate worker was killed because he was "driving a white car" in the same area and the gunmen weren't sure which car they were supposed to hit. Nothing is off limits to them, and they are now targeting kids to up the anti.
For perspective, there were more murders in Juarez due to the drug war in 2009 than there were coalition forces deaths in Iraq in 2009 and in 2010 we are out-pacing 2009. Here is a link to a local story on the Hudspeth County situation. I tip my hat to Sheriff Arvin West from Hudspeth county who comes out and says for everyone to arm themselves. He is being realistic. http://www.kvia.com/news/22987739/detail.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[surprise_i'm_armed]

karder:

Thanks for sharing, especially the long link.

Isn't it rather ironic that the first known school system in
Texas to authorize concealed carry by teachers and staff was
in Harrold (Wilbarger County), close by the Red River?

It seems like the counties bordering Mexico should have armed school
staff.

The Mexican drug gangs are more likely to cause harm in an
American school than Okies.
************************************************************************************

Let me pose this question to y'all:

If a Mexican drug gang enters Texas and shoots a bunch of folks in an
American school, or anywhere, do you think the US government will flood
the border with troops and punish the Mexicans?

SIA

[suthdj]

karder:

Thanks for sharing, especially the long link.

Isn't it rather ironic that the first known school system in
Texas to authorize concealed carry by teachers and staff was
in Harrold (Wilbarger County), close by the Red River?

It seems like the counties bordering Mexico should have armed school
staff.

The Mexican drug gangs are more likely to cause harm in an
American school than Okies.
************************************************************************************

Let me pose this question to y'all:

If a Mexican drug gang enters Texas and shoots a bunch of folks in an
American school, or anywhere, do you think the US government will flood
the border with troops and punish the Mexicans?

SIA

No they will sit back and say what a tragedy it is, if only we did not have so many illegal guns out there this would not happen, if we can just save 1 child banning all guns would be worth it.

[Sidro]

I graduated from Harrold 40 years ago. One of my teachers is still there.

[SQLGeek]

No they will sit back and say what a tragedy it is, if only we did not have so many illegal guns out there this would not happen, if we can just save 1 child banning all guns would be worth it.

Very few politicians would have the gumption to do what is necessary.

[karder]

Let me pose this question to y'all:

If a Mexican drug gang enters Texas and shoots a bunch of folks in an
American school, or anywhere, do you think the US government will flood
the border with troops and punish the Mexicans?

SIA

Not hardly. Unfortunately, I don't believe the U.S. government will do anything. In January 2006 DPS Troopers tried to pull over a suspicious vehicle that they had information was carrying drugs. The vehicle took off and tried to get back to Mexico and the troopers gave chase with dash cams rolling and documented everything. When they got to the river, the officers were met by gunmen wearing Mexican military uniforms (likely soldiers freelancing) who had a Humvee with a .50 cal machine gun mounted on it. The gunmen, using military tactics, held DPS and Sheriff's officers at bay and provided cover for the vehicle to get back to Mexico. The truck got stuck halfway across the river, so the troops provided cover while the drivers unloaded the car full of drugs, into another truck and got it back to Mexico. They then set fire to the vehicle that was stuck in the river.

This made Fox news, but I don't remember seeing in nationally anywhere else. Sheriff's officers, who were clearly out gunned, could do nothing but watch, but they did take cell phone video of the incident, so they had proof it happened and it was huge news locally.

Sheriff Arvin West went to Homeland Security and our Congressman to ask for military assistance to patrol the area. To me this makes sense considering a foreign army had crossed our border. He was told by our Congressman that it would be best for his officers to avoid that area in the future as it was too dangerous. That was the response! Don't patrol the area. I am being 100% serious! Outrageous. For those that are interested, here is a link to Sheriff West's testimony about the incident.

http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=18457" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[karder]

here is another link about the above incident from MSNBC that has a photo.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11226144" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[joe817]

karder, thank you for sharing that link.

That testimony was given over 3 years ago. And it looks like the Sheriff's concerns back then are coming to light now.

[Dragonfighter]

So...we not only gave them the helicopter, but filled the gas tank?

Seriously, the conditions along the Texas-Mexico border (as well as the entire Mexican border) is at a critical point - 'spill over' into Texas is just a matter of when - not if.
Everyone needs to be very careful and keep your situational awareness on ORANGE-RED!

Dyess is one of several bases designated as cooperative training bases where other agencies train. I don't know that $92.8 million dollars in Blackhawk sales to Mexico is exactly "giving it to them" and everybody, even the feds have to pay for fuel at civilian airports. Soooo, while there is probably a legitimate reason for THAT one to be there...the incursion was well documented and the denial by our government was just more of the same. Lie first and then modify details as you're found out, that's a good way to do business.

[pbwalker]

So let me pose a question...a hypothetical if you will.

Let's say I am a rancher down in Zapata County, and have several hundred acres that border the Rio Bravo del Norte. And let's just say I am a prior service. You know...protect and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Now, I happen to have my .30-06 with me and see a heli belonging to the Federales.

I shoot at it...

What happens...?

[surprise_i'm_armed]

karder:

Did you say that you've switched your carry piece from
your Colt 1911 to a higher round capacity HK, due to the current
problems?

SIA

[marksiwel]

So let me pose a question...a hypothetical if you will.

Let's say I am a rancher down in Zapata County, and have several hundred acres that border the Rio Bravo del Norte. And let's just say I am a prior service. You know...protect and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Now, I happen to have my .30-06 with me and see a heli belonging to the Federales.

I shoot at it...

What happens...?

You'll miss? How fast are they going?
My guess is
A) They shoot back
B) You start an international incident
C) You kill someone

[pbwalker]

So let me pose a question...a hypothetical if you will.

Let's say I am a rancher down in Zapata County, and have several hundred acres that border the Rio Bravo del Norte. And let's just say I am a prior service. You know...protect and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Now, I happen to have my .30-06 with me and see a heli belonging to the Federales.

I shoot at it...

What happens...?

You'll miss? How fast are they going?
My guess is
A) They shoot back
B) You start an international incident
C) You kill someone

Sorry...I should have specified that they are low enough to hit and I do...

[Dragonfighter]

So let me pose a question...a hypothetical if you will.

Let's say I am a rancher down in Zapata County, and have several hundred acres that border the Rio Bravo del Norte. And let's just say I am a prior service. You know...protect and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Now, I happen to have my .30-06 with me and see a heli belonging to the Federales.

I shoot at it...

What happens...?

You'll miss? How fast are they going?
My guess is
A) They shoot back
B) You start an international incident
C) You kill someone

Sorry...I should have specified that they are low enough to hit and I do...

Where? The BlackHawk has armor around the engine, transmission and buckets around the flight crew AND it has two engines with a power transfer transmission as well as self sealing tanks. Soooo, unless you are firing black tips and unless you just happen to ding a tail rotor shaft or some other major coupling, they look around trying to figure out what that ZING! was and if they have any lights or gauges indicating a problem, they'll make a nice easy turn and fly back for inspection; if not they'd probably continue their mission and would find the hole back at base and go, "Aha!"

If you did manage to bring one down, it better be on our side of the line , the Mexican federales had better have been declared antagonistic if not out and out enemies and you'd better have some bullet holes at your feet from an attack run or you've got some splainin' to do. Even Bears that overflew Alaska and deployed U.S. Fleets were escorted away, not shot down...most of the time anyway.

[marksiwel]

Why would you fire on a chopper?

Also because I couldnt help myself