[BearMountainBooks]

I think it's a darn shame when a law like this is put into place because people believe it will help solve crime issues. All those activities described in the posts above are crimes and already stoppable by police. There's no need for a law that requires proof of citizenship to stop any drug house, drug lord, drug seller, shipper, etc. They are already illegal activities and these are simply excuses to pass a law that okays a form of racism.

Everyone is against crime. But using crimes to push such a law into existence is simplifying the problem and also focusing on the wrong things. If drug shipments are a problem or human trafficking--those are crimes. Stop them. Push the Federal or local government for solutions--like stopping the drugs from coming across. Don't promote a law requiring "proof of citizenship." Because guess what? It's not "just" illegal aliens buying those drugs, reselling them, or then committing crimes to afford the addictive habits. But oh, it is so easy to believe it is "them" those "illegal aliens" that are responsible for all of our problems. Yes, our citizens are better than "them."

I have lived in two border states and still live in one. It's too easy to blame the crime on illegal immigrants. I have also worked in health care in a border state and so has my mother. It is not illegal aliens who sit in the ER and get health care that they then do not pay for. Illegal aliens are afraid of deportation. They avoid clinics and other places where they might get caught. Yes, there are immigrants who deliberately cross the border to have their child here, but that is not an excuse to push a law that even skirts close to asking people for ID/proof of citizenship because of the color of their skin, the way they look or the way they talk.

There are real problems out there that need to be solved, but this law is a wolf in sheep's clothing. And gosh, it's so easy to believe the law isn't a bad thing because really, is showing your driver's license so hard? No, it's not. But being asked to show it and being able to do a more thorough background check SIMPLY because of the color of your skin or the look of your culture is wrong. Being able to arrest someone because they can't immediately show proof of citizenship...Down a terrible path indeed.

It starts small. It was okay when they came only for the Jews that were greedy, because they didn't belong, they charged too much for interest on loans, they, they, them against us...

One more example and then I will speak on this no more. I worked at a large computer company a few years back. There was a huge crackdown on employees surfing the internet and downloading porn. Several people were fired, but before the firing, there was rumor of what was coming down the pike. One of my friends said, "Oh it's those people in manufacturing. You just know they're the type, low-class, nothing better to do."

"Uh, friend. The people on the manufacturing line...don't have computers at their desks. They don't even have DESKS. They stand on a line all day putting parts in place."

Yes, the people on the line worked for low wages. Many of them were Hispanic. So easy to think it's "Them, working for minimum wage, the unknown, those we don't mingle with." Might even be some illegal aliens with false papers.

Turns out a director was fired, a few engineers...someone in marketing...

Crime is a problem. Lock up the criminals. Don't use skin color, culture, poverty, low-paying jobs, a crummy looking car to judge. That's plenty of work to be done with existing laws without passing laws for "national IDs" or "proof of citizenship." I'm pretty sure proof of citizenship doesn't mean we'll all suddenly live a crime-free life and I'm pretty sure it doesn't make us better than "them."