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Has Achieved Nirvana |
https://tucson.com/news/local/...3c-ab5ab1b4e19a.html
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| "I've got morons on my team." Mitt Romney Minor Deity  |
This is a bit of hype, I think. They won't get six months in jail for "committing" a misdemeanor of this sort. Yes, it's a downer, but shouldn't "people of conscience" be willing to accept the consequences of breaking the law in this fashion? Devil putting on his advocate hat ... I'm not convinced that individuals should be allowed to set aside the laws against damaging pristine wildlife areas just because they decide that it's "right" in this case. That seems like a pretty slippery slope into individual interpretation of which laws to accept, or judicial micromanagement of situations case by case. Maybe we can carefully craft general exceptions and write those exceptions into federal law (I'm dubious), and maybe this case will spur a useful public discussion. But these folks broke pretty clear laws designed to preserve wild areas. | |||
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| Has Achieved Nirvana |
I agree with everything you say, P*D. But you gotta wonder why a prosecutor chose to pursue this particular case.
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Minor Deity |
Because a federal offense was brought to his attention? Isn't that his job? I see your point, but it is at core sentimentality. As PD said though none of these folks will do any time.
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| "I've got morons on my team." Mitt Romney Minor Deity |
That's a reasonable presumption, and it goes for the judge as well. On the other hand, the prosecutor does have some latitude, so it's not completely unreasonable to probe for prosecutorial motives beyond "I have to." I don't know the facts, so my first presumption isn't to think that the prosecutor is the second coming of Sheriff Arpaio. Perhaps the prosecutor's office will explain at some point. | |||
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| Minor Deity |
I think they are walking a wire between good intentions and upholding an important law. No very good outcome is possible.
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Has Achieved Nirvana |
There is another phrase to describe a stupid law ... the law. Those who engage in civil disobedience because they don’t like the law need to be prepared for the consequences. | |||
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| Pinta & the Santa Maria Has Achieved Nirvana  |
This has been going on in Arizona for a long time and, until recently, everyone turned a blind eye to it. While we were still in Arizona, a group was arrested and convicted of littering for leaving water in the desert in the very same place. That conviction was appealed and overturned, but the decision was written very narrowly, which sent a red flag up. So I think the ground was set, where the fact that it was overturned told people it was OK to continue, and the fact that the decision was made on very narrow grounds meant that there would be further arrests and litigation. Littering is far different than driving on prohibited roads without a permit. Would they have received a permit? It's hard to say, but I doubt it. Whatever Judge Velasco's personal opinions on the matter were, I don't believe he had much choice in the matter. But here's what I would do, if I were In Charge of Everything. I would allow for regular drop-offs of food and water to the area, on humanitarian grounds. If a permit is required, so be it--but the permit would be easy to obtain. Perhaps I'd even contract with No More Deaths to go out every 2 weeks and restock and clean up. Because these are people, who are desperate and dying. We are going to look the other way because they didn't get a permit? It's obscene. As an aside, most of the people who end up dying in the desert have already been fleeced by coyotes who will take their money (at exorbitant prices) and frequently take them to the border, possibly point them to a tunnel, give them (maybe) a map, and shove them across with virtually nothing. This despite promises to deliver them safely to a habitable area. Terrorists don't die in the desert. Desperate people with no options are who die in the desert. | |||
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