Oregon Militia have Accessed Government Files in Wildlife Refuge

Young Conservatives
January 12, 2016

The Oregon militiamen still occupy a wildlife refuge, and they say they have accessed government files…

From ABCNews:

The leader of a small, armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon said Monday he and his followers are going through government documents stored inside refuge buildings.

Ammon Bundy told reporters the documents will be used to “expose” how the government has discriminated [against] local ranchers who use federal land for cattle grazing.

Bundy said the documents would also help secure the release of Steven and Dwight Hammond, two area ranchers convicted of arson who returned to prison last week to serve longer sentences. The Hammonds’ case set off the occupation of the Burns-area refuge on Jan. 2.

Bundy said his group is not accessing government computers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, including personnel files.

After the news conference, the group drove in a convoy to a ranch near the refuge and tore down a stretch of government-erected fence. The goal, according to the armed men, was to give the rancher access to the range that had been blocked for years. It’s not clear where the fence was located or which rancher sought the group’s help.

The refuge is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Spokesman Jason Holm said because the documents and files at the refuge may have personally identifiable information, the agency “is taking necessary steps to ensure employee and family safety.”

The FBI previously called for a peaceful end to the situation, and also said they were cutting power to the building.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz (and others in the party) have asked the armed group to stand down, believing they have overstepped their bounds.

What do you make of these protesters who believe the government has done them wrong?