Burns Chronicles No 1 – Introduction
Burns Chronicles No 1
Introduction
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
February 2, 2016
This is the first of a series of articles about the events surrounding the investiture of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge administration buildings by a group headed by Ammon Bundy, son of Cliven and Carol Bundy. The Bundys are well known for the events in Nevada that played out in April 2014. In that incident, the Bundys, along with hundreds of other patriotic Americans, went beyond “civil disobedience” and entered the realm of “civil defiance”, defying, with arms, the intrusion of the Bureau of Land Management into the long time operation of the cattle part of the Bundy ranch operation – denying rights that had existed for years and denying them their pursuit of the family business.
Though this writer only spent five days in Burns, he was able to meet many of the key players on the side of the patriots, some townspeople from Burns, and some of those who gathered, on one side or the other, to observe, or attempt to affect, the ongoing activities.
As the world knows, the events neared completion when the motorcade, on a peaceful mission to a community meeting in John Day, Grant County, Oregon, met the undue wrath of the federal government, and local and state law enforcement, resulting in the death of Robert “LaVoy” Finicum and the arrest on rather interesting charges of 11 participants of the activities at the refuge.
In an effort to be as factual as possible, many witnesses still have to be interviewed to ensure that what will be written is as factual as possible. Due to the rampant, and most often unsubstantiated, rumors in social media, those stories that will follow should finally put to rest many of those false claims.
Every effort will be made to corroborate the factual aspects of these stories, which will result in each story only “going to press” after exhaustive research and interviews have been completed.
Due to the nature of the interdependence of some activities, conjecture may be used to bridge gaps. This is deemed necessary as the government, at all levels, is notorious for misrepresentations, omissions, concealing evidence under the guise of “ongoing investigation”, or simply to cover their misdeeds. Absent available facts, though circumstantial evidence tends to support conclusions of that interdependence, such conjecture will be appropriately indicated.
If subsequent evidence becomes available, the original article will have an addendum, at the online site, rather than revision of the original story.
Alternative Media 
Sick..govment…and if they will do that to them …they will do it to u…3
[…] Hunt’s Articles: Burns Chronicles No. 1: Introduction Burns Chronicles No. 2: Ambush Burns Chronicles No. 3: Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) Burns […]
[…] The following is a mirroring of Gary Hunt’s series about the 2014 Bundy standoff in Nevada. Hyperlinks to the original articles will be provided at the beginning of each section. For the currently unfolding saga about the Bundys in Oregon, feel free to read the “Burns Chronicles.” […]
The State of Oregon, and the US Government, in a joint operation, shot my friend and colleague, LaVoy Finicum, in the back.
The Shawna Cox video, available on YouTube put together by the Oregonian, clearly shows rifle bullet holes coming into Finicum pickup, BEFORE he got out of the truck. It also shows him getting out of his pickup with his hands up as the side window is getting shot out right next to him.
Both the FBI assassination squad and the Oregon State Troopers shot him in the back.
Ryan Bundy, who was inside Finicum’s pickup still has a bullet lodged in his shoulder!
NO WONDER our Governments want gun control. And, fight Constitutional carry, like hell. It is a lot safer for the Bluecoats, and FEDcoats to “do their jobs”, like any good Nazi. And, “Stop the Virus (of the TENTH Amendment) from spreading into the next County.” – Governor Kate Brown
Are you going to surrender? Are you going to retreat?
https://youtu.be/3rZAvI1sQ8A
– Capt. Karl
Please seriously consider sharing all or most of what you have shared here as well as what you have not shared already. Once & if they order you to delete & turn over others can continue to share. Let our oppressive government try to order us all form sharing!!! Keep yourselve safe fellow patriot!!!
Nothing gets shared (published) until I have completed writing it an satisfied the the accuracy of it. All of that is readily available on my web pages. This goes all the way back to 1993.
As explained, the information I received is only to be excerpted from, as I have done. I will not provide that information to anyone, being consistent with my agreement when I received it.
The content that the government objects to is all contained in the Burns Chronicles, mostly in the informant articles.
Gary, thanks for writing the Burns Chronicles! I watched Pete Santilli live streams but your articles have given me more details!
Do you have a Twitter account?
No, I could write anything in 140 characters.
21 Comments
Do you think they probably knew which area was the blackout area for cell phone service on the route to the next county?
Also, everyone has said that Finnicum had left his guns at the refuge. I guess they were mistaken.
I would guess that there is just about no reception through most of the Forest.
I have heard many things. I don’t believe things from most sources, only those that I trust.
Lavoy’s guns were left at the refuge. Everyone there said so and several saw them. I would believe them before I would believe anything anyone else said. Plus it was very aparrent from the video that LaVoy was tazed and I believe he didn’t die right away. The video also shows the goons kicking him and shooting him again as he lay on the ground.
Everyone at the Refuge said he left all of his guns at the Refuge? I was at the Refuge, after the shooting, and one person said he thought they were left there. Others told me he almost always carried his 9mm in a shoulder holster. His 45 revolver was probably on the seat, between the seat and the console.
