Armed border militia confronts 'smugglers' that turn out to be camping biologists

[eridani]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/04/1327208/-Armed-border-militia-confronts-smugglers-that-turn-out-to-be-camping-biologists

Who would have thought that having roving bands of heavily armed conspiracy theory freaks roaming the desert looking for "justice" to dish out would lead to problems.

A group of heavily armed militia surrounded and confronted a group of people near the U.S.-Mexico border who they thought were illegal migrants or smugglers, but who turned out to be a group of conservationists conducting a wildlife population survey. [...]

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada told TNN that the militia men — who are civilian volunteers and not actual federal border patrol agents — were riding ATVs, wearing camouflage and brandishing weapons when they came upon the group of scientists.

“Obviously, they mistook them for smugglers or illegal entrants,” said Estrada.

Aside from surrounding and "confronting" the camping biologists (they were doing a study of the local bat population), there was no gunplay—presumably because the scientists spoke English and so therefore could swear at the dumbasses in their native language.

Estrada said that one of the border militia apologized to the angry and frightened scientists, but they “weren’t having any of it.” [...]

Gardner Canyon is a popular spot for camping and hiking and people are often there at night, said the biologists. The militia are needlessly putting people’s lives at risk, they sa

[Louisiana1976]

1. Those militia are batshit (pun intended) crazy. Good thing there was no gunplay.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. I s like ...

Chief Estrada.

Aside from surrounding and "confronting" the camping biologists (they were doing a study of the local bat population), there was no gunplay—presumably because the scientists spoke English and so therefore could swear at the dumbasses in their native language.

One of the few reasonably insane Sheriff in Arizona.

[malaise]

3. So you now have militias harrassing American citizens

on theor own fucking border. This is going to get ugly.

[tridim]

6. A poorly-regulated militia at that.

An obvious un-Constitutional and anti-American activity which I believe is punishable by catapult.

[Fred Sanders]

18. Poorly regulated militias should be arrested, it is in the constitution.

[951-Riverside]

9. Militia: "We are not to pull over civilians without reasonable cause"

Fast forward to 1:01

And here they are harassing media on a public road

[TeamPooka]

25. I'm waiting for 2 of these groups to shoot the shit out of each other some night.

And I'm going to laugh my ass off no matter how many are killed..

[CanonRay]

27. That first pic looks like Somalia.

Idiots with guns in the back of a pick-up.

[underpants]

4. In our population survey we found 612 bats and 5 armed knuckle dragging racist s#!t hammers

[underpants]

5. LOL - the last paragraph

Within a week World Net Daily will have convinced their readers that the bat-counting biologists were in fact part of a secret cartel to smuggle vampires across the border, and the militia sites will suddenly be peppered with advertisements for buying garlic and Holy Water. If they can freak themselves out over finding a soccer jersey, just imagine what drama they'll be able to wring out of "scientists counting bats."

[passiveporcupine]

14. better yet, fruit bats

fruit bats carry ebola.

[panader0]

7. I've been to Gardner Canyon many times--a beautiful place.

Here in next door Cochise County we have Miller, Ramsey and Ash Canyons in the Huachuca Mts. They too are very beautiful,
running streams, tons of trees and wildlife. The Huachucas are the highest, most southernmost (did I say that right?) mountains in the US, with Miller Peak at over 9600'. The last time I went up Miller Canyon I found it trashed with garbage. Mexican garbage, mostly food packages. A shame. Next time I'll take a large trash bag.

[Fred Sanders]

19. Another casualty of Republicans blocking sensible immigration reform.

[COLGATE4]

8. Well, you know what they say:

"The shit doesn't fall very far from the bat".

[The Magistrate]

10. I See No Report Of An Arrest, Ma'am

This is criminal behavior, and with the brandishing of weapons, probably a felony.

[ColesCountyDem]

13. I was wondering precisely that same thing myself, Sir. n/t

[Dont call me Shirley]

11. Those jackbutts ought to go join ISIS or Blackwater (oh, same thing) or the real Army, WTF

[tk2kewl]

12. volunteers?

they're vigilantes at best

[lpbk2713]

15. Big dipshits. This was an act of terror.

They terrorized American citizens. They must be held accountable.

[whereisjustice]

16. Looking for bats, they found bat shit crazy

[eridani]

20. DUzy! You win the thread! n/t

[another_liberal]

17. Why aren't these fools arrested for pretending they are law enforcement?

That is clearly their intent. They have used intimidation by deadly weapons to try and enforce their version of the law.

[Calista241]

22. The article makes no mention

Of the 'militia' members threatening anyone. Clearly nobody was shot, nobody was detained, and no stuff was stolen. Otherwise, they're a bunch of dudes riding around the desert in atv's.

We may think they're complete idiots, but if they'd done something illegal, the article should have mentioned it.

[another_liberal]

23. . . . and carrying firearms, surrounding campers, asking to know peoples' identities and etc.

What in any of that is alarming, right?

(sigh)

[freshwest]

21. Best part: 'swear at the dumbasses in their native language.' EOM.

[TeamPooka]

24. This was a crime and they shold go to jail.

[JHB]

26. Came to count guano producers, found guanopaths

[Feral Child]

28. Ignorant

Racist Scum.

As mentioned by the Magistrate upstream, they committed several felonies. False arrest, brandishing, to start the list.

Sooner or later one of these self-righteous, grandiose thugs is going to hurt someone.

Law enforcement needs to act to curtail their dangerous adventurism.

[spanone]

29. terrorists. who. the. fuck. do. these. assholes. think. they. are.