Mrs. M.
Man Feed Guest Writer
- Nov 2, 2015
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Gold represents percentage of state owned by Federal Government
The FBI have stated that they are seeking a peaceful resolution in Oregon.
The protesters are vowing to stay until the Feds give in.
News sources reported today that Ryan Bundy said the goal of the occupation was to turn over federal land to local authorities so it could be used for “ranching, logging, mining and recreation” and free of federal oversight.
Ranchers point out that according to the Constitution, the land belongs to the state, not the federal government. One person familiar with the Hammond case said, "When Dwight Hammond and his son lit the fires (in 2001), the valley below them was filled with wildfires and their property was in great danger of being burned along with feed that had been stored for their animals." The ranchers set those backfires on their property which borders BLM property in order to create a firebreak.
Mr. Hammond and his son were trying to save their own ranch. The backfires worked by bringing the larger fires under control. When the fires burned across the property line onto BLM land, the BLM labeled those fires as arson. By using the word arson they were able to move forward with their agenda to drive the Hammond family off of their ranch.
Setting backfires is not arson. It's land management and that is something some ranchers claim BLM knows little about. The Bureau of Land Management should have thanked the Hammond ranchers for their quick reaction to the wildfires but instead they falsely accused the Hammond ranchers of arson.
According to news reports, the Hammond men were put on trial and US District Judge R. Hogan reduced Dwight Hammond's sentence to 3 months and his son's sentence to one year. The US District Judge stated that based on his belief, a harsh sentence wasn't the intent Congress had in creating the statute.
Read more at The story behind the Oregon armed standoff
They are now about to serve four more years because US District Judge R. Hogan's decision on the case been declared illegal. They are punishing both men in accordance with the 1996 terrorism law charging that these backfires were an act of terrorism. If ranchers are vulnerable to charges of arson and terrorism for setting backfires which protect their own lands, how will they protect their property in the future?
Whether or not people realize the seriousness of the precedent being set, we are standing on shaky ground if our own federal government considers the Constitution and the Bill of Rights “negotiable.”
Since seizing the building 3 days ago, there have been no reports of destruction of property or harm to any individual. Supporters say that the men are standing their Constitutional ground and demanding that the federal government surrender the land back to the state of Oregon. I believe many Americans are standing with them. If this can happen to an all-American family like the Hammond family, this can happen to any of us.
This evening the news broke that Dwight Hammond and his son Steven, have turned themselves in to authorities to serve 4 more years in prison.What has happened to these two Oregon ranchers is truly despicable.
The FBI stated that they are seeking a peaceful resolution. There is a peaceful resolution. First, the federal government can drop these charges against the Hammond ranchers and allow them to return home. They have served their time.
Second, the federal government can release these lands to their respective States. Third, there should be no more interference, no more land grabbing or assisting UN Agenda 21 by the federal government. The resources from those lands and the profits they bring belong to the State of Oregon. Not the federal government.
Looking at the map it is understandable as to why ranchers out west are taking a strong stand. If they don't? Soon they will have no ground left to stand on.
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news links
The story behind the Oregon armed standoff
Bundy Ranch
Protesters Vow to Hold Oregon Refuge Until Feds Give In
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