I was a photogramitrist in the Army. That is the study of aerial photographs. And, with that experience, I cannot support any of these fancy theories.However, I can rely on Shawna Cox, who just happened to be there. She saw none of what everybody else has managed to see.
So, its my story, and I am sticking to it.
I’ve been through there. Cellular comms are spotty to non-existing. And please, Gary, stop using ‘investiture’…
Webster;s 1828 Dictionary:
INVEST’ITURE, n. The action of giving possession, or livery of seizin.
The grant of land or a feud was perfected by the ceremony of corporal investiture, or open delivery of possession.
The Act of those working along with Ammon Bundy was t deliver possession of the lanf back to the Public (and away from the federal government).
And, please, Grandpa, don’t g into battle unarmed.
Gary,
To assist your endeavor, if you haven’t already listened to the lengthy and detailed interview of Victoria by both a radio show host and a lawyer conducted just yesterday, I suggest you do. There is alot of new information that comes to light.
The questiones directed to Victoria begin at 35:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrS5B1NtDm4
Select highlights were compiled into a single comment posted on a webforum. Each marked by time. Link below.
http://lunaticoutpost.com/thread-624325-post-11854966.html#pid11854966
[…] #2: Ambush […]
Quote: “Certainly, not what we should expect from our government.”
What fantasy world are YOU living in?
Based on Levoy’s Videos, he has been harassed by the “BLM Criminal Element” simply because he opposed the unconstitutional acts of our Federal Government and protested. He was absolutely not a terrorist.
There is no justification for the “Presumed FBI & State Police” murder of Levoy because he was peacefully protesting the unlawful taking of land, not destroying property.
The “Black Criminal Element” has rioted numerous times destroying property of others, stealing property and even shooting at police. Why were none of these people killed???
There should be a huge public outcry for this assassination, demand to know who fired the shots and bring them before a Grand Jury to decide their fate.
[…] on January 28, two days after the murder of LaVoy Finicum. Due to the arrests made during the Ambush, I no longer had access to people and information that were necessary to what I intended to write. […]
[…] of the events that led to the murder of LaVoy Finicum was presented in a previous article, “Ambush“. However, as a result of a press conference given in Bend, Oregon, on March 8, 2016, we […]
[…] Hunt’s Articles: Burns Chronicles No. 1: Introduction Burns Chronicles No. 2: Ambush Burns Chronicles No. 3: Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) Burns Chronicles No. 4: Stand Up; Stand Down […]
Don’t you find it odd that Robert Lavoy Finicum is in small type on the description of offenses, and the rest of them are listed in CAPITAL LETTERS????
No, I don’t. It is proof that the Criminal Complaint and the Arrest Warrants were prepared after they murdered LaVoy.
I thank them for that foolish mistake. They murdered a man of whom they had no apparent authority to arrest, in what they call a “felony arrest stop”.
[…] the absence of a warrant brings into question the justification of the stop, as explained in Ambush. However, Officer #4 appears to have been paying attention. When the following occurred […]
[…] the absence of a warrant brings into question the justification of the stop, as explained in Ambush. However, Officer #4 appears to have been paying attention. When the following occurred […]
[…] the absence of a warrant brings into question the justification of the stop, as explained in Ambush. However, Officer #4 appears to have been paying attention. When the following occurred […]
[…] though in both states, only the government has demonstrated a propensity for violence (See Burns Chronicles No 2 – Ambush and The Bundy Affair – #11 – “Violence Begets Non-Violence”). Perhaps it is […]
[…] his version of what happened that afternoon. Much of what he told me was contained in “Ambush“. […]
[…] provided his version of what happened that afternoon. Much of what he told me was contained in “Ambush“. […]
Burns Chronicles No 3 – Operation Mutual Defense (OMD)
Burns Chronicles No 3
Operation Mutual Defense (OMD)
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
February 6, 2016
An understanding of just what Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) is, as the MSM has often referred to OMD in their articles, but have failed to explain its nature, is now in order. It is best compared with the Committees of Correspondence, first established in the 1760s, to communicate between colonial communities, and to request assistance, when warranted. As the events began unfolding in Harney County, a few months before, the Advisory Board consisted of five members, with positions available for another two seats. The Advisory Board structure was intended to ensure that, unlike many patriot appearing organizations, the leadership is not vested in one person. Instead, a matter before the Board would be discussed, with various ideas, suggestions, concerns, and other considerations, and then the majority would determine the viability of a proposed operation.
Any proposal for a call to action was first reviewed and a “brief” prepared, based upon available information and contact with the individual(s) who were under consideration for a call to action to afford them protection of Life, Liberty, or Property, if threatened, unjustly, by a government agency.
If the Board determined that a situation warranted a call to action, then word would be sent to supporters/volunteers. There are no members of OMD, except the Advisory Board and a second tier of volunteers who assist in the various “functional disciplines“.
Operation Mutual Defense evolved from its predecessor, Operation Mutual Aid, which set out the initial call up for the Bundy Ranch Affair, back in April 2014. That evolution resulted in the structure of the Board, as described above.
