By Edward Hegstrom
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3318459
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.
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.
"About 50 or 60 percent of our members are veterans," he said. "These are people who know how to handle a weapon."
But critics worry about the Minutemen carrying arms in the city, and they think the group is giving special incentives to those able to carry concealed weapons.
"They only want people who are armed," said Juan Alvarez, a member of the Coalition Against Intolerance and For Respect, a newly formed group advocating for Houston day laborers. "It will incite violence."
Bill Parmley, the original leader of the Minuteman Texas chapter, said he had discouraged the use of weapons, particularly in urban operations such as the observations of the day laborers who wait for work on Houston streets.
Parmley resigned last month, citing racism among local members in the Goliad chapter. He now says he worries about the Minutemen being armed.
"Just because you can pass one of these concealed-weapons courses doesn't mean you have the mental capability to carry a firearm," he said.
Nationally, the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has no policy forbidding members from carrying arms.
"We actually prefer that everyone have a concealed-weapons permit," said Chris Simcox, the head of the group.
But Simcox said weapons will be less important in a place like Houston than on the border, which is more dangerous and more remote.
Simcox has gotten in trouble with the law for being armed.
In January 2003, Simcox was arrested by federal agents, accused of entering Coronado National Monument in Arizona while armed.
He was convicted of entering a federal park with a loaded weapon and offering false information to a federal officer, both misdemeanors, and was sentenced to two years' probation, court records show.
Simcox noted that there were no signs marking the park boundary, and that park rangers seemed to be waiting for him.
Houston police are aware that some of the Minutemen will be armed, and officers will make sure that all laws are obeyed, said Lt. Robert Manzo, an HPD spokesman.
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