Local News
Justice Is Served For Bundy Family
- The Bundy brothers, along with a number of armed followers, took over a wildlife refuge in rural Oregon for 41 days during January and February of this year.
- “It’s stunning. It’s a stunning victory for the defense,” Robert Salisbury, attorney for defendant Jeff Banta, told reporters. “I’m speechless.”
- As the Christian Science Monitor’s Gretel Kauffman reported in September, the older Bundy brother also drew attention by referring to himself as an “idiot” in one court motion.
After only five days of deliberation, a jury found seven occupiers of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, including Ammon Bundy and Ryan Bundy, not guilty of federal conspiracy and weapons charges Thursday afternoon.
The Bundy brothers, along with a number of armed followers, took over a wildlife refuge in rural Oregon for 41 days during January and February of this year. The occupiers say they were protesting tyrannical federal land-management policies, which has led to the poverty and plight of local ranchers.
During the trial that began in early September, the Bundys say their plan was to take ownership of the refuge before handing it over to the discretion of local officials. The occupation required firearms, argued the Bundys, because they would have been immediately arrested otherwise.
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“We’re so grateful to the jurors who weren’t swayed by the nonsense that was going on,” defendant Shawna Cox told Reuters after the verdict was read. “God said we weren’t guilty. We weren’t guilty of anything.”
But the prosecution felt otherwise, accusing the occupiers of possessing firearms in a federal facility and conspiring against the federal government.
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“It’s stunning. It’s a stunning victory for the defense,” Robert Salisbury, attorney for defendant Jeff Banta, told reporters. “I’m speechless.”
It is not just the verdict that is surprising: by any measure, the occupiers’ trial was unorthodox.
For example, Ryan Bundy chose to represent himself in court, claiming his innocence as a member of the “sovereign Bundy family,” and therefore immune to federal law.
As the Christian Science Monitor’s Gretel Kauffman reported in September, the older Bundy brother also drew attention by referring to himself as an “idiot” in one court motion, seeking $800,000 in damages for his arrest, and attempting to subpoena Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and other government officials to testify in this case.
And Ammon Bundy’s attorney Marcus Mumford was anything but traditional in his defense. At one point in the case, Mr. Mumford cited the 1948 western film “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” to make a point about federal jurisdiction. When the verdict was read Thursday afternoon, Mumford was tackled and tasered by US Marshals after a heated argument with the judge.
In Mumford’s opinion, the not guilty verdict meant his client was free to go. However the judge disagreed: The Bundy brothers will remain in custody as they still face charges in Nevada due to a previous armed standoff against the federal government in 2014 with their father, Cliven Bundy.
Regardless of the strange trial or surprising verdict, some worry about the acquittals’ future implications.
“The Bundy clan and their followers peddle a dangerous brand of radicalism aimed at taking over lands owned by all of us,” Kierán Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, told the Associated Press. “I worry this verdict only emboldens the kind of intimidation and right-wing violence that underpins their movement.”
Protesters of the verdict also took to Twitter, many attributing the acquittal to the protestors’ race.
Black child plays with toy gun in park. Murdered by police.
But the defense attribute the protesters’ weapon supply to their Wild West-like culture.
“For these defendants and these people, having a firearm has nothing to do with a threat or anything else,” defense lawyer Matthew Schindler told The Washington Post. “It’s as much a statement of their rural culture as a cowboy hat or a pair of jeans. I think the jury believed at the end of the day that that’s why the guns were there.”
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Edward L. says:
Thank the founding fathers whom also created the Bill of Rights. The Second Amendment was not created to have personal protection from other citizens. It was to have and equal defense from over powering threats from foreign and domestic governments.
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Scott Perry says:
The government was overstepping their power over the ranchers and most people know it.
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Robert Murauskas says:
The government under Obama has shown little regard for individual rights. He is a globalist and he feels he must control the populace. And he does this by turning agencies into his personal police force, funny since he has such disdain for the police, following his directives.
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Richard Raymer says:
The government tried to make an example of them to scare other people who might stand up to them. I applaud the Bundy family for their courage
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James says:
Government is taking more and more of our rights- it’s refreshing to see a jury side with the citizens. However I’m not familiarity with the text of the case .
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Roslyn says:
They never should have been arrested in the first place!! When someone is trying to steal the land that you have paid on for years because of someone else wanting it and using the government to do it. Then you should have the right to fight for it!!There fore father’s did!
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L Couck says:
The ones overstepping are the Feds. The lands in states belong to all the people of the state not the Fed.
