Monday, October 17, 2011

One Riot, One Ranger...!


I'm sure that most folks in Texas recognize that old saying.

Just one of the many well known mottos of the Texas Rangers. A lot of modern day stories have grown up around this well respected law enforcement group, probably because of so much truth hidden in the tall tales. Isn't that the case so often in history?

Oct 17, 1835:
The first resolution formally creating the Texas Rangers is approved

On this day in 1835, Texans approve a resolution to create the Texas Rangers, a corps of armed and mounted lawmen designed to "range and guard the frontier between the Brazos and Trinity Rivers."

In the midst of their revolt against Mexico, Texan leaders felt they needed a semi-official force of armed men who would defend the isolated frontier settlers of the Lone Star Republic against both Santa Ana's soldiers and hostile Indians; the Texas Rangers filled this role. But after winning their revolutionary war with Mexico the following year, Texans decided to keep the Rangers, both to defend against Indian and Mexican raiders and to serve as the principal law enforcement authority along the sparsely populated Texan frontier.

Although created and sanctioned by the Texas government, the Rangers was an irregular body made up of civilians who furnished their own horses and weapons. Given the vast expanse of territory they patrolled and the difficulty of communicating with the central government, the government gave the men of the Rangers considerable independence to act as they saw fit. Sometimes the Rangers served as a military force, taking on the role of fighting the Indians that in the U.S. was largely the responsibility of the Army. At other times the Rangers mainly served as the principal law enforcement power in many frontier regions of Texas, earning lasting fame for their ability to track down and eliminate outlaws, cattle thieves, train robbers, and murderers, including such notorious bandits as John Wesley Hardin and King Fisher.

Even as late as the first two decades of the 20th century, the state of Texas continued to rely on the Rangers to enforce order in the wilder regions of the state, like the oil boomtowns along the Rio Grande. Increasingly, though, some Texans began to criticize the Rangers, arguing that they used excessive violence and often failed to observe the finer points of the law when apprehending suspects. As a result, in the 1930s, the state won control over the Rangers, transforming it into a modern and professional law enforcement organization.

I love the statement that " they used excessive violence and often failed to observe the finer points of the law when apprehending suspects." (In other words, we can't control them enough!) I'm thinking that a few more of these guys would come in handy about now down along the border! Just a thought here!

Ready for some fresh coffee on the patio? I have some fresh baked peanut butter cookies to go along with it! (Thanks, baby sis!)

13 comments:

Ben in Texas said...

Ever Seen the Texas Ranger Statue at Love Field in Dallas? Well, he's on vacation it seems.

Texas Ranger

Ben in Texas said...

Sorry for the extra post.
Ever been to the Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum ?


Rangers Hall of Fame

Momlady said...

I think that sometimes law enforcement officers should be allowed to ignore the "finer points".
Peanut butter cookies? I'm so there!

Sixbears said...

I've heard that in Canada the Mounties are said to have the same one riot, one Mountie ratio. Just like in TX, they patrolled a large area with sparse population. Unlike TX, they are still in business. They command great respect.

Anonymous said...

Mom came from a migrant farmworking family and was born in the 30's. One of the threats her parent's and contemporaries told younger kids was 'Los Rinches estan aqui' (The Rangers are here!), used to straighten up kids who were up to no good. :^)

Ben in Texas said...

Sixbears? Where you getting your misinformation?
The Texas Rangers are alive and well to this day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Ranger_Division

Sixbears said...

Sorry Ben. My misread. You are right. I feel like an idiot. I mistook the 1930s state takeover as them being eliminated. Too much of a hurry this morning.

JoJo said...

I agree we need them back in all these southern states. Not just along the boarder but in side. Clean up these drug gangs and human smugglers.

Peanut butter cookies! I'll bring extra coffee I just know people are going to show up for those cookies.

Dizzy-Dick said...

I think the rangers should take off the white gloves and return to their good old selves.

Bob from Athens said...

Let them take care of the illegal border crossings, betcha they could figure a way to stop them. Wonder what the bad guys would think of about 1,000 heavily armed Rangers patrolling with the idea of shoot first and let the buzzards clean up the mess ?

HermitJim said...

Hey Ben...
I have never had the pleasure of seeing that statue!

Pretty rough and tumble bunch of guys, those Rangers! Of course, I reckon you had to be in their line of work!

Thanks for the links, buddy!


Hey Momlady...
It seems that the PTB so often want someone to do the "dirty work" but then want to be able to make them fade away when the work is done.

Seems like a control thing to me! Let's face it! cleaning up the bad guys can't be done without getting your hands dirty!

Thanks so much for coming by today!


Hey Sixbears...
Probably the only folks that don't respect the Rangers in Texas are the bad guys!

Many times, I think their reputation did as much as any show of force. Much the same for the Mounties, I think!

I thank you for coming by today!


Hey Anon 7:43...
I can certainly think of worse things to use as "boogie men"! Maybe a little scaring of the rowdy crowd is what's needed when they are younger!

I appreciate you coming by today!


Hey JoJo...
I'm sure that the other states could use an organization like the Rangers from time to time!

If they were invited, the Rangers would probably lend a hand!

Extra coffee is always good! As always, sweetie, so is your visit!


Hey DD...
Sometimes the courts seem to try and stifle a group like the Rangers, just because they don't fit the "suit and tie" crowd of LEO.

Courts should be more about helping and less about controlling.

Wouldn't hurt to dish out some real punishment and live up to it, I think!

Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!

HermitJim said...

Hey Bob...
I'm thinking that between the Rangers and the border patrol, wouldn't take long for the word to get out that things were going to change drastically for the bad guys!

But then the government wants to step in and tell them to "not offend and to play nice"!

You cannot have it both ways! Thanks for dropping in today!

Anonymous said...

I think Edward Abbey's solution to solving illegal immigration would probably work. When apprehending the illegal alien, arm them with a rifle and ammuntion, send them back and let them sort it out. :^)

I have mixed feelings with illegal immigrants, especially the Mexicans. Anyone showing up on this side with no credentials should be forced to go back (the people who legally emigrate must be very upset, with the expenses, paperwork involved), but what those folks are fleeing - its no wonder they come to this side for opportunities.

The Mexican government has no plan to help the poor, and the drug cartels are killing ANYONE, including innocents that get in the way. Whole families being murdered, it isn't just cartel vs. cartel. The U.S. does buy the drugs, but the cartels supply the drugs - chicken and the egg. But if Mexicans had some chance at gaining employment on THEIR side, I think things would change. The Mexicans I know are very hardworking people.

Sorry for rant there - delete if too long winded.