Barnett case stirring up emotions

The beginning of the federal trial of Douglas area Rancher Roger Barnett has stirred up a firestorm of support for his plight and questions about how the federal government is handling the problem of illegal immigration.

The trial started Monday in federal court in Tucson. Barnett and  other are charged with conspiring to violate the civil rights of some illegal immigrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The defendants of the lawsuit are Roger Barnett, his wife, Barbara, and his brother, Donald. The plaintiffs are five women and 11 men who were in a wash in Douglas in 2004. The trial is taking place before Judge John Roll in U.S. District Court and is scheduled to run through Feb. 13.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is representing the plaintiffs. According to a statement from that group, the plaintiffs were accosted by Roger Barnett, who was armed with a gun and accompanied by a large dog.

In addition to Letters to the Editors and emails, the Douglas Dispatch website has been inundated by comments and visitors.

The story about the federal case already has 43 comments, “ four times more than any other story posted in the last week,” said Editor and Publisher Larry Blaskey.

The number of visitors to the website has also increased by 40 percent since Monday.

“Most of the comments are from those frustrated  that the court case is even being heard and call for the judge’s ouster,” Blaskey said. “They don’t understand how the civil rights of one group is more important than the private property rights of Barnett.”

Following is a sampling of the comments the Douglas Dispatch has received:

• " IF anyone like that was to enter onto my land - shoot first and ask questions later. The judge needs to be removed from the bench for allowing this case to move forward. The judge is responsible for. If this man loses the case, he can appeal the U.S. Supreme Court and pray they'll over turn it. Then, Mr Barnett should file a counter-suit against the judge. He should exhaust all his efforts to the day he dies to have that judge removed from the bench,,,this means address Congress. "

• " How could this case ever be allowed on the court docket? I lived near Hereford until the mid-70's, when I moved my family north. We never had our home broken into, but our outbuildings were, fences were destroyed, property stolen and/or damaged, clothing stolen off the line, and trash left all over the property. I was angry at the damage and theft, but felt sorry for them because I felt they were trying to improve their lives and that of the families. Today, however, with the government not caring about the rights of the tax payers, and the amount of crime, economic drain and filth they bring reaching epidemic proportions, I know I would react quite differently when I ran into them on my land. Good luck Mr. Barnett, and for future reference remember the phrase, "Your Honor, I was afraid for my life." "

• " Anybody here that has the nerve to criticize Mr Barnett for his actions should consider what they would have done over the years. If you are saying you would have done nothing to protect your home, property and family, you're either a liar or a coward. He is the victim here. Over 12,000 people he has turned into the authorities. Still he has received no substantial help from AZ or the Feds. He has much more patience and understanding than I would at this point. Good luck Mr Barnett! "

• " What is the point of me and my comrades having to serve multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan when our own government prefers to take care of illegal invaders rather than American citizens. I would bet that the female Mr. Burnnet supposedly kicked was/is actually "lying" and NOT laying on the ground. They invade our country illegally, so do you think they and their anti-American mexican-American Legal defense buttheads would hesitate to "lie" to authorities?? WAKE UP AMERICA before the illegals own us all!!! "

• " These guys aren't American Pariots, they are fools who watched cowboy movies as kids. It's time we started blaming Washington for the mess our leadership has lead us to. Instead of spending millions of dollars a day half way around the world, it would be better spend helping our neighbors to the south. Together the United States and Mexico, with our smarts and their cheap work force, along with their oil and raw materials, we could out do China. Together we stand, but as long as we continue this border debate the rest of the world laughs at us. We are fools and the biggest ones go looking for illegals "

• " The guy has already been found guilty ONCE under American US Law, in a court of law. Sounds like you Real True Americans don't much like you own laws or your own country? "

• " One  has the right to threaten deadly force against someone walking across their land, never mine land that you don't own, but only lease grazing rights to. Sorry but that's the law. Maybe you nuts think it's just okay to make up the rules as you go. If that's the America you want, I feel sorry for all of us. I think everyone agrees we have a problem, but we need a sensible solution. These nuts are not American Patriots, but rather I look at them as little mindless fools. "

• " What is the world coming to when illegal crimimals have more rights than US born citizens? This man deserves a medal, not prosecution. I am sick of these people thinking they have civil rights when in fact they have no rights here in the United States. "

• " It baffles me that something like this could even whithstand in court. How was this not laughed out to start with?! Those people came here ILLEGALLY how do they have any rights to even sue this man? Since our government isn't doing their job properly, how else is he supposed to protect his family and property?! I believe this issue has nothing to do with racism but with protecting our rights, rights that those people coming here illegally DO NOT HAVE and we are proud of those and want to keep it that way. I'm ashamed at what is becoming of our government!! "