In Defense of the Great State of Arizona

Every once in a while, a government gets it right. Sometimes elected representatives are able to see beyond the partisan politics and recognize what must be done. Rarely, much to everyone’s surprise, the obvious is apparent to even the powers that be. And so it is recently with Arizona.

Although the state is taking a lot heat from just about everyone in the media, both parties and their candidates, pundits and legal experts, Arizona has been consistently defending both the rights of her people and of the state against the federal government. Arizona has enacted controversial legislation beyond that of just the recent illegal immigration bill SB1070 signed into law.

The state has passed a Firearms Freedom Act, Real ID Nullification, a Sovereignty Resolution, no-permit concealed carry, and a Health Care Freedom Amendment to its state constitution. It has introduced legislation to enact a ban on cap and trade legislation. The state has established itself as a leader in the movement to return to the states the power of governing itself through those powers that were reserved to the states by the US Constitution. As radical as these sounds, it was and is the intent of the Founders and Framers.

The new immigration law has been justified almost immediately by events. This past week, Pinal County Deputy Louie Puroll came across bales of marijuana and while investigating was shot in the abdomen by illegal alien drug runners. The weapon of choice was an AK-47. Oddly, this gun is made in Russia and not in the United States. The current administration has said from its inauguration that American made guns are flooding across the border into Mexico and that the drug cartels are supplied with weapons from American gun stores.

Arizona enacted the new law in part due to the violence spilling over the border from Mexico’s drug cartels and the murder of Arizonans who have crossed paths with the illegal aliens. The city of Phoenix has become labeled as the “Kidnapping Capital of America” with over 370 kidnappings in 2008 alone - more than one per day. The money funds cartels and further violence.

A new trend involves home invasions of Arizonans. Disturbingly, many of these invasions appear to be carried out by members of the Mexican military who have crossed the border in order to assault Americans. It has reached the point where Arizonans are fearful of leaving their homes unattended for too long else the cartels move in and take over the buildings.

Those that have been paying attention are already aware that the new law merely reinforces the long standing federal laws that the administration has been so confusingly lax in enforcing. The citizens of Arizona are doubly suffering. First, due to the infliction of the original crime and then second, due to the refusal of the US federal government to fulfill its obligation to protect Americans. The truly stunning realization is that any government would recognize its responsibility and act.

Arizona has waited patiently and pleaded with the federal government to secure the border, remove the illegals and restore law and order. Unfortunately, the federal government’s concern for people is limited to the people who comprise its next large block of potential voters. The feds are more interested in leveling unsubstantiated charges of racism and injustice than in solving any real problems. Arizona is merely the first state to decidedly revert to its role as protector of the people and interpose to restore some small semblance of constitutional representative government. Other states have already followed down some of the same paths as Arizona on various issues. It is no wonder that the populace of Arizona is supporting the new law by 70%.

Not all states will exhibit the courage of Arizona. Only a handful of states have the wherewithal to pursue and enact such contentious legislation. Ohio, Utah, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland and Missouri are already drafting similar immigration legislation. The rise of the state sovereignty movement is due solely to the overreach of federal law into areas of traditional state power and the abdication of the federal government in those areas where the states expect the feds to act. If the current administration cannot or will not bring itself to face its responsibilities, then the states must and will step up to the plate.

There may be a very unpleasant side effect to this unilateral response: the states may just decide that the federal government has become too incompetent, incapable and unwilling to discharge its duties. At some point, the states may determine that they are better equipped and more principled and seek to diminish the feds role. It is apparent that the people are steadily becoming overtly drawn to traditional values in government and society and a desire for constitutional application. The statist agenda is rapidly loosing ground and a divide is growing between those that support the transformation of the nation into a socialist welfare state and those that are publicly rebelling in thought and word in favor of individualism and personal and national exceptionalism.

Arizona has made a decision that it will not be swayed by violent, organized, orchestrated protests; threats of boycotts and economic disruption; and hints at federal intervention. Arizona has shown that the cost of adhering to the politically correct leftist policies is paid in actual blood by citizens and law enforcement. While the mainstream media broadcast video of angry immigration activists protesting on behalf of the people whose first act in this country was to violate its laws, the respectful, peaceful, determined tea party activists exhibit new ways to reassert their rights and their beliefs.

For Wisconsin, the question becomes, not if, but when will we take up the same banner and assert ourselves? Our Sovereignty Resolution and Health Care Freedom Amendment have died in committee with the recess of the 99th legislature. Like Arizona, Wisconsin will experience leftist protests, cries of racism and bigotry, and nationwide criticism in the media. May Wisconsin so boldly have the courage of its conviction.