Arpaio takes 50 caliber machine gun out into desert hunting cartel smugglers
by Hugh Holub on Jul. 16, 2010, under border issues, politics
You’ve got to hand it to Sheriff Joe. He is a genius at publicity stunts.
The other day Joe went out into the desert west of Phoenix in another of his infamous “crime sweeps” hunting illegal aliens. This time he brought big fire power with him, so he could shoot back if attacked.
Which raises an interesting question. Is the Border Patrol armed with 50 caliber machine guns?
Joe Arpaio launches 16th immigration sweep in desert
Jul.16, 2010, under Arizona Republic NewsIn a stretch of barren desert alongside Interstate 8 near Gila Bend that has become a corridor for human and drug smuggling, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and about 100 men staged a crime-suppression operation Thursday.
Arpaio brought with him a belt-fed .50-caliber machine gun that can shoot accurately up to a mile as a display of the kind of force he would use if anyone hurts a deputy.
“I am trying to send a message to Mexico,” he said. “We will not take anyone hurting our deputies. We will fight back.”
The 7-year-old gun has not yet been used, Arpaio said. “It is more for defense.” Nor have any of his deputies yet been harmed in a border scuffle.
“We have been very lucky,” he said.
The sheriff said criminals smuggling drugs and immigrants across the border are now carrying AK-47s along the swath of desert that is seldom patrolled. The Barry M. Goldwater Range is used for shooting and cannot be patrolled without permission from the United States Air Force. That gives smugglers an easy path for entry, Arpaio said.
Often smugglers cut through Vekol Valley east of Gila Bend, then come north to vehicles waiting on Interstate 8, he said. Those usually head to Phoenix on back roads.
The volunteers and paid deputies arrived in about 20 vehicles to stage the first-ever suppression operation in the desert.
By 8 p.m. Thursday, the deputies had made two arrests at traffic stops, but those were outside their staging area. One was nabbed for a criminal traffic violation, and the other had a warrant for a criminal traffic violation.
Arpaio’s group planned to stay until 2 a.m. today. He said the timing of the suppression was not connected to Thursday’s hearing challenging Senate Bill 1070, Arizona’s immigration law that makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. It requires officers engaged in a stop, detention or arrest to, when practicable, ask about a person’s legal status when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is in the U.S. illegally.
The law goes into effect July 29, which is when Arpaio’s 17th crime-suppression operation is scheduled. Arpaio said the operation will go on even if the law is struck down.
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July 16th, 2010 on 7:39 am
I’m not sure about Mexico getting a message; the message I’m getting is this man is a dangerous, publicity-hungry crackpot.
July 16th, 2010 on 7:52 am
By all means take your family on a picnic out there. Don’t worry it’s perfectly safe. I’m guessing that you are not from Arizona? If the Federal government would enforce the immagration laws this would be a non issue.
July 16th, 2010 on 9:21 am
The the news article, it is perfectly safe. 100 men, equipement, vehicles,… and they got 2 people on moviing violations outside the area.
Wow… they sure did wisely use those resources to nab 2 guys outside the patrol area. I feel safer already.
BTW, who’s picking up the tab for this publicity stunt?
July 16th, 2010 on 3:45 pm
Yeah, Joe is doing something, but I could go out and patrol the desert behind my house and accomplish just as much.
July 16th, 2010 on 7:49 am
God bless you Arpaio, at least some is trying to protect us from the invasion!
July 16th, 2010 on 7:52 am
someone
July 17th, 2010 on 1:59 am
The illusionary invasion of immigrants into idiotic and idle imaginations
July 16th, 2010 on 7:53 am
I think Sheriff Joe is really on the ball and isn’t afraid of get-ur Done we need more of him to back Jan Brewer and we can finally get the point across. I don’t think this is pointed to just Mexico as from our southern borders all nationalities of ilegals come. They have found the Kran and prayer rugs in our deseert. Arab money the chinese pay 2500o. (yes thousand) to get a ride fromt he southern boarder to LA.
July 16th, 2010 on 8:45 am
They have found the Kran and prayer rugs in our deseert. Arab money the chinese pay 2500o…
They have found exactly as many prayer rugs as they have found headless bodies – none.
July 16th, 2010 on 10:21 am
Granted prayer rugs are a stretch (to dusty) but headless bodies are not in Mexico
July 17th, 2010 on 2:40 am
the key words here would be: ‘in Mexico’ . . .
July 17th, 2010 on 2:35 am
I have personally met Joe Arpio and IMO, he is a self-centered, self-absorbed bigot that we would all be better off without.
As far as I have been able to research, Kran is a radio station in Wyoming . . . although I am pretty sure you were referring to the Qur’an . . . or maybe I got that wrong and you meant the Buybull.
July 16th, 2010 on 8:03 am
Ya know what they say. The bigger the gun the smaller the ______. You fill in the blank.
July 17th, 2010 on 2:51 am
Which ‘they’ is saying that? Were you afraid to say penis?
July 16th, 2010 on 8:13 am
Obviously Arpaio needs to remenber he is also an immigrant as well as Brewer.
July 16th, 2010 on 8:33 am
Hey, moron, you are NOT indigenous, and you need to learn how to spell the word. I’m sick and tired of illegals and their slavery loving supporters attempting to exploit my people’s history. The truly indigenous are fed up with illegal aliens, their drug cartels, their attempts to kidnap and sell our children into the slavery of drugs and forced prostitution, their violent, armed gangs setting up drug labs on tribal lands. I support Arpaio, and in all candor, I hope he gets you and sends you to jail, because that is where scum like you belong
July 16th, 2010 on 3:01 pm
HONEY IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT TO LEAR WAY MORE????ILLEGAL”S DO NOT HURT YOU”R PEOPLE ILLEGALS SEND THEIR PEOPLE NOT YOUR”S INSTEAD YOUR PEOPLE WHAT TO FIGHT BACK AND GET KILLED BY THE CARTEL”S AND YEA THEIR ILLEGALS LIKE THE TIME YOU GREAT GREAT PARENT”S WHERE HERE EVRYONE IS ILLEGAL CAUSE YOU GO TO DIFFERENT STATES …..
July 16th, 2010 on 8:17 am
What is with him and all of the other Arizona politicians? Have they been out in the sun too long or were they just born with s**t for brains?
Tom
July 16th, 2010 on 8:20 am
It comes down to 1 basic fact! IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD ENFORCE THE LAWS CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS, THEIR WOULD BE FEWER PROBLEMS.
July 16th, 2010 on 8:36 am
this is man is probably more crazy than all of mexico. He is nuts and whoever defends his actions are just as crazy. 50 Caliber bullets. He’s not trying to protect his deputies, He’s trying to killed people.
July 16th, 2010 on 1:15 pm
And if the drug cartels fire on our officers he sould kill people!!!!
July 16th, 2010 on 2:45 pm
arpaio immigrated from italy to to the U.S ….
July 16th, 2010 on 2:50 pm
ARPAIO HAS A BIG CHANCE OF GETTING KILLED FOR SENDING THAT MSG TO MEXICO??
July 17th, 2010 on 9:38 am
Finally! the only thing I don’t understand is why it took so long if the gun is unfired after seven years? I have 2 civilian friends with M2′s.
July 17th, 2010 on 9:39 am
Finally! the only thing I don’t understand is why it took so long if the gun is unfired after seven years? I have 2 civilian friends with M2′s.
July 18th, 2010 on 12:14 pm
Sounds like Arpaio’s lost it….but then again reading some of these post, I guess Arizona deserves him.