SB1070 Passes in AZ! New Immigration Law

So some of you who aren't from Arizona, may not know what SB1070 is. It is a bill for "immigration; law enforcement; safe neighborhoods". It basically gives local law enforcement the ability to question those they have "reasonable suspicion" to be in the country illegally, to prove (provide documentation) their citizenship or legal status to be in this country.

Read the Senate Fact Sheet here: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/summary/s.1070pshs.doc.htm

I know this has been a problem in the US; however, it is a HUGE problem in my home state of AZ. It has been a large factor in stressing our economic security by State funded assistance through hospitals, schools and food stamps to those here are not legal citizens.

Arizona has become the #2 place in the world for kidnappings due to Drug Cartel activity in Phoenix and our crime statistics have soared in the last 2 decades, since the illegal population has risen. The all to common story of repeat offenders in our court system of rapist and murders who were deported to come right back to commit these heinous crimes again is all to familiar to us here in Arizona.

We have begged for the Federal Government to send aide, to send help, since it is their job to secure our border, but unfortunately we have only received red tape. Our own former Governor Janet Napolitano now the current Homeland Security Secretary knows first hand the dilemma we are facing, yet her political views block the security our state so desperately needs.

So Arizona took a stand, we created a bill that will begin to give us the power as a state to protect the citizens who fear for their safety. I heard many protesters say today that they fear everyday their parents or they will be deported and that their families will be torn apart... do I feel for them, I do. I could only imagine the life they live in 3rd world countries, but that is choice they make. They choose to cross our border illegally, instead of doing it the right way. They say that becoming a citizen is too hard and they can't do it. The truth is they can do it legally; they just don't want to have to work for it. The families who are torn apart are facing a consequence of their action to come here illegally, not because Authorities want to tear families apart. It is the risk you take when you break the law… getting caught.

If someone is arrested for possession of drugs or for murder or theft, is it the authorities that are blamed for tearing their family apart when they are arrested and spend time in jail? No, and illegal immigration is no different.

I pray this Law is upheld in the many court trials I know it will face and show the Country that we will pull ourselves out of this mess if no one else will. It is about time AZ pulled it's self up by it's own bootstraps and took action!

Status Update...

So last month marked one year since I have been writing this blog, and I think it is always good to look back from where you started to where you are now.

I have to say, I think the Nation has come a long way.

By Nation I don't mean Government, I mean this country's Citizens. A year ago when I spoke of all that I thought would happen with the economy, the background into all the White House staff, the Healthcare Plan, etc, etc...people told me I was crazy. I used to tell them, I hope you are right, I hope I am paranoid, but I knew in my gut I wasn't.

I hate that our freedoms have to be in jeopardy for people to wake up. That’s because we have been given freedom with a silver spoon my past generations and those who risk their lives everyday for our continued freedom; we just take it for granted. The quote that always comes to mind, when I think of these times is from Thomas Jefferson:

"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty . . . And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."

Most people ask if I am promoting a rebellion of force... Of Course Not, that would make me no better then William Aires or the other radicals running Washington right now. No, I believe our choice of weapon is our minds, our ideas, our patriotism, our determination and our Faith.

Just as Women fought for equality and Blacks fought for equality, so must we fight for our country. It is a harder battle to fight, no doubt. You will be called names, you pride will be hurt, and you will be stripped of all your dignity at times. They will attempt to push you to the limit to get you to cave or fight with violence. But you have to just stand there and repeat to yourself, "I don't care what they do to me, but I will not give up my freedom of... (insert desired freedom here)."

If they try to take away my freedom of speech, they will only make a law, I will never sit down and be quiet. They may try to silence those who choose to be honest with us and I will support them, regardless of the price I will pay.

You see, when I am asked to get up from a counter because I am not allowed to sit there or when I am asked to move to the back of the bus, I will refuse. They can spit in my face, they can use fire hoses on me, they can shoot me, but I will not back down.

We must inherit the determination of generations before us. That life is precious, but life without freedom is not a life I want to live. Regardless of what they threaten, we will bring this country back, but peacefully, without violence and without harm to anyone. They may harm us, but they cannot harm our spirit and our love for this country.