Citizen Staff Writer
RealFAST ONLINE COMMENTS
Compiled by PAUL SCHWALBACH
pschwalb@tucsoncitizen.com
The story: A southern Arizona rancher didn’t violate the civil rights of a group of illegal immigrants who claimed he detained them at gunpoint in 2004, according to a jury that did find Roger Barnett liable on four claims of assault and infliction of emotional distress and ordered him to pay to pay $77,804 in damages.
Your take: He should receive a medal, not a fine. The Citizen’s online community, not unsurprisingly, believes that Barnett was just protecting his property. Some representative comments:
• “Illegal (immigrants) have repeatedly trespassed on his land and damaged his personal property. Fine? Hell, he should be awarded personal and property damages.” Blythechris
• “This says to me that if some . . . enters my house to rob me and I hold him/her in a corner with a gun until the cops get there, threatening to shoot off his/her private parts if he/she moves, that I could end up paying a fine for frightening them. Give me a break!” 4288
• “I find it scary that one is not entitled to defend his land from trespassers and damage caused by criminals.” xflbret
• “How about a Roger Barnett holiday?” Cher D
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