<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Courtesy of Oregon Live at:</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2016/01/drama_in_burns_ends_with_quiet.html">http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2016/01/drama_in_burns_ends_with_quiet.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>---------------------------------</div><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: 'Benton Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 39px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>Militia takes over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters</b></span></div><div><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Bundy family of Nevada joined with hard-core militiamen Saturday to take over the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, vowing to occupy the remote federal outpost 50 miles southeast of Burns for years.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The occupation came shortly after an estimated 300 marchers – militia and local citizens both – paraded through Burns to protest the prosecution of two Harney County ranchers, Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond, who are to report to prison on Monday.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Among the occupiers is Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, and two of his brothers. Militia members at the refuge claimed they had as many as 150 supporters with them. The refuge, federal property managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was closed and unoccupied for the holiday weekend.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In phone interviews from inside the occupied building Saturday night, Ammon Bundy and his brother, Ryan Bundy, said they are not looking to hurt anyone. But they would not rule out violence if police try to remove them, they said, though they declined to elaborate.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The facility has been the tool to do all the tyranny that has been placed upon the Hammonds," Ammon Bundy said.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We're planning on staying here for years, absolutely," he added. "This is not a decision we've made at the last minute."</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">either would say how many people are in the building or whether they are armed. Ryan Bundy said the group would release a statement shortly.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We will do whatever it takes to maintain our freedom," he said.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Government sources told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the militia also was planning to occupy a closed wildland fire station near the town of Frenchglen. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management posts crews there during the fire season.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Law enforcement officials so far have not commented on the situation. Oregon State Police, the Harney County Sheriff's Office and the FBI were involved.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ammon Bundy posted a video on his Facebook page calling on patriots from across the country to report to the refuge – with their weapons.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The dramatic turn came after other militia groups had tried to dampen community concerns they meant trouble.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Brandon Curtiss, a militia leader from Idaho, told The Oregonian/OregonLive he knew nothing about the occupation. He helped organize Saturday's protest and was at the Harney County Fairgrounds with dozens of other militia for a post-parade function. Another militia leader, BJ Soper, took to Facebook to denounce the occupation.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The occupation is being led by hard-core militia who adopted the Hammond cause as their own.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ammon Bundy met with Dwight Hammond and his wife in November, seeking a way to keep the elderly rancher from having to surrender for prison. The Hammonds professed through their attorneys that they had no interest in ignoring the order to report for prison.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ammon Bundy said the goal is to turn over federal land to local ranchers, loggers and miners. He said he met with 10 or so residents in Burns on Friday to try to recruit them, but they declined.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We went to the local communities and presented it many times and to many different people," he said. "They were not strong enough to make the stand. So many individuals across the United States and in Oregon are making this stand. We hope they will grab onto this and realize that it's been happening." </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Among those joining Bundy in the occupation are Ryan Payne, U.S. Army veteran, and Blaine Cooper. Payne has claimed to have helped organize militia snipers to target federal agents in a standoff last year in Nevada. He told one news organization the federal agents would have been killed had they made the wrong move.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He has been a steady presence in Burns in recent weeks, questioning people who were critical of the militia's presence. He typically had a holstered sidearm as he moved around the community.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At a community meeting in Burns Friday, Payne disavowed any ill intent.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The agenda is to uphold the Constitution. That's all," he said.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cooper, another militia leader, said at that meeting he participated in the Bundy standoff in Nevada.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 1.067em;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I went there to defend Cliven with my life," Cooper said.</span></p></div><div>---------------------------------<br><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares"</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"There's room at the top they are telling you still.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you want to be like the folks on the hill."</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- John Lennon</span></div></div></div></body></html>