Bringing down the fist of authority to the extreme, Republican Representative Justin Heap wrote a bill intended for ranchers near the border in Arizona to make it legal for them, and anyone in Arizona, to shoot any trespassers on their property. He states it has nothing to do with immigrants, though it has everything to do with them.

Throughout the US, there have been debates about secure borders and whether or not enforcing anti-immigration laws is the right thing to do. Heap says this bill is to close a “loophole” so those near the border who witness trespassers can shoot or apprehend them; this bill applies to everyone in the state, not just near the border. This airs a new issue if the bill is passed: is murder soon to be legal?

  “Make no mistake, this bill encourages Arizonians to shoot first and ask questions later,” said Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee spokesperson Abhi Rahman. Arizona is actively the most popular area to cross, specifically in Tucson, where Customs and Border Patrol sectors have seen a 149.6% increase in migrant encounters. This includes legally crossing and those who were sent away upon crossing. The rise of shooting cases could soon be around the same number.

The state senate’s GOP says “The Arizona Border Invasion Act [would] protect Arizona citizens and communities from the crime and security threats associated with the current border invasion caused by the Biden Administration’s refusal to enforce immigration laws.” This bill modifies the already existing Castle Doctrine which states that homeowners can use deadly force on home intruders for protection.

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is expected to veto this bill if it is passed on by the state’s legislature.