The two dudes hiding out in the refuge with guns sound like your average BBQ pitmasters:
"Witnesses at trial, including a relative of the Hammonds, testified the
arson occurred shortly after Steven Hammond and his hunting party
illegally slaughtered several deer on BLM property. Jurors were told
that Steven Hammond handed out “Strike Anywhere” matches with
instructions that they be lit and dropped on the ground because they
were going to “light up the whole country on fire.” One witness
testified that he barely escaped the eight to ten foot high flames
caused by the arson. The fire consumed 139 acres of public land and
destroyed all evidence of the game violations. "
On a side note: why do so many right-wingers assume that anyone who has time to spend a few hours protesting a fracking project must be an unemployed layabout living at the expense of the American taxpayer, but a bunch of Militia members who have vowed to hold a Federal building for “years” if necessary must all be productive members of society?
You might be able to find a few takers among disgruntled Canadian Airborne Regiment alumni; but Canada was chosen only for being closer to Oregon than Mexico is, not for plausibility as an important foreign backer of our reactionary elements. Especially now that the Harper Regime isn’t even our tar sands best friend forever anymore.
…just watching an episode of Doomsday Preppers (III-1, specifically). A bit crazy but colorful characters, and pretty nice DIY engineering. If the choice of the day would be between welding a gun mount to a high-speed buggy vs yet another ritualized internet group condemnation, you can find me in the shop.
Which is the exact same thing every government does. While people pay and practically worship them for doing it!
If people must “lead”, then they need to lead by example, which in this case would mean governments not using violence to further an agenda of controlling people. People learn by what they see. So when they are told that that is the official, legitimate way to solve problems, it should come as no surprise when they do more of the same.
That, and the unfounded fear that advocates of firearms regulation want to take away all the guns. From everybody. Unconditionally. To which I would say: no, no, and no.
Gun Nut: I like to hunt and I need my hunting rifle for that. Me:[shrugs] Fine, just store it safely. Gun Nut: I want to be able defend my home and I need a shotgun for that. [Side note: I don’t think some people realize how eardrum-shatteringly loud shotguns are.] Me:[sigh] Fine, just store it safely. Gun Nut: And a handgun. Me: Well, I suppose in a crisis like that you wouldn’t want to have to reload, so– Gun Nut: And an assault rifle. Me: Wait, what? That’s just— Gun Nut: And a sniper rifle. Me: Are we still talking about self-defense? Gun Nut: And a flamethrower. Me: Dude, those aren’t even useful in combat situatio— Gun Nut: No, but they’re fun.
Not many years ago it was hard to imagine that the process of developing a long-term management plan for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) would result in a broad spectrum of interests, including the local community, conservation organizations, and other government agencies, all working collaboratively together to craft the future direction of the Refuge. Today, after a three-year collaborative effort by dozens of stakeholders working closely with each other and with Refuge staff and experts, there is broad agreement on a comprehensive planning process that will restore the Refuge’s aquatic health, enhance wildlife habitat, and revitalize relationships with stakeholders and the community.