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Naomi Sanders says:
We the people hire the government officials–they do NOT own us and they have decided to be dictators rather than our servants!
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Larry and Mary says:
Reaching in for corporations purposes in lands that have been used for farming is wrong; we need food for the nation, as well as feeding the poor! fOR THE GOV’T TO JUST REACH IN AND TAKE LAND IS WRONG, sounds like a CLINTON grab, Obama, in this case!
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TBird says:
The system works (some times). The Bundy’s violated a statute, were arrested, charged, tried and acquitted. The system works (some times)
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Roberto Cadiz says:
I think government has turned dictatorial and they need to be put back in their proper place.
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David Stroud says:
The government is becoming more & more bold in interfering with our freedoms & sometimes getting away with it. I hope this is a lesson that the government is not the last word in denigrating our rights as citizens!
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James Clooney says:
this administration—of Obama–is nothing more then a dictatorship—this guy in our WH has made this country into a Banana Republic
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SouthernPatriot says:
It is a continued and continuing fight against the overreaching federal government (and state and local governments in some areas). The Bundys and their buddies are on the forefront of this battle and are like the Marines. These men (and ladies) are nothing short of PATRIOTS. If they do not fight this fight and win, we all will not have private property rights or state’s rights with control over our own properties.
The Bully Land Management and other government alphabet agencies have long usurped their constitutional power and work hard against the American citizens/property owners, especially out West.
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lisamains says:
All fed land belongs to the tax payer and we the people It is time we take a stand if you worked for it ,it,s yours .we need to put the feds back in there place !!!!!
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Daniel M. Furesz U.S.A.F. Retired W-1 says:
The reason I agree is because if the 2nd Amendment is still in tact then how can you find these Patriots guilty. Also our Natural Resources are there for our Citizens to enjoy use and have recreation with. The Big Government was never intended to deny you of your Natural God Given Rights and that includes access to lands of the United States of America. Now if you are like me a U.S.A.F. Retired W-1 & 100% Service Connected Disabled American Decorated Vietnam Combat War Veteran you actually even have more of a right as to not be charged a fee to enter federal land or federal National parks. With that said Big Government has far over reached its jurisdiction and enforcement of illegal laws that they have morphed Public Law into Public Policy to suit there needs and agenda. When you tell a lie often enough and no matter how big the lie is “Like what Hillary Rotten Clinton,” does people actually start believing the lie as being law. It isn’t and what I have found is that people who enforce the law and judge the law don’t necessarily know the law as it was written and intended. I am Daniel M. Furesz U.S.A.F. Retired W-1 an Air Force of One and I have approved this message.
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Dale Peterson says:
thanks for taking on an out of control government. and why haven’t they been released
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Todd says:
as I understand the situation…they occupied a government facility armed with guns, thereby breaking the law….the photos showed that they trashed the place, vandalism, thereby breaking the law…and several of the occupiers stated it was a protest against fees for grazing rights on government owned lands which have been in place for years and that they were behind in paying, thereby breaking any contract they had to use those lands and their herds should be removed from those lands and the fees they owed should be collected before they are allowed to use those lands again
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capt GK says:
There is so much more to this story:
“Hillary and her foundation are implicated in the dastardly scheme along with the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosatom, and a few dubious Canadian elite, which is where the news gets really bad.Rosatom is ranked #2 globally in uranium reserves and #1 globally for annual uranium extraction. The sheer power, strength, and size of the corporation is undeniable. Rostom is a major power-player in today’s world and didn’t become that way for no reason.
You see, Rosatom wanted to expand their operations into America and needed a way in. So, in 2013, Rosatom acquired a Canadian company named Uranium One as part of a sinister side deal which involved multiple parties. Ultimately the deal opened a typically secure and closed-door, thus allowing the Russians to salt their way into Continental United States as part of a vast and extensive plan to mine Uranium ore out of states like Wyoming and Oregon.
The deal was essentially brokered by Hillary and was ran through the Clinton Foundation using Canadian-backed contributions as a cover. With one swoop of a pen the bitch sold out the American people and one-fifth of America’s uranium resources to the Russians.”
Read the full story here: https://www.intellihub.com/clinton-foundation-payoffs-promised-hammond-ranch-other-publically-owned-lands-russia/
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Mike Tanco says:
This gives us hope that not all of our law enforcement is corrupt. We know DC is pretty much in the tank but not everyone can be bought off by the Clinton’s or Obama.
