Melvin, a Tucson Republican, says he is working with Arizona Cattlemen's Association, state Sen. Russell Pearce and others to put the bill together as quickly as possible in light of rancher Robert Krentz's slaying on March 27.

"We need to get in control over this porous border," Melvin said. "You're closer to the border in Tombstone than I am, and I'm worried about it and I hope you are too."

Many are criticizing the decision to work so quickly, citing Krentz's murder as an isolated incident, and saying Melvin wrote the measure with too much emotion.
State Sen. Paula Aboud, a Tucson Democrat, is one such critic.

"This has obviously been an emotional issue," she said. "Apparently this was a very beloved person to the community so I can understand their desire to take quick and immediate action, but we can't put the state in jeopardy by entering these quick and hasty actions."

Melvin said he would like to see something like the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps come back. He said that even though the group has disbanded, all 15 county sheriffs in Arizona have posses that could provide the assistance formerly handled by the group.

The measure may prove controversial in light of accusations of overly aggressive tactics by groups like the Minutemen.

"I don't believe there should be armed volunteer militias patrolling the border," said Tombstone Marshal Larry Talvy. "There will be too much potential for violence between volunteers and smugglers. The federal government needs to think of better ways to enforce the border."

Aboud was the only member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to vote against the measure. She claims it is dangerous to have civilians doing the government's job, especially if a member of a volunteer security force is involved in a crime.

"The state takes too much liability when asking volunteers to do the government's job," she said. "We need trained state workers when enforcing the border."

One newspaper reported that Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever had not even been informed of the measure that would empower him to create a volunteer security force, and that he wasn't sure if he'd support it.

Aboud found this suspicious.

"That speaks to the issue of Melvin's haste," she said. "He wrote a bill empowering somebody to do something without even consulting with the person to see if he has the capabilities or the employees or if he even supports the bill himself. He's coming at the bill the wrong way; if you want to build momentum you have to talk to everyone. You can't do your work halfway."

Dever was unavailable for comment.

The proposed amendment would also include the creation of an Arizona Border Security Commission, which would consist of 16 members who would meet once a month to discuss border security issues.

The commission would be required to make certain conclusions, including establishing 12 forward-operating bases between the Tohono O'odham Nation and New Mexico. They would also send the U.S. military and an additional 3,000 Border Patrol agents to the border.

Aboud said she thought the procedure to set up the commission was peculiar, citing the fact that usually a commission is created and asked to study things, while Melvin is creating a commission and telling them what to do.

"A commission is supposed to study and make a proposal," she said.

"This is backwards, this is saying we don't need your proposal and we don't need your intelligence, just do what we tell you to do."

The $200,000 would be taken from Arizona's Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission, a move also drawing criticism.

"The money will be taken from a task force designed to fights gangs and other organized crime," said Talvy. "This will cause problems. There will be less resources and manpower to fight organized crime."

Melvin said he is not worried about this, because tightening the border will have a positive effect on fighting organized crime within the state.

"If we do something substantial to stop the illegal movement of illegal aliens at the border, then we will go a long way to fighting gang problems in the state," he said.

"I think a lot of (gang members) are illegals. Nip it in the bud at the source."
Melvin said the goal of the measure is to ultimately get the state to stop asking Washington to tighten the borders.

"The bottom line here is for far too many years, people in border states have been pointing their fingers to Washington saying it's a federal problem," he said.

"But it's equally a border state problem to try and take measures as a state in conjunction with Border Patrol to protect life, liberty and property."

The measure is now in negotiations. Aboud wasn't positive if the bill would go forward, but said there was a "good chance" it would.