Thread: Right Wing Militia Seizes Federal Building in Oregon

The local sheriff policing the occupation of a wildlife refuge in Oregon said he has received numerous death threats since armed militia took over the remote government outpost over the weekend.

Harney County sheriff David Ward told local residents on Wednesday that his wife had left town for her safety after strangers followed her home one night and someone slit her car tire. He said he had received anonymous letters with numerous misspellings that included death threats.

Worse still, the sheriff said, strangers had come to town to harass his elderly parents.

“Mom and Dad, stand up,” he said at the packed meeting. He introduced his parents, saying they were both in their 70s with heart issues and pacemakers and that they were scared. “You can’t just come into our community and intimidate our elderly,” Ward said to a round of applause.


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For days Ammon Bundy and his band of armed militia have laid claim to the federal land by arguing they have the support of the nearby community.

Yet that claim received a formidable rebuke on Wednesday night when, one by one, residents of Oregon’s rural Harney County stood before a microphone at the county fairgrounds to denounce the occupation on their doorstep.

Some 500 working-class men and women who packed into the memorial hall expressed an overwhelming consensus. It’s time, they said, for Bundy and his anti-government rabble-rousers to pack up and go home.

“This county is a united family and we don’t need people to come here from someplace else and tell us how to live our lives,” Ward said to a standing ovation.

The meeting was a collective response from a community who for weeks has endured the presence of out-of-state militia members who arrived to show support for two ranchers they believe had been unjustly convicted of arson.

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Then, this weekend, following a rally for two jailed local ranchers, father and son Dwight and Steven Hammond, two dozen militia discreetly took over a scattering of buildings at the nearby Malheur national wildlife refuge, refusing to leave until federal authorities accede to a list of demands that includes releasing the ranchers and relinquishing control of Oregon’s open country to state and local interests.

On Wednesday evening, Ward received a throaty standing ovation from residents who over-packed the meeting hall built for a capacity of 400. His voice often breaking with emotion, Ward told his friends, neighbors and constituents the twin towns of Burns and Hines, located closest to the occupied US Fish and Wildlife Service refuge, were under siege.

For an hour before the meeting started, county residents poured into the meeting hall. One man said he’d never before seen so many people there, even during the popular county fair.

One woman turned from her seat to survey the crowd: “I think the whole town is here.” The meeting began only after men removed their farm hats and Stetsons to recite the Lord’s Prayer.

Another man said he estimated the standing-room-only crowd to be well over 500 people. “At least that many,” said retiree Jim Campbell. “As a guy who counts sheep, I know. You just got to clump them in groups.”

Rich Mingus and his wife Deborah were two of the first to arrive. Mingus, 66, a nomadic helicopter fueling technician for the US Forest Service, admitted that he shared some of the frustrations with an overbearing federal government voiced by the militia.

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Mingus, who sat holding his wife’s hand, said he had to leave Deborah at home and travel the country to find work. He’d rather stay right here in southern Oregon, but there aren’t enough jobs – because the US government won’t let state residents log their forests or harvest the land around them, he says.

“Those Bundys had some good points, but they went about them the wrong way,” he said. “Our government hasn’t been listening to us rural people for a long time – we all know that.”

He said Harney County, the state’s biggest, should be better off. “We’re not getting any of the money,” he added.

“You need to talk to the environmentalists about that,” his wife added.

But both are afraid now – over the specter of violence that has happened in similar armed standoffs between militia types and federal law enforcement in the past.

“These Bundys have put fear in our community,” Deborah says. “All it takes is one crazy ... ” Her husband finished her sentence: “ … to light it up.”.

In a rambling speech, Ward told the audience that he wanted the outsiders to go home and let the country solve its own problems.

One gray-haired man in a white Stetson stood up.

“Sheriff, why don’t you go out there tomorrow morning and tell those people that,” he said as the crowd applauded. “If you want, I’ll go out there with ya.”

Then local resident Mitch Stegner stood before the microphone to surface an alternative view.

He said he had been out to the protest site and that the men and women there were polite. He invited others to go there as well.

The Bundys, Stegner said, had given Harney County the best gift it has ever received.

“Whether you agree with them or not, those Bundys have given us our biggest and best platform to get our message to the federal government that they have to pay attention to us.”

A murmur passed through the room as residents considered the point. Some of them seemed to agree.

Not long after, the sherif took a straw poll. “How many people want these people to leave?” he asked.

The response was almost unanimous. “Go home!” many people shouted. From the back, however, there was the voice of dissent. “Let ’em stay!”

Oregon sheriff has received numerous death threats since militia takeover | US news | The Guardian

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/us...=fb-share&_r=0

"The Oregon protest at a federal wildlife refuge has reignited an already intense debate on social media about policing, race and terrorism.

