NPR is reporting on this tale of direct action:
A self-styled militia in eastern Oregon grabbed national headlines Saturday when they broke into the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. There the armed group remains Sunday, occupying the federal building in protest of what it sees as government overreach on rangelands throughout the western United States.
"We stand in defense," Ammon Bundy, the group's apparent leader and spokesperson, told Oregon Public Broadcasting. "And when the time is right we will begin to defend the people of Harney County, [Ore.,] in using the land and the resources."
Ammon's brother, Ryan, has reportedly used harsher rhetoric, saying members of the militia are willing to kill or be killed.
Their last name may ring a bell. Ammon and Ryan Bundy are sons of rancher Cliven Bundy, who notably took part in an armed standoff with the federal Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, in Nevada in 2014.
Ammon Bundy now is part of a group of 15 to 150 people — depending on which source you believe — who are protesting the arson convictions of two Oregon ranchers, Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son, Steven.
Also at Oregon Live, NYT, and the Associated Press.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Monday January 04 2016, @05:43PM
I generally disapprove of the feds being involved in local affairs. The feds are into everyone's business. Put a couple water barrels under the eaves of your house, and the feds claim rights to the water. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/03/24/it-is-actually-illegal-in-colorado-to-collect-the-rain-that-falls-on-your-home/ [washingtonpost.com] It's senseless.
The first standoff between the Bundy's and government revolved around some "developers" who saw an opportunity to make some money on federal land. Those so-called developers had freinds in government, and they were prepared to walk over the ranchers to get what they wanted. The Bundy clan rebelled against being walked over.
It's not really clear to me what they hope to accomplish here. The papers are really busy pushing the OTHER SIDE of the story. I'd sure like to hear more of what the core issues are.
Maybe the Bundy people are just nucking phutts. Maybe they are battling government over nonsense. Where is Paul Harvey when you need him? I want to hear the rest of the story.
And, no, I don't accept MSM's presentation of the facts. Far to often, they lie to promote the side of the story they want promoted.
(Score: 2) by dltaylor on Monday January 04 2016, @06:23PM
For a long time, the BLM has neglected to determine the the cost to the rest of us for managing rangelands and mitigating the effects of many ranching practices. Now (mostly 'cause the Congress-critters mis/micro-manage their budget), that is finally being done and these to-date freeloaders are objecting to the BLM doing its job and A) actually managing the rangelands; B) charging appropriate fees to cover the cost of the management.
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by ilPapa on Monday January 04 2016, @06:29PM
You stupid sonofabitch. If you would have bothered to read your own link, you'd have learned that it's not "the feds" who are all up in your rainbarrells, but local Colorado government.
You belong in the bird sanctuary in Oregon with the other yahoos. And if you go, be sure to bring snacks, because apparently, the Redneck Caliphate forgot to pack the pork rinds.
http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/oregon-terrorists-dont-plan-siege-very-well-put-out-plea-for-snacks-and-supplies--ZJglh9sRjx [independent.co.uk]
You are still welcome on my lawn.
(Score: 2) by Vanderhoth on Monday January 04 2016, @07:00PM
Well that escalated quickly. [youtube.com]
"Now we know", "And knowing is half the battle". -G.I. Joooooe
(Score: 3, Touché) by ilPapa on Monday January 04 2016, @09:13PM
Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Really.
I get a little tetchy when I'm faced with the realization that I'm sharing a country with people who think the feds are fixin' to come and seize their rainbarrels and then it occurs to me that those people are also allowed to vote and carry guns in public.
Once the vodka and Xanax kick in, I'll be OK.
You are still welcome on my lawn.
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by Runaway1956 on Monday January 04 2016, @07:08PM
Uhhhhh - stupid? Who has the guns to enforce those damned "laws"? The federal government gives it's tacit approval to those laws, and in fact, helps to enforce them.
foxnews link to farmer sued for a stock watering pond: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/03/24/it-is-actually-illegal-in-colorado-to-collect-the-rain-that-falls-on-your-home/ [washingtonpost.com]
The Supreme Court not only upheld those water rights laws, but extended them as recently as 1982. http://www.justice.gov/enrd/federal-reserved-water-rights-and-state-law-claims [justice.gov]
Be careful who you're calling a stupid son of a bitch - apparently, you're not as bright as you think you are. The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld these laws at every challenge, or they would have been stricken by now.
(Score: 2) by ilPapa on Monday January 04 2016, @09:06PM
The Colorado State Police and National Guard. The Federal Government has no authority to enforce Colorado state laws. You really are a numbskull. You should delete your account right now in shame.
How dare you. Did you read that link? The water rights extended in 1982 were for federal lands, not over the rainbarrel in your back yard.
I'm extremely careful about that. I reserve "stupid sonofabitch" for not only those among the most clueless who are most intractably certain that they're right. And for today, that's you.
You are still welcome on my lawn.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday January 04 2016, @09:40PM
Yes, I'm ashamed for you. But, whatever, keep on spouting the party line. Which party are you with, anyway?
The whole water rights thing is flawed, beyond redemption. But, the Supremes uphold it, all the same. WTF are they farming in the desert again? Because - water rights. First come, first serve. The farmers got dibs on the water a century ago, and no one has successfully challenged that crap yet. The FEDERAL government has upheld the "legitimacy" of those laws.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Monday January 04 2016, @10:25PM
It is really not helpful to call Runaway "stupid", he takes it as a badge of honor. He has his own facts, and if you call him on those, you are probably a Social Justice person instead of a Moron(i) Mormon Militant. And I agree that we should leave his mother out of this. And as for leaving, hmm, the truth is not going to do it, maybe if we tried bribes?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 04 2016, @09:52PM
Where is Paul Harvey when you need him?
Dead and gone? And nobody ever needed him. I hear he is in a special hell reserved for Fox News, pedo-Catholics, and Moroni Mormon Militants.