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DOUGLAS - The Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security visited Cochise County Friday. U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson took a tour of the U.S. - Mexico border to get a first-hand look at issues related to border security.

Cochise County ranchers also gave their thoughts in a town hall meeting after the tour, hosted by U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

The town hall meeting gave ranchers and border residents a chance to tell Congress what life is like along the border.

"My daughter's been threatened at knife point, my son's been vandalized," Cochise County rancher Peggy Davis said.

"We just want to live in peace and in safety on our own land," Susan Krentz, wife of murdered rancher Robert Krentz, said after the meeting.

Robert Krentz was found shot to death on his Cochise County property March 27th. Investigators found footprints at the scene and traced them 20 miles into Mexico, but so far, no arrests have been made.

Cochise County residents asked for better cell phone service, more border surveillance and troops. Many in Washington are focused on the 1,200 troops President Obama has already promised to the border.

Ranchers say sending 1,200 additional troops to the border is a start, but they also say more troops are needed directly on the borderline.

"Stop them right there. If they know that the Border Patrol is standing there, the National Guard is standing there, there not going to come right there," Cochise County rancher Gary Thrasher said.

"Based on this hearing, and what I've heard, today, people can be assured that additional resources will come," Rep. Thompson said.

Robert Krentz's wife will be waiting.

"The federal government is supposed to demand that our borders be secure. And they have failed. Over and over again," Susan Krentz said.

Of the 1,200 troops coming to the border, 524 are expected in Arizona.