Accident waiting to Happen?

Those Darwin Award winning Minutemen... No, no wait a sec... not THOSE Minutemen but the right-wing extremist "America for Americans" English only anti-immigrant Minutemen. And, yeah you have me on the other point too because they have not won any downmanship award but after reading this story about their latest misadventure waiting to happen, they should.

And this is what is so hilarious about this development: If you already have a conceal and carry permit they not only want you to join their shameful ranks but they will give you a discount. Imagine that! You can save money and join up with other extremists. Must be a twofer, right?

If you are already paranoid enough to carry a concealed weapon, the Minutemen now want to stoke up your already precarious paramilitary mental state and set you loose thinking that you are a proud example of independent Americans who detest their government while protecting 'Merica's "porous" borders with a loaded and hidden gun. This sounds like some bad vigilantistic version of those Walking Tall movies.

These individuals who make Cletus the Slackjawed Yokel from you-know-where look brilliant in comparison want to carry guns while they "patrol" the American borders in Texas. Genius.

Leaders of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps of Texas had earlier said volunteers observing Houston's day laborers in October would carry nothing but video cameras.

I wonder if the cameras are some bizarre attempts to make home movies? "Look grandma! Here I am busting heads!" I suppose granny could not be prouder.

But leaders now say those involved in the operations targeting local illegal immigrants will be allowed to carry arms as long as they comply with all federal and state laws.

In fact, those who have a concealed-weapons permit are being offered a discount on joining the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. An Arizona-based organization, the Minutemen started out by patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border in April to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing, but the group has announced it will conduct a variety of operations here this fall.

Members are normally charged $50 to join, with the money used to conduct a criminal background check. Those with a valid concealed-weapons permit can have that fee waived, since they already have undergone a background check and met other requirements, such as a handgun course, to get the permit, said George Klages, spokesman for the Minutemen in Houston.

Klages said the Minutemen are all responsible, law-abiding citizens, and the use of arms will not cause problems here.

Oh yes, gun toting immigrant bashers are always the of bastions of grace and decorum. I feel less safe already and I don't even live in Texas.