There would probably be dead bodies and hostages by now, so no, it's not hard to imagine an armed response.
Apples to apples. I'm talking about taking over federal land even if it's for farming or whatever their plan is.
I think that the law enforcement response at this point is appropriate. No, you don't want people breaking the law. However, going in shooting is totally unproductive. Right now, these guys do not provide the kind of immediate danger that require an immediate law enforcement armed response. Shooting these guys dead would be unjustified and do way more harm than good. They are in a wildlife refuge office next to a lake, with the nearest city, Burns, OR, population 3000, a 30+ mile drive away. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bur...d40bd36367dfd!2m2!1d-118.8450293!2d43.2655796 The locals don't much support them, and we have no signs that "patriots" are flocking to join them. Apparently, they are getting supplies (water, food, boots, etc.) delivered to them with the help of law enforcement so it's not like these guys are seriously prepared to hold out long term (what self-respecting militia is so ill-prepared?). So, lets get these guys out of there without killing anybody and we'll figure out the arrests and charges later. What I am interested in now is hearing what the GOP Presidential candidates, particularly Trump, have to say about them. Are they going to try and sound tough or sympathize with these guys' grievances?
Their grievance is that they think they look bad ass in plate carriers and fantasize about being Mel Gibson.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An armed people are a free people. If our forefathers were not armed before the American Revolution we would all be speaking English today.</p>— Grover Norquist (@GroverNorquist) <a href="https://twitter.com/GroverNorquist/status/683425783470239744">January 2, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Do like they did with Noriega. Get some billion watt speakers, turn them up to eleven, and play Kendrick Lamar or whatever fat old ranchers despise the most at them 24/7 until they leave. Maybe cause a few bottles of putrescine and cadaverine to shatter in the vicinity of the building, to provide an delightful bouquet to accompany their siege. Then maybe slip a bunch of cannabis in their food/water supplies... not for any real reason that would accelerate their egress, it would just be awesome to see a bunch of fat old militant rednecks baked out of their minds trying to act tough. Also, best nickname in a long time: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oregon militiamen receive fitting nickname: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YallQaeda?src=hash">#YallQaeda</a> <a href="https://t.co/dgw4rcUy2q">https://t.co/dgw4rcUy2q</a> <a href="https://t.co/cLur8223lP">pic.twitter.com/cLur8223lP</a></p>— Gawker (@Gawker) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gawker/status/683731779342188545">January 3, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Yokel Haram <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Supply room at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bundymilitia?src=hash">#Bundymilitia</a> Malheur refuge takeover. <a href="https://t.co/hnJW1sqqbY">pic.twitter.com/hnJW1sqqbY</a></p>— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) <a href="https://twitter.com/amandapeacher/status/683741037207007232">January 3, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Might just be the first case of the wildlife finding their own way to the wildlife refuge. It also really sucks for the wildlife there before them who now have to share a refuge with these p*****s.
Their actions meet the federal government's legal definition of "domestic terrorism". <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Legal definition of domestic terrorism: <a href="https://t.co/n80sEu4eIC">https://t.co/n80sEu4eIC</a> <a href="http://t.co/pvgnGfXvU0">pic.twitter.com/pvgnGfXvU0</a></p>— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) <a href="https://twitter.com/rachelsklar/status/611463006795530240">June 18, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
No, but that's due to them having delusions of grandeur and honestly believing they can terrorize the federal government with their little AR-15s and plate carriers.