http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070202-124744-1388r.htm
A Texas deputy sheriff who fired shots at a fleeing vehicle after the driver tried to run him down faces 10 years in prison for injuring one of the passengers, a Mexican national being smuggled illegally into the United States.
The U.S. attorney, who won lengthy prison terms last year for two U.S. Border Patrol agents in the shooting of a drug-smuggling suspect, also prosecuted Edwards County Deputy Sheriff Guillermo F. Hernandez, who is to be sentenced next month.
The deputy's boss, Sheriff Donald G. Letsinger, said his officer -- who had been on the job for a year -- "followed the letter of the law" in defending himself in the April 2005 incident and questioned why the government brought charges This is a fine young man, and I just don't believe he committed the wrong of which he was accused," Sheriff Letsinger said. "I have never had anything hurt me so badly as this prosecution. We've got to make this right."
Rep. Ted Poe, Texas Republican, called the prosecution and conviction of Hernandez, known to his friends as "Gilmer," "another example of how the federal government is more concerned about people [who are] illegally invading America than it is about the men who protect America."
2007-02-05 07:51:01 · 14 answers · asked by Zoe 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
You bring up some very good points.Why in hell are the border patrol being punished for doing their jobs of protecting our country and defending there self.This is a huge miscarriage of justice.Why is our government not standing behind these men.
What are they doing sending them down to the border if they want them to just turn their head and let the drug pushers and crooks come in anyway.This is without a doubt the biggest bunch of bullshit Washington has ever pulled.
After all this is America and we love our country and the BRAVE MEN WHO PROTECT IT. That is when they are not in fear of going to jail for doing their job.Your damn right if someone were trying to run over me I would shoot to kill.
2007-02-05 08:35:52 · answer #1 · answered by I'm Jerry 4 · 3⤊ 5⤋
It is against the law to shoot at a fleeing vehicle. You know better as a police officer. If they are prosecuting him it is for a good reason. He injured a passanger not the person driving. The passenger wasn't doing anything to threaten him.
2007-02-05 20:55:05 · answer #2 · answered by summermoondancer2004 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No border patrol agent, who is doing there job, should be jailed or imprisoned for doing so! Something is wrong with our judical system when officers trying to uphold the law are prosecuted for doing so. As for the 2 BP, agents from Texas, Compean,Ramos, they were trying to stop an illegal immigrant drug smuggler and they got 10 years for shooting him in the BUTT!! He had approximately 800 lbs. of Marijuana in his abandoned van! Something has got to give with all this nonsense that is happening with the legal system in the U.S.
2007-02-05 16:09:21 · answer #3 · answered by Suel 2 · 8⤊ 2⤋
The car was in the process of driving away when he shot at it. That is sort of a grey area for "defending" himself. But there is no doubt that car had posed a threat to him. I just think it was a little overreaction on his part. I think the appropriate punishment would have been him getting in trouble from his boss, no jail time or fine. Obviously 10 years is a ridiculous sentence.
2007-02-05 15:58:17 · answer #4 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
They tried to run him down, so why should anyone care what happened to them? He has a right, and in fact a duty to stop them. They were smuggling in an illegal immigrant. And whatever you may think, that makes him a criminal. And to attempt to kill the deputy removed any sort of protection they should get. That is attempted murder to add to all the other crimes of which they were guilty. The whole thing is a farce and the US attorney should be fired.
2007-02-05 16:02:05 · answer #5 · answered by Elizabeth Howard 6 · 9⤊ 3⤋
the report says that he shot at the tires. not the people, yet they will still lock him up. those people were illegals and he was doing his job. though the government will punish him. those illegals on the other hand will be rewarded with residency, maybe even legal status in a couple of years, government benefits and even a couple of jobs.
2007-02-05 16:21:06 · answer #6 · answered by ♣DreamDancer♣ 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋
What ? This must be a conspiracy againt Americans, Wonder how much Bush and Sutton are getting paid by Mexicos government?
2007-02-05 17:01:30 · answer #7 · answered by pickme_american 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
yes he absolutely should!! You dont get to shoot people, he knew that when he took the job! People working for the government should be set at a higher standard!
2007-02-05 17:22:46 · answer #8 · answered by Mendi8a 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely not. As the article said, "Once again, our government is on the wrong side of the border war,"
2007-02-05 16:38:39 · answer #9 · answered by Help me 1 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Tancredo 2008!!!!!!!! I cant believe what is happening to america,while most tax payers work and try to raise a family this is what our government does to us? Sends our kids to war and allows our laws to be broken,ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL people,I dont know about you all ,but i cant possibly take care of ever poor person in the world . http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5871651411393887069
2007-02-05 16:56:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