In his push to take unilateral action on gun control, President Obama is sure to welcome the help being offered by armed militia members in Oregon.
And nothing would hurry that along quicker than an ensuing bloodbath, as some on social media believe the left — and at least one writer for New York Magazine — are dreaming of.
Protesting what they call gross government overreach, the militia members occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Burns, Oregon, on Saturday in support of rancher Dwight Hammond and his son, Steven, who were ordered back to prison to finish a five-year term for committing arson on federal land.
A spokesman for the group said there has been no contact with the FBI or other federal agencies since the occupation began, according to Fox News.
A driving force behind the protest is Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who had his own clash with federal agents two years ago. The younger Bundy said if the government tries to end the occupation with force “they would be putting lives at risk.”
Fox News reported that an attorney for the Hammond family said they can speak for themselves and do not want the help of the militia members.
One local reporter on the scene confirmed on social media that no law enforcement was present at the time, and another posted photos of events on the ground:
So, no law enforcement here in Burns. Waiting to to see the occupied buildings. Militia coming up to escort us. — Ian Kullgren (@IanKullgren) January 3, 2016
I asked how #bundymilitia got into the refuge buildings. They found a whole set of keys.
— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 3, 2016
“I didn’t come here to shoot I came here to die.”#bundymilitia, (will ID only as “Capt. Moroni”) pic.twitter.com/sh83SfWTll
— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 3, 2016
#BundyMilitia have blocked the entrance to the refuge. pic.twitter.com/4StnviCqSx
— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 3, 2016
#bundymilitia supplies head into blocked off camp. Appears to be fuel, food, hiking boots. #burnsoregon pic.twitter.com/yXWfmEu7AJ
— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 3, 2016
Supply room at the #Bundymilitia Malheur refuge takeover. pic.twitter.com/hnJW1sqqbY
— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 3, 2016
In Burns, Oregon. pic.twitter.com/frNb7YfZ64
— Ian Kullgren (@IanKullgren) January 3, 2016
Much to the chagrin of the left, who appear to be rooting for a bloodbath, federal agents are not storming the facility.
Such an outcome appears to be the preference of Jonathan Chait, a writer for New York magazine, based on his response to a tweet from a reporter who said a second Cliven Bundy son, Ryan, said they’re willing to kill and be killed if necessary.
I talked to Ryan Bundy on the phone again. He said they’re willing to kill and be killed if necessary. #OregonUnderAttack
— Ian Kullgren (@IanKullgren) January 3, 2016
Do we get to vote on this? Because I’m voting for #2 https://t.co/1uS3C4xmee
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) January 3, 2016
Always quick to take advantage of a crisis, the left would jump at the opportunity to use the incident in their push for more stringent gun control laws … and to reinforce the shaky claim that the Black Lives Matter movement is made up of “peaceful protesters.”
But then, the left calling for a bloodbath is nothing new, according to social media users:
Fact check: It’s left-wingers upset with the militia and not the militia itself who are calling for a bloodbath in #Oregon.
— Eric Heidelmark (@hmark6) January 3, 2016
Another left winger dreaming of a bloodbath. https://t.co/0Ptk8kyMt7
— Travesham (@Travesham) January 3, 2016
I’m not sure #OregonUnderAttack is sensational enough. Maybe #OregonUnderApocalypse Or #OregonBloodBath C’mon, media. Make it super scary.
— A Man In White (@a_man_in_white) January 3, 2016
An amazing number of people on Twitter appear disappointed that the situation in Oregon isn’t a bloodbath yet. … Okay, then…
— Joshua Brulé (@jtcbrule) January 3, 2016
Ryan Bundy explained the demands of the militia-backed group in a phone interview with The Oregonian:
“The best possible outcome is that the ranchers that have been kicked out of the area… will come back and reclaim their land, and the wildlife refuge will be shut down forever and the federal government will relinquish such control. What we’re doing is not rebellious. What we’re doing is in accordance with the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land.”
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