Bundy Ranch/Ruby Ridge 2.0

[Handsback]

So it looks like a bunch of militia nutbags have taken a federal building in Oregon. Now if you remember the Bundy Ranch incident in Nevada in 2014, these are basically the same folks. It looks like some of "let me tell you about the Negro" Bundy's children are involved.

Long story short: father and son ranchers were sentenced under mandatory minimum guidelines to five years in prison for arson on federal land. I guess it was to clear land out for their cows or whatever and the fire set on private land extended onto federal property. Twice.

I'm up in the air about the arson charge. Mandatory minimums are bullshyt (funny how THIS is the one these guys would find excessive though). These militias though.....

Alright so I read as much as I can on far right political movements and militias definitely occupy a lot of space in that world. Lots of very interesting history behind them (if you're into it, I can recommend some books, sovereign citizens, militias, Christian Identity, stuff like that).

But what's important is that these guys can't wait to get into a shootout with the Feds. Ruby Ridge and Waco are like 9/11 for them and they'd love a rematch. It'll be an interesting week but I'd expect the militia members to do everything they can to spark a shootout. They view martyrdom no less seriously than Al Qaeda.

tl,dr: Nutbags with guns have taken control of a federal building in Oregon. Expect fukkery.

A group of 150 armed militia members have broken into and occupied a federal building in Oregon. The group reportedly includes three sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who had a tense standoff with federal officials in 2014.

Radical militia members from across the country descended on Harney County, Oregon today to protest the conviction of two local ranchers for arson on federal land. They claim “that the federal government had no authority in Harney County.” The militia occupying the headquarters building at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is a splinter group from the larger protest. The gambit seems intended “to provoke a standoff with the federal government.”

In a phone interview with the Oregonian, Ammond Bundy said that “would not rule out violence if law enforcement tries to remove them.” He called the headquarters building “the tool to do all the tyranny that has been placed upon the Hammonds” and said he was “planning on staying…for years.” In a message on Facebook Bundy said he planned on establishing the facility as a base for militia members across the country:

Cliven Bundy is also advising the local ranchers, Steven and Dwight Hammond, not to submit to federal authorities as required on Monday. Instead, Bundy is urging them to go to the Harney County jail and ask for “protective custody.”

Meanwhile, Cliven’s son Ammon is reportedly rallying other militia members to join the occupation.

In an ominous sign, one member of the group, Jon Ritzheimer, posted a goodbye video to his family on YouTube today. “I want to die a free man,” Ritzheimer says.

150 Armed Militia Members Take Over Federal Building