On Saturday, an armed group of antigovernment protesters occupied a remote federal wildlife refuge in Oregon and warned that they would not leave without a fight. The authorities have held back from attempting to stop the protest.

On social media, that led quickly to questions about a double standard, particularly from liberals and the left, who asked: What if the armed men were Muslim or black? They predicted the authorities would have been more forceful.

Many or all of the protesters appear to be white. It was unclear what religion they are, but at least one has made reference to a prominent Mormon figure. For its part, the Mormon church on Monday condemned the armed building seizure and said it could “in no way be justified on a scriptural basis.”

Rest of article is in the link provided.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Absolutely - why is it so difficult for some to see the hypocrisy of the way they are being dealt with . . . aiming rifles at cops and FBI agents etc..., threatening violence with their heavily armed gang of thugs

Another thing that chaps my ass about Ya'llQueda is the majority of them are right wing chickenhawks who like to dress up like bad ass deer hunters but don't have the balls to serve in the military themselves. These fooking cowards know full well the US government isn't going to do a damn thing about them occupying federal property. That's why they're doing it ... they're pussies afraid to die. Roll up a couple tanks on these coonts or have a helicopter gunship go in and show them what an autocannon can do to a barn and watch the little turds scatter.

I believe at least a few of them are veterans.

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/us...=fb-share&_r=0

"The Oregon protest at a federal wildlife refuge has reignited an already intense debate on social media about policing, race and terrorism.

On Saturday, an armed group of antigovernment protesters occupied a remote federal wildlife refuge in Oregon and warned that they would not leave without a fight. The authorities have held back from attempting to stop the protest.

On social media, that led quickly to questions about a double standard, particularly from liberals and the left, who asked: What if the armed men were Muslim or black? They predicted the authorities would have been more forceful.

Many or all of the protesters appear to be white. It was unclear what religion they are, but at least one has made reference to a prominent Mormon figure. For its part, the Mormon church on Monday condemned the armed building seizure and said it could “in no way be justified on a scriptural basis.”

Rest of article is in the link provided.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Absolutely - why is it so difficult for some to see the hypocrisy of the way they are being dealt with . . . aiming rifles at cops and FBI agents etc..., threatening violence with their heavily armed gang of thugs

Another thing that chaps my ass about Ya'llQueda is the majority of them are right wing chickenhawks who like to dress up like bad ass deer hunters but don't have the balls to serve in the military themselves. These fooking cowards know full well the US government isn't going to do a damn thing about them occupying federal property. That's why they're doing it ... they're pussies afraid to die. Roll up a couple tanks on these coonts or have a helicopter gunship go in and show them what an autocannon can do to a barn and watch the little turds scatter.

I believe at least a few of them are veterans.

So far a few have been outed by 'Stolen Valor' as fakes that's fact. Google it.

I guess that confirms the 'frighten little people scared of their own shadows' stereotype of militia members.

didn't part of this group leave because they geninly belived there was going to be a fedial government drone strick on them?

Originally Posted by hazz

I guess that confirms the 'frighten little people scared of their own shadows' stereotype of militia members.

didn't part of this group leave because they geninly belived there was going to be a fedial government drone strick on them?

Posting whilst drunk? A jailable offense I believe.
Anyway, where'd you hear that?.

Naturally it's the Rethugs who want to end investigations of their fascist ilk.

Homeland Security Looked Past Militia Movement, Ex-Analyst Says
The New York Times
By RON NIXON
Daryl Johnson, an ex-analyst at the Department of Homeland Security, said too little is done to restrict right-wing extremists.© T.J. Kirkpatrick for The New York Times Daryl Johnson, an ex-analyst at the Department of Homeland Security, said too little is done to restrict right-wing extremists.
Daryl Johnson once worked in the branch of the Department of Homeland Security that studied the threats posed by antigovernment militia groups. His former office, known as the Extremism and Radicalization Branch, was shut down more than five years ago.

But when members of an armed militia took over a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon last week, Mr. Johnson was not surprised.

In 2009, the former analyst wrote a report that warned of a growing antigovernment movement and the possible recruitment of returning military veterans that could “lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists.”

His words drew fierce criticism from Republican lawmakers and conservative media, labeling the report an unfair assessment of legitimate criticisms of the government. The document was retracted after Janet Napolitano, who was then the Homeland Security secretary, apologized to veterans, and the Extremism and Radicalization Branch was quietly dismantled. Now, as the takeover of the remote federal wildlife preserve enters its second week, a renewed focus is being placed on the militia movement and on the efforts of the federal government, particularly the Department of Homeland Security, to identify and combat potential threats.

Some lawmakers and former intelligence analysts, such as Mr. Johnson, say the agency has allocated significant resources to combating violent extremism among Muslims, but has failed to gather the intelligence needed to fight right-wing extremism inside the United States.

