Letter: Border security bill an honest effort, but more harm than good

SB 1083, while making an honest attempt to enhance Arizona’s border security, offers more problems than solutions. The bill calls for a “special unit” made up of a volunteer force to aid law enforcement and federal agents on the Arizona border. One of the largest issues derived from this legislature is the lack of training that volunteers would receive. Federal Border Patrol agents are trained for two-plus months before becoming eligible for active duty, while volunteers for the special unit would receive no more than five days of training before being called upon. On another note, these volunteers would be paid little, which means that anyone who would consider volunteering for the unit would need more than just the cash incentive to follow through with the program. Sending out a small force of volunteers armed with firearms and prejudice could very well result in an increased number of border disputes, leaving the border situation in southern Arizona worse off than it was previously.