Tyr-Ziu Saxnot
01-03-2016, 01:27 PM
http://www.vox.com/2016/1/3/10703712/oregon-militia-standoff
Who are these guys, and what do they want?
The apparent goal of the takeover is ultimately to induce the federal government
to turn over government-owned land to local ranchers, loggers, and miners for their use.
Here is Ammon Bundy, one of the militia leaders, explaining it in his own words:
But the men involved in the takeover — including Ammon Bundy, Ammon's brother Ryan,
Jon Ritzheimer, Blaine Cooper, and Ryan Payne — are not locals. Rather, they are a small
group of individuals who travel around the country attaching themselves to various local
fights against the federal government, usually over land rights. Several of them were
involved in Cliven Bundy's 2014 standoff.
Now they have latched onto the cause of two local ranchers from Burns, Oregon: Dwight
and Steven Hammond.
Who are the Hammonds? What is this really all about?
Dwight Hammond, age 73, and his son Steven, age 46, are scheduled to report to federal
prison on Monday. Dwight, the father, faces nearly five years in prison; son Steven
faces up to four years. The Hammonds were convicted of arson in 2012 for setting fire
to public land adjacent to their ranch land. They have already served prison sentences
for their crimes, but they now must return for an additional term after federal
appellate judges said they had been illegally sentenced the first time.
The Oregonian's Les Zaitz explains:
The men were convicted of arson, but under a provision of an expansive federal law
punishing terrorism. They each served prison terms that the sentencing judge thought
just, only to be told by appellate judges they had to go back to serve longer.
But the Hammonds' political cause isn't primarily about sentencing. Rather, it's
about federal land use — and opposition to what is seen as an intrusive or outright
illegal federal government.
Federal agencies own and regulate huge chunks of land in western states like Oregon
and Nevada. As such, those with anti-government views, particularly in western states,
often focus on the federal government 's land-use policies. Hence the significance of
the Hammonds' case — and the change to their sentencing, which just further fed into
views of a tyrannical federal government out of control.
Here again is Zaitz, the Oregonian journalist:
Their case heightened debate about how the federal government runs its lands.
The United States of America holds deed to three-fourths of Harney County. Ranching done
for a century and more is under pressure from environmentalists, recreationalists, and
hunters. ...
The plight of the Hammonds has become a rallying call for one militia and patriot group
after another. Men who see tyranny in federal acts are standing for the two men.
On Saturday, members of the militia attended a demonstration in Burns that had gathered
to protest the Hammonds' case. After the protest, the militiamen drove to the wildlife
refuge and took it over.
Here again is Zaitz, the Oregonian journalist:-------------------------
---------------
Who are these guys, and what do they want?
The apparent goal of the takeover is ultimately to induce the federal government
to turn over government-owned land to local ranchers, loggers, and miners for their use.
Here is Ammon Bundy, one of the militia leaders, explaining it in his own words:
But the men involved in the takeover — including Ammon Bundy, Ammon's brother Ryan,
Jon Ritzheimer, Blaine Cooper, and Ryan Payne — are not locals. Rather, they are a small
group of individuals who travel around the country attaching themselves to various local
fights against the federal government, usually over land rights. Several of them were
involved in Cliven Bundy's 2014 standoff.
Now they have latched onto the cause of two local ranchers from Burns, Oregon: Dwight
and Steven Hammond.
Who are the Hammonds? What is this really all about?
Dwight Hammond, age 73, and his son Steven, age 46, are scheduled to report to federal
prison on Monday. Dwight, the father, faces nearly five years in prison; son Steven
faces up to four years. The Hammonds were convicted of arson in 2012 for setting fire
to public land adjacent to their ranch land. They have already served prison sentences
for their crimes, but they now must return for an additional term after federal
appellate judges said they had been illegally sentenced the first time.
The Oregonian's Les Zaitz explains:
The men were convicted of arson, but under a provision of an expansive federal law
punishing terrorism. They each served prison terms that the sentencing judge thought
just, only to be told by appellate judges they had to go back to serve longer.
But the Hammonds' political cause isn't primarily about sentencing. Rather, it's
about federal land use — and opposition to what is seen as an intrusive or outright
illegal federal government.
Federal agencies own and regulate huge chunks of land in western states like Oregon
and Nevada. As such, those with anti-government views, particularly in western states,
often focus on the federal government 's land-use policies. Hence the significance of
the Hammonds' case — and the change to their sentencing, which just further fed into
views of a tyrannical federal government out of control.
Here again is Zaitz, the Oregonian journalist:
Their case heightened debate about how the federal government runs its lands.
The United States of America holds deed to three-fourths of Harney County. Ranching done
for a century and more is under pressure from environmentalists, recreationalists, and
hunters. ...
The plight of the Hammonds has become a rallying call for one militia and patriot group
after another. Men who see tyranny in federal acts are standing for the two men.
On Saturday, members of the militia attended a demonstration in Burns that had gathered
to protest the Hammonds' case. After the protest, the militiamen drove to the wildlife
refuge and took it over.
Here again is Zaitz, the Oregonian journalist:-------------------------
---------------