Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the News

[Jeff Lebowski]

They will certainly be arrested. The federal officials want to avoid killing them as has happened in the past. This isn't a mystery or complicated. After the Bundys are starved out or whatever, they will certainly be eventually arrested and tried. It's interesting how Mormons are the least tolerant of their aberrant elements.

Starve them out? Once again you pontificate without reading the article (or doing much research in general apparently). The occupiers have been free to come and go whenever they want. Ammon Bundy was in the audience at the town meeting.

[SeattleUte]

Starve them out? Once again you pontificate without reading the article (or doing much research in general apparently). The occupiers have been free to come and go whenever they want. Ammon Bundy was in the audience at the town meeting.

I told you. I don't care about this.

[Blueintheface]

Harney County residents tell the Bundy gang to get the hell out.

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-sta..._frustrat.html

Would still like someone to explain to me why these guys haven't been arrested.

Likely not a serious question you're asking but I'll take a stab at it...

I take it you've seen the PR hit that law enforcement took in 2015, right? Just reminding you. YW

[Jeff Lebowski]

Likely not a serious question you're asking but I'll take a stab at it...

I take it you've seen the PR hit that law enforcement took in 2015, right? Just reminding you. YW

Come on. By that logic, cops shouldn't arrest anybody, right?

Here you have a group of guys do an armed takeover of a federal facility. I can understand why you would be slow to storm the place. Sure. But why not cut them off until they give up? Not only that, but guys participating in the takeover (including the leaders!) are free to leave and re-enter the facility without interference. WTH? Why would you not arrest Ammon Bundy the second he left the property?

[Nakoma]

Come on. By that logic, cops shouldn't arrest anybody, right?

Here you have a group of guys do an armed takeover of a federal facility. I can understand why you would be slow to storm the place. Sure. But why not cut them off until they give up? Not only that, but guys participating in the takeover (including the leaders!) are free to leave and re-enter the facility without interference. WTH? Why would you not arrest Ammon Bundy the second he left the property?

An armed takeover of an unoccupied building? The occupiers aren't garnering support or sympathy. The locals want them to leave. The feds probably think its better to just let this fade naturally and then after they leave to arrest them for trespassing.

[Jeff Lebowski]

An armed takeover of an unoccupied building? The occupiers aren't garnering support or sympathy. The locals want them to leave. The feds probably think its better to just let this fade naturally and then after they leave to arrest them for trespassing.

Yes, they are armed. Don't you think being armed increases the seriousness of the takeover?

So the Harney ranchers get five years in federal prison for starting a fire, but Bundy and Company can do this and maybe get off with a trespassing charge? Makes perfect sense.

[Nakoma]

Yes, they are armed. Don't you think being armed increases the seriousness of the takeover?

So the Harney ranchers get five years in federal prison for starting a fire, but Bundy and Company can do this and maybe get off with a trespassing charge? Makes perfect sense.

I'm sure the feds can gin up some additional charges--maybe find a felony like destruction of government property or possessing a firearm on federal property to charge them with and throw them in jail for years. Doubt it will accomplish much, but at least the government can have its pound of flesh.

[creekster]

Yes, they are armed. Don't you think being armed increases the seriousness of the takeover?

So the Harney ranchers get five years in federal prison for starting a fire, but Bundy and Company can do this and maybe get off with a trespassing charge? Makes perfect sense.

I think you just need to be patient. I think the feds took some effort to size this situation up and realized there was not a critical mass of opposition, that this would not turn into a rural Ferguson, and so they are waiting until it dies, like the occupy movement died. One thing the feds do not want to do is make these guys sympathetic martyrs or allow them to become a rallying point for all the militia men out there. So they wait and let them look loonier with each passing day. Eventually they will be charged with trespassing, damage to property, firearms violations etc., is my guess. But by then it will be a big anti-climax and everyone will roll their eyes at Ammon's pleas for help and screams of injustice.

[Northwestcoug]

I think you just need to be patient. I think the feds took some effort to size this situation up and realized there was not a critical mass of opposition, that this would not turn into a rural Ferguson, and so they are waiting until it dies, like the occupy movement died. One thing the feds do not want to do is make these guys sympathetic martyrs or allow them to become a rallying point for all the militia men out there. So they wait and let them look loonier with each passing day. Eventually they will be charged with trespassing, damage to property, firearms violations etc., is my guess. But by then it will be a big anti-climax and everyone will roll their eyes at Ammon's pleas for help and screams of injustice.

Absolutely. I think the Feds are giving them enough rope to hang themselves, so to speak. I think by cementing Bundy's personification as a loon throughout all time will in the long run do more to discredit their cause. But I would not be terribly opposed to them getting removed by force, rule of law and all that.

[Blueintheface]

Though the surest way to encourage this behavior is to do nothing IMO. This has gone on long enough.

[old_gregg]

Though the surest way to encourage this behavior is to do nothing IMO. This has gone on long enough.

the surest way to encourage this is to make them martyrs and lend credence to the argument that the big bad usfg oppresses lowly ranchers and common folk. let them play army for a few months and alienate people that otherwise would be sympathetic to their cause. they're not hurting anybody and will get theirs when it's politically expedient for the feds to make an arrest.

[Topper]

I think you just need to be patient. I think the feds took some effort to size this situation up and realized there was not a critical mass of opposition, that this would not turn into a rural Ferguson, and so they are waiting until it dies, like the occupy movement died. One thing the feds do not want to do is make these guys sympathetic martyrs or allow them to become a rallying point for all the militia men out there. So they wait and let them look loonier with each passing day. Eventually they will be charged with trespassing, damage to property, firearms violations etc., is my guess. But by then it will be a big anti-climax and everyone will roll their eyes at Ammon's pleas for help and screams of injustice.

That is the smart strategy.

[Topper]

the surest way to encourage this is to make them martyrs and lend credence to the argument that the big bad usfg oppresses lowly ranchers and common folk. let them play army for a few months and alienate people that otherwise would be sympathetic to their cause. they're not hurting anybody and will get theirs when it's politically expedient for the feds to make an arrest.

They are attention seekers who won't be emulated if they are ignored.

[Blueintheface]

the surest way to encourage this is to make them martyrs and lend credence to the argument that the big bad usfg oppresses lowly ranchers and common folk. let them play army for a few months and alienate people that otherwise would be sympathetic to their cause. they're not hurting anybody and will get theirs when it's politically expedient for the feds to make an arrest.

I'm not advocating making them martyrs, politically or literally, and I see that side of it, but they are not breaking minor laws here. And yes I realize the implications of getting this wrong could be catastrophic, even without bloodshed, I just don't think ignoring it makes sense. If nothing else, convince someone with whom they are not pathologically paranoid towards to broker an exit strategy.

They are obviously not partial to ultimatums but you can't treat petulance with silence.

[falafel]

I'm not advocating making them martyrs, politically or literally, and I see that side of it, but they are not breaking minor laws here. And yes I realize the implications of getting this wrong could be catastrophic, even without bloodshed, I just don't think ignoring it makes sense. If nothing else, convince someone with whom they are not pathologically paranoid towards to broker an exit strategy.

They are obviously not partial to ultimatums but you can't treat petulance with silence.

I don't think they are just ignoring them.