The Road to Hell

By this point, everyone has heard and made some preliminary opinion on the law passed in Arizona that makes it legal for a law officer with any “reason of suspicion” and making a “lawful” stop can demand proof of citizenship.

I for one still haven’t made up my mind about the law.

On one side, I have a strong belief that we have protections from the government written throughout the Constitution. We should be free to live our lives peacefully without the intrusion of the government. Since I am a US citizen, I should not have to prove myself to the government on a daily basis.

On the other hand, I have read and heard the horror stories of living in suburban upper-class neighborhoods next door to “drop houses” where tens of illegal immigrants are living and where gunshots are commonplace. “Four years ago this neighborhood was poodles and old ladies. Now it's absolutely insane," a man too frightened to give his name told Newsweek (http://www.newsweek.com/id/237196). “It's terrifying to live next door to homes filled with human traffickers, drug smugglers, AK-47s, pit bulls, and desperate laborers stuffed 30 to a room, shoes removed to hinder escape.”

To what lengths would I go, would you go, to ensure our family’s safety under these frightening conditions?

Does this imply that I think this law is just? No. However, I do empathize with those experiencing such fear that they latch onto the one idea, good or not, presented that will have an immediate impact.

The intent of this law is to make neighborhoods that once had kids playing outside safe again, but the reality is that this law could be used to racially discriminate against the majority of good Latin-Americans. That would be a terrible thing for America to allow. The intention is good, but everyone knows, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”