Hello all,
Yesterday, I attended a morning session chaired by Senator Pearce and attended by several guest speakers, including Sheriff Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas.
First, I observed the meeting itself and came up with suggestions to help ours:
1. Early on, have everyone turn off their cell phones.
2. Pre-check audio for speakers, any projection/video, etc.
3. Keep speaker and video presentations to at or under 20 minutes.
4. Interject levity. (Sheriff Joe was terrific in being able to address very serious issues one minute, then have the audience bursting with laughter and applause the next, this even despite admonitions from the chair to the audience that such outbursts were against decorum. The audience politely disregarded the advice and several more times applauded to which the chair half-smiled in seeming resignation. [I suspect the chair would have liked to applaud too.])
Regarding specific comments (mostly in their own words, writing as fast as my fingers could scramble):
Chair, Senator Russell Pierce key points:
1. We don’t need a permission slip from the federal government to enforce Arizona law.
2. This was the first panel to hold public officials accountable when they fail to uphold the law.
3. Those that defend lawbreakers aught to be removed from office.
4. Angered that the good guys today are depicted as the bad guys.
5. Arizona is the frontline of defense for our nation (re. border).
6. Illegal immigration problem costs our state over 3 billion per year, our state’s deficit.
Video Presentation:
1. 10% of illegal aliens have criminal records involving violation of laws other than immigration laws.
2. Illegal aliens account for approximately 90 billion dollars in welfare and services.
3. Over 1000 assaults against border patrol agents per year.
4. Big business won out because big business wanted cheap labor.
Andrew Thomas:
1. Enforcing Human Smuggling Law a priority. In 2008 there were 49 convictions and 288 conspiracy to smuggle.
2. ID theft and forgery go hand in hand with illegal immigration.
3. Kidnapping is very serious, now have three prosecutors assigned to handle home invasions due to dramatic increase in cases.
4. While home invasions are now mostly confined to involvement with illegal aliens, it could spread.
5. Sent approximately 1000 illegal aliens to dept. of corrections.
Senator Al Melvin:
1. Noted that Andrew Thomas and President Obama attended Harvard law school at same time. (Sheriff Joe later noted that he did not go to Harvard but worked in Massachusetts and knew where it was—crowd erupted in laughter.)
2. Founders expected each state to stand on their hind legs and take care of business. There is much we can do to control our destiny.
3. Important to have leadership, vision, and integrity. [If you look back at my previous emails, you will not that the senator and I agree precisely. Plug. :)]
Sheriff Joe Arpaio:
1. Expressed he was sure Sen. Pearce would get criticism for holding the meeting.
2. We have enforceable state laws so we can’t always blame federal government.
3. Expressed dismay that a mayor [of Phoenix, did not mention name?] and attorney general failed to attend meeting.
4. We have 100 illegal aliens in jail for murder.
5. Only sheriff to enforce human smuggling law.
6. Adamant that we should never use military to fight crime. If we need “tanks and machine guns,” give them to border patrol.
7. Would support a border fence on one condition . . . wants to hear from Feds, specifically White House as to what would happen to offenders.
8. Resented any mayor that calls sheriff and deputies racist and compares them with Alabama. That crossed the line and was dangerous. (Senator Pearce then stated it was more than dangerous, it invited violence.)
Sheriff Paul Babeu:
1. Pinal county 2nd fastest growing in nation.
2. “We are a sovereign nation and we should and shall secure our borders.”
3. Drug smugglers often outgun our officers.
Thanks for taking the time to read this report.
For Liberty and Law,
Mike Braunberger
Secretary, Constitution Party of Arizona