On Friday, the department announced a task force with the Justice Department to focus on countering homegrown extremists radicalized by foreign groups such as the Islamic State, drawing staffers from dozens of federal and local agencies. It is unclear if the group would investigate domestic antigovernment groups.

“The D.H.S. is scoffing at the mission of doing domestic counterterrorism,” Mr. Johnson said. “The same patterns that led to the growth of the antigovernment groups in the 1990s is being played out today. D.H.S. should be doing more.”

Stephen Crowley/The New York Times Rep. Keith Ellison, Democrat of Minnesota, signed a letter last year asking President Obama to reopen the extremism office at the Department of Homeland Security. Although the F.B.I. has primary responsibility for countering terrorism, the D.H.S. conducts analysis and intelligence gathering, and tries to spot troubling trends.

Representative Keith Ellison, Democrat of Minnesota, who last year signed a letter with 15 lawmakers asking President Obama to reopen the extremism office at homeland security and update the 2009 report, agreed with Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Ellison said the killing of nine people at a black church in Charleston, S.C., by Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old accused shooter who said he planned to “start a race war,” along with the current standoff in Oregon, show why the government needs to scrutinize the growth of antigovernment groups.

“The Department of Homeland Security needs to deal with Muslim extremists, but don’t ignore every other kind of threat,” Mr. Ellison said.

Citing data from a 2013 report produced by the United States Military Academy’s Combating Terrorism Center, Mr. Ellison noted that, “Right-wing extremists have launched an average of 330 attacks a year and killed about 250 people between 2002 and 2011. These are dangerous people.”

Homeland Security Looked Past Militia Movement, Ex-Analyst Says

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/us...=fb-share&_r=0

"The Oregon protest at a federal wildlife refuge has reignited an already intense debate on social media about policing, race and terrorism.

On Saturday, an armed group of antigovernment protesters occupied a remote federal wildlife refuge in Oregon and warned that they would not leave without a fight. The authorities have held back from attempting to stop the protest.

On social media, that led quickly to questions about a double standard, particularly from liberals and the left, who asked: What if the armed men were Muslim or black? They predicted the authorities would have been more forceful.

Many or all of the protesters appear to be white. It was unclear what religion they are, but at least one has made reference to a prominent Mormon figure. For its part, the Mormon church on Monday condemned the armed building seizure and said it could “in no way be justified on a scriptural basis.”

Rest of article is in the link provided.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Absolutely - why is it so difficult for some to see the hypocrisy of the way they are being dealt with . . . aiming rifles at cops and FBI agents etc..., threatening violence with their heavily armed gang of thugs

Another thing that chaps my ass about Ya'llQueda is the majority of them are right wing chickenhawks who like to dress up like bad ass deer hunters but don't have the balls to serve in the military themselves. These fooking cowards know full well the US government isn't going to do a damn thing about them occupying federal property. That's why they're doing it ... they're pussies afraid to die. Roll up a couple tanks on these coonts or have a helicopter gunship go in and show them what an autocannon can do to a barn and watch the little turds scatter.

I believe at least a few of them are veterans.

So far a few have been outed by 'Stolen Valor' as fakes that's fact. Google it.

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

And your point is . . . ?

I know what Frank Rizzo would like to do!

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

They've taken over a public facility with arms and threatened to shoot authorities that come to remove them. How's that for terrorism, dimwit.
What if they were Muslim?

Originally Posted by RPETER65

First of all they are not domestic terrorist'

Originally Posted by RPETER65

what laws have they broke,

Originally Posted by MrG

They've taken over a public facility with arms and threatened to shoot authorities that come to remove them. How's that for terrorism, dimwit.

Good God, the guy is thick . . .

What the lobotomised moron is saying is that because some of the inbreds might be veterans and white - they can't be terrorists.

Timothy McVeigh was just misunderstood, according to rpeters

Originally Posted by MrG

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

They've taken over a public facility with arms and threatened to shoot authorities that come to remove them. How's that for terrorism, dimwit.
What if they were Muslim?

Carrying weapons is legal in Oregon, I have yet to see where they have threatened to shoot anyone, they have said they will not leave and they will defend themselves. Dimwit.
What if they were black and burning parts of a city.

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by MrG

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

They've taken over a public facility with arms and threatened to shoot authorities that come to remove them. How's that for terrorism, dimwit.
What if they were Muslim?

Carrying weapons is legal in Oregon, I have yet to see where they have threatened to shoot anyone, they have said they will not leave and they will defend themselves. Dimwit.
What if they were black and burning parts of a city.

If they're such bad asses, and not cowards, why aren't they volunteering their services over in Iraq instead of occupying a bird sanctuary? According to right wingers terrorism is the greatest threat to the US right now. And it's not like they have to worry about losing their jobs. Is Bundy a veteran?

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

The standard term falls under very extreme defined standards and conditioned literal interpretations - lost in a cultural fantasy, as much has.

