Gun-toting border militia terrifies smugglers — who turn out to be bat-counting biologists

[RandySF]

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.

According to Tucson News Now, the standoff took place on the night of Aug. 23 in Gardner Canyon area near Sonoita, Arizona, where members of a small group of biologists were counting bats.

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. “They were armed. They put a spotlight on them.”



http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/09/04/gun-toting-border-militia-terrifies-smugglers-who-turn-out-to-be-bat-counting-biologists/

[msongs]

1. evidently, stalking is not against the law in texas...if you fit the profile of these vigilantes nt

[exboyfil]

2. Pointing a weapon is an assault

why aren't they arrested?

Pointing a firearm at a person, without justification, violates a criminal law
for which the gunman can be imprisoned or fined. The criminal violation would
be attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault, threatening or intimidating,
endangerment, felony disorderly conduct or some other offense. A.R.S. §§ 13- 2
1201 - 1204, 13-1001, 13-1104 - 1105, 2904(A)(6).

[tblue37]

3. Best comment on the story at the link is by someone called rewinn:

To be fair, the scientists were looking for batshit; they just didn't expect it to roll in on ATVs.

[Historic NY]

4. ..