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unrestrained id said:
What we're talking about is some guy taking the law into his own hands and then manufacturing "evidence"...some civilian yahoo who thinks he has authority to enforce law...We're a nation of laws, not of mob rule and mob justice.



Actually, a good argument can be made that nation's laws give Haab a complete right to do what he did. It's called a "citizen's arrest."

    A random sampling of the various states as well as the District of Columbia indicates that a citizen's arrest is valid when a public offense was committed in the presence of the arresting private citizen or when the arresting private citizen has a reasonable belief that the suspect has committed a felony, whether or not in the presence of the arresting citizen.


In the case at hand, Haab appears to have witnessed a felony (smuggling of illegal aliens) in his presence, or facts sufficient to form a "reasonable basis" that a felony was occuring. Therefore, under the doctrine of "citizen's arrest," he would seem to have the authority to enforce the law prohibiting same.

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Law enforcment isn't doing much or isn't capable of doing much against gangs either. Does that give you the "right" to load up a pistol and run around town "doing something" about gangs?



I'm assuming you've never heard of the Guardian Angels:

    The story of this organization's genesis and nascent roots are by now familiar. The McDonald's night manager in a crime-ridden area of the Bronx, who, sickened and saddened by his city's deterioration, took matters into his own hands. He formed a voluntary, weapon-free patrol of 13 to take the subways, the streets and the neighborhood back from crime. The accolades that followed and success of their programs only heightened the symbolism of the red beret, now a worldwide icon for safety.

    Curtis and his Angels inspired young people to create over twenty chapters around the world and won the support of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; iconic businessmen like Carl Icahn, Paul Carlucci, Leon Temiz and Fred Drasner; sport heroes Dave Winfield and Boomer Esaison; entertainers Regis Philbin, Phil Collins and Oprah; and revered broadcaster Walter Cronkite. The Guardian Angels helped to establish community forces with groups such as the YMCA, the National Crime Prevention Council, the United Way, and the Points of Light Foundation.


Admittedly, the Guardian Angels dont use guns, but that is largely due to the fact that, unlike most western states, NYC has strict gun control laws that would prevent them for carrying same.

In short, contrary to the assertions of rex/Id, the law allows people in many circumstances to do exactly what Haab did.