Private army ready to patrol U.S. border
Tricia Leslie - Staff reporter
A group of American residents - some who will be packing weapons - will start patrolling the 32-kilometre area from Blaine to Sumas in Washington along the U.S. border starting Oct. 1.
That's when the Washington detachment of the Arizona-based Minuteman Civil Defence Corps will look to beef up security along the U.S. border, keeping an eye out for illegal immigrants and terrorists, among other things.
Although the private army is not allowed to use long rifles or shotguns, those who have a permit to carry are able to have pistols with them at all times.
"We deal with bona fide law-enforcement agencies on a regular basis," said RCMP Staff Sgt. John Ward, senior spokesman for B.C. RCMP. "Our concern is, if there's a group out there that's armed and they inject themselves into our sphere of duties . . . if there's weapons around, there's always reason to be concerned."
Ward said RCMP want to ensure Minuteman members understand Canadian sovereignty and that they cannot interfere with lawful police duties on this side of the border.
"This is Canadian soil," Ward said. "If anyone intends to come into this country with a weapon, they must follow proper procedure, just as all law enforcement officers have to."
Minuteman media spokesman Tom "Skipper" Williams did not return the Times' calls by deadline, but the Minuteman website [www.minutemanhq.com] describes the group and its goals, complete with an Uncle Sam-wannabe who states "I want YOU as a Minuteman volunteer to secure the U.S. border."
Comprised of civilians, many of them Vietnam veterans, the group has been described as vigilantes by U.S. President George W. Bush.
But vigilantism is what RCMP officers do not want to see or encourage.
"We would not encourage that sort of behaviour," Ward said. "But if a group wanted to get involved while working with police, we'd certainly encourage that . . . it works with programs like Neighbourhood Watch and Speed Watch, where citizens partner with the police."
The Minuteman Civil Defence Corps is not recognized as official by any law-enforcement agency in the U.S. or Canada.
Ward said he has not heard of any incidents involving the Minuteman corps in the past.
"We're just trying to ensure that there isn't an incident," he said.
Tricia Leslie - Staff reporter
A group of American residents - some who will be packing weapons - will start patrolling the 32-kilometre area from Blaine to Sumas in Washington along the U.S. border starting Oct. 1.
That's when the Washington detachment of the Arizona-based Minuteman Civil Defence Corps will look to beef up security along the U.S. border, keeping an eye out for illegal immigrants and terrorists, among other things.
Although the private army is not allowed to use long rifles or shotguns, those who have a permit to carry are able to have pistols with them at all times.
"We deal with bona fide law-enforcement agencies on a regular basis," said RCMP Staff Sgt. John Ward, senior spokesman for B.C. RCMP. "Our concern is, if there's a group out there that's armed and they inject themselves into our sphere of duties . . . if there's weapons around, there's always reason to be concerned."
Ward said RCMP want to ensure Minuteman members understand Canadian sovereignty and that they cannot interfere with lawful police duties on this side of the border.
"This is Canadian soil," Ward said. "If anyone intends to come into this country with a weapon, they must follow proper procedure, just as all law enforcement officers have to."
Minuteman media spokesman Tom "Skipper" Williams did not return the Times' calls by deadline, but the Minuteman website [www.minutemanhq.com] describes the group and its goals, complete with an Uncle Sam-wannabe who states "I want YOU as a Minuteman volunteer to secure the U.S. border."
Comprised of civilians, many of them Vietnam veterans, the group has been described as vigilantes by U.S. President George W. Bush.
But vigilantism is what RCMP officers do not want to see or encourage.
"We would not encourage that sort of behaviour," Ward said. "But if a group wanted to get involved while working with police, we'd certainly encourage that . . . it works with programs like Neighbourhood Watch and Speed Watch, where citizens partner with the police."
The Minuteman Civil Defence Corps is not recognized as official by any law-enforcement agency in the U.S. or Canada.
Ward said he has not heard of any incidents involving the Minuteman corps in the past.
"We're just trying to ensure that there isn't an incident," he said.
