[Marxism] Minutemen will patrol Houston Armed

["Steven L. Robinson" <srobin21@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Minutemen will be armed while patrolling Houston

By Edward Hegstrom
 Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3318459

Leaders of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps of Texas had earlier said
volunteers observing Houston's day laborers in October would carry nothing
but video cameras.

But leaders now say those involved in the operations targeting local illegal
immigrants will be allowed to carry arms as long as they comply with all
federal and state laws.

In fact, those who have a concealed-weapons permit are being offered a
discount on joining the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. An Arizona-based
organization, the Minutemen started out by patrolling the Arizona-Mexico
border in April to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing, but the group
has announced it will conduct a variety of operations here this fall.

Members are normally charged $50 to join, with the money used to conduct a
criminal background check. Those with a valid concealed-weapons permit can
have that fee waived, since they already have undergone a background check
and met other requirements, such as a handgun course, to get the permit,
said George Klages, spokesman for the Minutemen in Houston.

Klages said the Minutemen are all responsible, law-abiding citizens, and the
use of arms will not cause problems here.

"About 50 or 60 percent of our members are veterans," he said. "These are
people who know how to handle a weapon."

But critics worry about the Minutemen carrying arms in the city, and they
think the group is giving special incentives to those able to carry
concealed weapons.

"They only want people who are armed," said Juan Alvarez, a member of the
Coalition Against Intolerance and For Respect, a newly formed group
advocating for Houston day laborers. "It will incite violence."

Bill Parmley, the original leader of the Minuteman Texas chapter, said he
had discouraged the use of weapons, particularly in urban operations such as
the observations of the day laborers who wait for work on Houston streets.

Parmley resigned last month, citing racism among local members in the Goliad
chapter. He now says he worries about the Minutemen being armed.

"Just because you can pass one of these concealed-weapons courses doesn't
mean you have the mental capability to carry a firearm," he said.

Nationally, the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has no policy forbidding
members from carrying arms.

"We actually prefer that everyone have a concealed-weapons permit," said
Chris Simcox, the head of the group.

But Simcox said weapons will be less important in a place like Houston than
on the border, which is more dangerous and more remote.

Simcox has gotten in trouble with the law for being armed.

In January 2003, Simcox was arrested by federal agents, accused of entering
Coronado National Monument in Arizona while armed.

He was convicted of entering a federal park with a loaded weapon and
offering false information to a federal officer, both misdemeanors, and was
sentenced to two years' probation, court records show.

Simcox noted that there were no signs marking the park boundary, and that
park rangers seemed to be waiting for him.

Houston police are aware that some of the Minutemen will be armed, and
officers will make sure that all laws are obeyed, said Lt. Robert Manzo, an
HPD spokesman.

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