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Daniel Martin Furesz says:
I had my guns taken from me illegally through a Bivens Act where the Washington Twp. Police in Bergen County New Jersey ( a police state of course) decided one day that although I was the Bergen County Hunter Safety Course Instructor and a Department of Defense Shooting and Safety Instructor not to mention an NRA Safety and Shooting Instructor that I had too many guns. So they the municipal government conspired with my Sister Amy Curry to have her lie and make a formal complaint against me for Terroristic Threats. The SWAT Team of Bergen County in conjunction with the local police surrounded my house and arrested me for Terroristic Threats. Four (4) police Officers entered my house without a search warrant literally raiding and ravaging my home. I asked the arresting officer if he had a search Warrant and can I see it before the police enter my home. He Said to me “You don’t Dictate to us we dictate to you. I then said, “Since when do we live in a Dictatorship Country. He certainly didn’t like that as everything was recorded. Subsequently they also charged me with having possession of an Assault Rifle being a fully automatic machine gun. This testimony was based on the fact that one of the investigating officers one of the more sharper ones on the force said he remembers seeing that exact M-1 carbine in a movie called the “Green Berets.” John Wayne used the weapon in fully automatic fire to ward off the NVA. Now considering this is the same police department when several times officers have shot themselves in the foot in the leg and in the hand and discharged a service weapon in a classroom while teaching gun safety I believe is a real tragedy. They also charged me with 1 count of having extended magazines and clips. The outcome was all the charges were dismissed. First because my sister Amy Curry Lied and it was found out that the police set me up. Secondly the police lied about the Assault Rifle. It was not fully automatic and testified to by an independent Gunsmith Gun Professional and Gun Appraiser of which I have the same credentials. So after 10 months in the Bergen County Jail after all my charges were dismissed I am believing it is over and I am going to be released just to find out that because the Prosecutorial Bastards over heard me talking on the phone about the United States Code Title 42 Section 1983 I was going to file against them for perjury, filing a false complaint, filing a false instrument, illegal imprisonment, kidnaping loss of consortium and not having a valid search warrant violating not just my 2nd amendment rights but my 4th as well. The prosecutors by the way filed a Motion to seize forfeit and dispose of the 36 guns they took from my home. Here’s the rub I had 43 all together. So the cops that went into my home ended up stealing my most prized and valuable competition won shooting instruments still in original packing cosmolene and never fired. So I was also able to charge them with evidence tampering, tainted evidence and losing control and custody of the evidence of which My $25,000.00 paid attorney Mr. Steven E. Savage should have done a Motion to suppress the evidence but was intimidated by the US Attorney General of NJ at the time Paul J. Fishman with if you allow this man to go to trial and win you will be in an adjoining cell because you are not Federally Trial Certified. So I was forced to take a plea deal of 46 to 52 months of which when I signed the plea as DAFFY DUCK it was accepted and then get this during the sentencing phase the judge Peter G. Sheridan says because the Mitigating Factors in this case far out weigh the aggravating I am going to sentence you to the minimum sentencing guidelines allowed by law which is 70 months. See the USA Attorney General ordered the Assistant Attorney Generals Aarron Mendohlson, Ernest E. Clabby and Maria Coyne to take out the page offering me the 46 to 52 month range and put instead a page that the sentencing guidelines were for 70 to 87 months. Any one who knows anything about contract law would tell you the contract of the plea deal was null and void at the point as I did not have intelligent knowledge or understanding of what was happening and that contract could never stand in a real court of law but the Judge allowed it. I am living proof that the “Fast and the Furious,” and the gun grabbing Liberals are in full force and I have one thing to say. When they come for your guns give them the ammunition first. By the way they took all my archery equipment my Bowie knife collection all my reloading equipment my 22,500 rounds of ammunition cleaning equipment scales even my Kevlar bullet proof vest that I wear when I go hunting and my air respirator that I use as an Environmental Health & Safety Professional for work doing air monitoring and remediation of Super Fund Toxic Waste Sites as a HAZWOPER Certified OSHA Supervisor. So I must be one hell of a bad ass for them to that to me. Or could it be more sinister as I own firearms that I am allowed to own according to the law and I know how to use them and the government was paranoid and afraid that if the shit ever hit the fan with my military training and Assertive stance on 2nd Amendment issues of which I have had editorials published in the local newspaper that I might be a threat to the US Government. So this former cub scout boy scout enlisted Air Force Retired Decorated Soldier turned Environmental Health and Safety Professional I guess is what the government fear. Did I mention 5th grade Safety Patrol and local Washington Twp. Volunteer Ambulance Corpsman. My name is Daniel M. Furesz U.S.A.F. Retired W-1 and an Air Force of one. You can call me at 201-888-2696 and or 973-277-6735 and if you disagree that’s OK because by the end of the call I will have readjusted your attitude.
