Thar She Blows

I was just wondering what was going on up in Oregon...

[Amon] Bundy and several fellow occupiers were pulled over Tuesday on Highway 395, a law enforcement official said. According to The Oregonian, they were headed to the city of John Day, where they were set to participate in a community meeting set up by local residents.

Everyone obeyed orders to surrender except two people: LaVoy Finicum and Bundy's brother, Ryan Bundy, the official told CNN.

Shots were fired, but it's unclear who fired first, the source said. Ryan Bundy was injured, and Finicum died.

[...]

Finicum was one of the most outspoken occupiers who took over the refuge near Burns on January 2 to protest federal land policies.

Earlier this month, the father of 11 told CNN he doesn't want to die -- but would never go behind bars.

"I'm just not going to prison," Finicum said. "Look at the stars. There's no way I'm going to sit in a concrete cell where I can't see the stars and roll out my bedroll on the ground. That's just not going to happen. I want to be able to get up in the morning and throw my saddle on my horse and go check on my cows. It's OK. I've lived a good life. God's been gracious to me."

[...]

"It appears that America was fired upon by our government," the occupiers said on the Bundy Ranch Facebook page. "One of liberty's finest patriots is fallen. He will not go silent into eternity."

The occupiers also claimed Finicum had his hands in the air when he was shot.

  KTVZ

UPDATE:  One of the militia's members who was actually there says Finicum "charged" officers.

LaVoy Foster-Kids-Are-My-Main-Source-of-Income (One Cowboy's Stand for freedom) Finnicum is now a hero to many. Perhaps the FBI should have followed the SEAL's lead and dumped the body in the sea. (Or did they?)

FBI officials said they arrested Bundy, his brother Ryan Bundy, Bryan Cavalier, Shawna Cox and Ryan Payne on Tuesday afternoon after they stopped them along the highway.

[...]

The man who died was identified by his daughter as Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, one of the main spokesmen for the group. Police did not confirm his identity, but said the person killed was “a subject of a federal probable cause arrest”.

[...]

Reached by phone Tuesday night, Cliven Bundy, Ammon’s father, who led a standoff with the federal government in 2014, said he was devastated by the reports.

[...]

He added, “We’re not going to put up with this … This is a pretty big deal for America. This is the way they treat people who try to help? We are tired of the abuse.”

[...]

At 6.30pm PST, FBI officials also arrested Pete Santilli, a conservative Ohio radio host who has been a vocal supporter of the Bundys and was earlier live-streaming the chaos outside of a hospital in Burns.

[...]

[All those arrested are] facing federal felony charges of conspiracy to impede officers through the use of force, intimidation or threats.

  Guardian

Surely Santilli wasn't arrested simply for live-streaming. Then again...this IS America.  It's not clear, but it looks to me like he might have been arrested to be silenced.

Jon Ritzheimer, another prominent occupation leader who often helped run the militia’s “security” team, was also arrested late Tuesday night. Officials say Ritzheimer turned himself in at a police department in Peoria, Arizona, and that he was arrested without incident. He is also facing a federal felony charge.

No! The guy who videotaped a farewell to his family saying he was willing to die for the cause gave himself up?*

[Harney County Judge Steve] Grasty said he couldn’t say yet whether the standoff was over. “I don’t know that it’s over. I have no idea what is happening at the refuge.” He added: “I’m glad to see this winding down, but we wanted this to come to a peaceful end and it didn’t.”

Are we sure it's winding down and not winding up?

BI officials told those still at the compound, about 30 miles southeast of Burns, that they were free to leave and should do so. By midnight, few people appeared to have taken up the offer and the lights were still on.

Authorities provided no information about the roadblocks, but have scheduled a news conference for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Burns.

Only a few people had left, said Gary Hunt, who arrived Sunday from California to support the occupation. "The rest have decided they're going to hold their ground," he said.

  Oregon Live

In the meantime, Operation Mutual Defense, a network of militias and patriot sympathizers, issued a call on its website for help at the refuge. The post was written by Gary Hunt, a board member from California who has expressed support for Timothy McVeigh, who bombed a federal building in Oklahoma City and had ties to the patriot movement.

"You have an obligation to proceed to the Harney County Resource Center (the wildlife refuge) immediately," Hunt wrote. "If you fail to arrive, you will demonstrate by your own actions that your previous statements to defend life, liberty, and property were false."

  Oregon Live

I wonder why they were arrested this time and not earlier. They've been to other meetings.

*

Jon Ritzheimer, one of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupiers, posted a video to his Facebook page Tuesday that was prefaced with the following message: "I came home to visit my family. The Feds know I am here and are asking me to turn myself in. I need an attorney so I can get back to my girls. Please help my family. Donations can be made at www.rogueinfidel.com to help with legal fees. Thank you all in advance. I just want the country to live by the Constitution and I just want the government to abide by it."

  Oregon Live

From "I'm here to die" to "Please help me." Wuss.  You got yourself into this mess, bud.  don't be whinging about it now.

And, in case that didn't do it for you, he's videotaped himself "saying goodbye" to his daughters.  ("The video had been viewed 14,000 times, as of 9:05 p.m."  -- Oregon Live)

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.