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by MrG

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Humbert

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

They've taken over a public facility with arms and threatened to shoot authorities that come to remove them. How's that for terrorism, dimwit.
What if they were Muslim?

Carrying weapons is legal in Oregon, I have yet to see where they have threatened to shoot anyone, they have said they will not leave and they will defend themselves. Dimwit.
What if they were black and burning parts of a city.

If they're such bad asses, and not cowards, why aren't they volunteering their services over in Iraq instead of occupying a bird sanctuary? According to right wingers terrorism is the greatest threat to the US right now. And it's not like they have to worry about losing their jobs. Is Bundy a veteran?

You will have to ask them, everyone has their own motivation.

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

They are armed thugs who have taken over government property. You think that's a good thing?

On the "land rights" thing, seems to me they're welfare claimants who've broken the rules and, when called on it, have responded with lethal force. You really think that's a good thing? Would you think that if they had names like Abdul or LeWayne?

Fuck em, armed criminals, welfare thieves, Shoot them. Make the States that little bit cleaner.

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by MrG

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

They've taken over a public facility with arms and threatened to shoot authorities that come to remove them. How's that for terrorism, dimwit.
What if they were Muslim?

Carrying weapons is legal in Oregon, I have yet to see where they have threatened to shoot anyone, they have said they will not leave and they will defend themselves. Dimwit.
What if they were black and burning parts of a city.

You make it sound if the gun-toting legalities in Oregon is wide-spread, even common.

Carrying a visible weapon in Oregon is only legal with a hard to obtain and costly permit, which includes a deep background check as well as a mandatory training process, etc....a mirror of most states, with the exception of a couple of states such as Arizona or Montana.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

They are armed thugs who have taken over government property. You think that's a good thing?

On the "land rights" thing, seems to me they're welfare claimants who've broken the rules and, when called on it, have responded with lethal force. You really think that's a good thing? Would you think that if they had names like Abdul or LeWayne?

Fuck em, armed criminals, welfare thieves, Shoot them. Make the States that little bit cleaner.

No where did I say thar it is a good thing, I have however said it is not an act of terrorism, where is the terror.

Was the acts of protesters in Fergusen and Baltimore a good thing, at least for some people there was terror from these incidents.
When you get more educated as to the acts of the BLM,then come talk to me.

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by MrG

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Humbert

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

They've taken over a public facility with arms and threatened to shoot authorities that come to remove them. How's that for terrorism, dimwit.
What if they were Muslim?

Carrying weapons is legal in Oregon, I have yet to see where they have threatened to shoot anyone, they have said they will not leave and they will defend themselves. Dimwit.
What if they were black and burning parts of a city.

You make it sound if the gun-toting legalities in Oregon is wide-spread, even common.

Carrying a visible weapon in Oregon is only legal with a hard to obtain and costly permit, which includes a deep background check as well as a mandatory training process, etc....a mirror of most states, with the exception of a couple of states such as Arizona or Montana.

Not so, I lived in Oregon for ten years when I went hunting I carried not only a rifle but also a pistol.

I had no intention of making it sound wide spread or common, that is only coming from your brain, not mine. I only pointed out it is legal, you or I do not know if the protester carrying guns in Oregon are legal to carry, don't confuse the issue.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by RPETER65

That could be but I still believe at least a few are Vets.

So what, that exempts them from culpability as domestic terrorists?

First of all they are not domestic terrorist' what laws have they broke, trespass? As far as I know trespass is not an act of terrorism.What it does is negate stoorkeepers trying to present them as cowards.

They are armed thugs who have taken over government property. You think that's a good thing?

On the "land rights" thing, seems to me they're welfare claimants who've broken the rules and, when called on it, have responded with lethal force. You really think that's a good thing? Would you think that if they had names like Abdul or LeWayne?



Fuck em, armed criminals, welfare thieves, Shoot them. Make the States that little bit cleaner.

Where does lethal come from I have yet to hear of anyone dead, and also what do names have to do with anything here, if your asking if someone with a name that could be the name of a Muslim was involved would it make me feel differently, no unless they were affirmed to be Muslim terrorist.

RPETER65:

Everything is under control. Do not be alarmed. These are not terrorists. They are white, Christian patriots and vets with legitimate grievances against the government.

Originally Posted by RPETER65

When you get more educated as to the acts of the BLM,then come talk to me.

When you ask others to become 'more educated' the end of the world is nigh

Originally Posted by RPETER65

I only pointed out it is legal,

And you'd be wrong:

all “public buildings” are also off limits throughout the entire state unless you have a concealed handgun license.

http://www.opencarry.org/state-info-n-s/oregon/

Originally Posted by RPETER65

Where does lethal come from I have yet to hear of anyone dead

The threat of lethal force, rpeters . . . step out of your mind-haze and think straight