Dear Senator Allen:
Thanks for publishing your oped in the Austin Capital Times to explain SB 1070, Arizona's new immigration law. Frankly, I think some of the rhetoric applied to this new measure has managed to generate a lot of heat but not much light. Some of the knee-jerk Arizona-bashers among us just haven't caught up with your side of the story yet.
On the other hand, I think it's important that we all agree on the basic facts at play here. What would we ever do if Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan had never said, "We're all entitled to our own opinions but not to our own facts."
You write that "Rancher Rob Krantz was murdered by the drug cartel on his ranch a month ago. You say the people who live within 60 to 80 miles of the Arizona/Mexico Border have for years been terrorized and have pleaded for help to stop the daily invasion of humans who cross their property. One Rancher testified that 300 to 1200 people a DAY come across his ranch vandalizing his property, stealing his vehicles and property, cutting down his fences, and leaving trash. In the last two years he has found 17 dead bodies and two Koran bibles."
"Another rancher testified that daily drugs are brought across his ranch in a military operation. A point man with a machine gun goes in front, 1/2 mile behind are the guards fully armed, 1/2 mile behind them are the drugs, behind the drugs 1/2 mile are more guards" One man told of two illegal's (sic) who came upon his property one shot in the back and the other in the arm by the drug runners who had forced them to carry the drugs and then shot them."
I have no doubt that, from your perspective, all your statements are true and un-challengable. And one can't help but feel great compassion for the folks who suffered these losses.
But let me tell you where I think there are other facts that also need to be understood.
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