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Pam Ross says:
Once again the “government” is flexing it’s muscle and trying to get waht it wants via intimidation!
KUDOS to the family !!!!!! -
Darrell Bundy says:
They were standing up not only for their own family, but for all of the American people’s constitutional rights!!!
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Jack says:
The reason behind all of this is the western lands under the land is rich in uranium and many other minerals and probably Hillary,Obama and other crooks in the so called government sold it off,maybe for money or something else and the ranches were burned as well as the land and .cattle.And then the FBI I guess shot and killed one of the unarmed ranchers, something else for Comedy to answer for.
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robert allen says:
the gov and the states are trying to take anything they can get just like ther doing now with the indians on ther ground
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Scott Alsteen says:
2nd Amendment and the U.S. Constitution have to be preserved at all costs!
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Bob D says:
The Constitution was upheld. That is what it is all about. The Federal Government is way beyond its authority ref States, States Rights, and citizens in every state. The Constitution lists what is Federal responsibility and what belongs to the States and the People of America. The Feds are wrong.
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Al Stetz says:
It shows the left that the CONSTITUTION works if its not perverted by some people who are afraid of fair justice and outcomes.Guns hurt no one just kept everyone on a level playing field.It’s sad law abiding people have to go to such lengths to stop placing burdens on farming and ranching.Thank God justice revailed and the jury (citizens) are starting to see that “WE THE PEOPLE” is not about only the chosen few.Lets hope we save our country November 11th.
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Dale says:
Belongs to all of us???? That is a laugh. The Federal Government dictates what we citizens can and can’t do on THEIR LAND. Parks are open for citizens but you better stay off any other land that they grab up. The laws today are not the constitutional based laws of a century ago nor are our freedoms the same.
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Kent says:
Our Constitution actually gives the federal government very limited “ownership” of our lands, i.e., Washington D.C. itself and some for military reservation purposes. For decades the fed has been usurping control over lands rightfully belonging to the states and we the people. When a state or individuals try to stand up to them these various agency bureaucrats get very upset that anyone would dare to oppose their dictates and try to bring the full weight and power of the government to force them to fall in line. They try to intimidate through often spurious charges and prosecutions and in some cases use of deadly force. It is refreshing to see a jury find in favor of those that had the courage to fight them.
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Larry Wood says:
The Bundy’s were protesting the federal government’s heavy handed control of public lands.
Hell, I think they missed the battles with the Indians, who the stole from in the first place. -
Rusty Fieldman says:
We fought a war against these same kind of tactic of a government that want control of everything in your life. Who in his right mind would allow guys/girls in same bathrooms. Surely our leaders have lost their mind!!
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Lewis Hopper says:
Yes, America needs a lot, and I do mean “A Lot” more people that will not accept the totalitarianism of the Anti-American, Anti-Christian, Anti-Constitution,Anti-Gun, evil, left wing Libtard,Demoncrat, Dictators! Instead of people that just stand around waiting for their hand outs and freebies!
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John Weiss says:
The government tried to make a example out of them to anyone who would dare try to stop the government take over of our lives. Government is out of control when it comes to the ranchers. If they were black this would have never went this far.
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Francis Irvine says:
Arrest Obama and every member of his personal army, none of his Fema or HSA signed an oath of allegenc to the constitution. His birth certificate from Kenya was a fake, his birth certificate from Hawai is a fake. His tsars are all illegally appointed collective scumbags. America is under attack.by the muslim world. Please read US history on Thomas Jefferson’s personal solution to the Barberry pirates, & Ottoman empire of the Islamic State lunatics.
Jefferson invented the Marines to exterminate the Barberry pirates, Obama brings them to the USA unscreened as refugees. Jefferson’s solution worked. Obama’s is as usual half arsed. -
Francis Irvine says:
Nor will this comment, who owns this Soros
Arrest Obama and every member of his personal army, none of his Fema or HSA signed an oath of allegence to the constitution. His birth certificate from Kenya was a fake, his birth certificate from Hawai is a fake. His tsars are all illegally appointed collective scumbags. America is under attack.by the muslim world. Please read US history on Thomas Jefferson’s personal solution to the Barberry pirates, & Ottoman empire of the Islamic State lunatics.
Jefferson invented the Marines to exterminate the Barberry pirates, Obama brings them to the USA un=screened as refugees. Jefferson’s solution worked. Obama’s is as usual half arsed.
As usual this will not be printed, because I have already referred to Obama’s illegitimacy previously
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