A group of heavily-armed militia members have seized a federal building in Oregon to protest the conviction and sentence of two ranchers under anti-terrorism laws.

The group – reportedly in the dozens (maybe hundreds) – includes three sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a standoff with the feds over grazing rights.

The group has said they have no plans to leave the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and any attempts to remove them will be met with force, ABC News is reporting.

The seizure came after a peaceful protest of the conviction of Dwight Hammond and Steve Hammond. They lit fires to control invasive species on federal lands, were convicted and served jail time. But a judge ordered additional jail time under strict new post-9/11 laws. The Hammonds said they will report to prison on Monday.

The militia members seized the building 50 miles outside of Burns, Oregon,  because “This facility has been the tool to do all the tyranny that has been placed on the Hammonds.”

Ammon Bundy – one of Cliven Bundy’s sons – posted a video asking for support of their cause.

Speaking to reporters outside the building, Bundy said they have no plans to become violent – unless violence is used against them.

“We pose no threat to anybody,” said Bundy, when asked how he and demonstrators would respond to law enforcement officials attempting to them. “There’s no person that is physically harmed by what we’re doing.”

“If they come to bring physical harm to us, they will be doing it because of a facility or a building. I don’t believe that warrants killing people,” Bundy added.


http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/us/breaking-hundreds-of-heavily-armed-militia-members-seize-federal-building-in-oregon

Occupying a government building is a legitimate form of protest and one of the few kinds paid any mind by officials. I don't know the particulars of this case and weather it's just or not, but the interests of this group, whatever they are, have been infringed and they're responding in what ordinarily would be an effective manner.

I'm sure this will resolve itself without anyone getting hurt and at worst only 1 or 2 people will be arrested. The government doesn't want a massacre on it's hand just so some wildlife office can watch birds. Unfortunately what they're occupying is more or less a park office, not some essential government building like a courthouse. They should have opted for something like the latter but I imagine they chose this particular place out of caution.  

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http://www.infowars.com/alex-jones-new-waco-equals-civil-war/

A dozen or so people "seized" a vacant building in the middle of nowhere. I don't think this would be a headline story if it weren't for their own efforts to publicize their protest via social media.

I feel sorry for the men who are headed back to prison for what it seems are ridiculous reasons, but from what I read, they don't even support the protesters efforts.