If an action is initiated by the Advisory Board, a callout would be made via the Operation Mutual Defense webpage, the Operation Mutual Defense Facebookpage, and through the OMD Mail List where supporters/volunteers would receive notification of any call to, action, or other pertinent information regarding OMD activities.
Since there are no “members” of Operation Mutual Defense, there is no “command structure”, hence any participation is strictly voluntary. OMD is only the messenger, though the process described provides an understanding of the circumstances surrounding any event, and expectation as to what to expect when volunteers arrive, a point of contact, and an “Organizational Plan for Militia Response” that explains how command will be developed, sets up protocols for operations, and other information regarding details as to expected responsibilities of those participating.
Unlike any other organization, where an individual, or a small group, dictates control over participants, OMD provides a structure not unlike those used by Militia in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, a “shared command” (historically referred to as “Council of War”), assurance that bad decisions would be minimized, as all decisions are made by elected “officers”.
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Awesome get Washington working like this. Let the wise rise
Need to learn from this, so we need to get the info out to the other units what went right, or wrong.
[…] Hunt’s Articles: Burns Chronicles No. 1: Introduction Burns Chronicles No. 2: Ambush Burns Chronicles No. 3: Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) Burns Chronicles No. 4: Stand Up; Stand Down Burns Chronicles No. 5: The Burns Community Burns […]
[…] III. Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) [2/6/16] […]
[…] Burns Chronicles No 3 – Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) […]
[…] the surprise takeover of the refuge. Payne is an Army veteran from Montana who was a leader with Operation Mutual Defense (OMD), formerly known as Operation Mutual Aid (OMA) before that organization split into two. The […]
[…] the surprise takeover of the refuge. Payne is an Army veteran from Montana who was a leader withOperation Mutual Defense (OMD), formerly known as Operation Mutual Aid (OMA) before that organization split into two. The […]
[…] October 11, 2015, the initial Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) Advisory Board (AB) held their first meeting. Each meeting had an agenda and the AB members agreed […]
[…] October 11, 2015, the initial Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) Advisory Board (AB) held their first meeting. Each meeting had an agenda and the AB members agreed […]
[…] October 11, 2015, the initial Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) Advisory Board (AB) held their first meeting. Each meeting had an agenda and the AB members agreed […]
Burns Chronicles No 4 – Stand Up; StandDown
Burns Chronicles No 4
Stand Up; Stand Down
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
February 7, 2016
On the morning of January 26, 2016, I traveled to the Harney County Resource Center (HCRC), formerly known as the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, from Burns. I had arranged to get the necessary information for some articles I intended to write.
When lunchtime came, I went to the mess hall. The Sharp Family had just begun with one of their songs, and I saw Ammon Bundy sitting with others at a corner table. I walked up and asked if I could sit at that table, and Ammon, graciously said, “Yes, please sit down.”
I had spoken with Ammon a number of times, in the months prior, though we had never met. As I introduced myself, I realized that he had been looking forward to our meeting, as I had.
We discussed the stories I intended to write, and he was fully supportive of the story lines, especially the one that would be about the people of Burns and their reactions to certain events, both in and out of town.
Before I left, the Sharps began another song. I had heard audio tapes of their singing during the Bundy Affair, but they didn’t compare to the live performance I heard that day.
After lunch, I located Ryan Payne. We had spent over a week together in November finishing a PowerPoint Presentation for Committees of Safety (CoS). This presentation had been used to explain the concept of CoS to some of the residents of Harney County. They then formed their own Harney County Committee of Safety.
I gave Ryan an inscribed copy of a biography of Robert E. Lee, which now still sits where he placed it. I had also forgotten to bring long johns, and needed some bottoms. Ryan went to the storeroom and retrieved a pair, explaining that they were from the delivery made through III Percent Patriots, just a few weeks before.
Both Ammon and Ryan had expressed their interest in the upcoming meeting at John Day, Grant County, and another meeting with Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer. Little did we know, then, what was soon to come.
I returned to my room in Burns and began writing. About an hour later, I received a phone call that reported that there had been a shooting and that LaVoy Finicum and Ryan (later to learn it was Ryan Bundy, not Ryan Payne) had been shot. About 15 minutes later, after some confirmation of the shooting, I headed back down to the HCRC. Realizing that most of the leadership at the HCRC was traveling to Grant County, and recognizing that it was imperative that some additional forces might be necessary to retain the public lands open to the public, I picked up my role of Public Relations for OMD. We had previously discussed and approved a call out to bolster the efforts at the HCRC. We felt there was time to prepare a call out, but suddenly, that call out became imperative.
I contacted my team (not a part of OMD, rather some wonderful, unpaid, people that assist me in research, audio/video editing, and other mundane tasks) and began dictating a call out, as I drove the thirty-three miles to the HCRC. Though not properly proofread, it was prepared and the remaining requirement was to get affirmation from those at the HCRC — that they wanted their forces supplemented.
Upon my arrival, I found a number of team leaders and other higher-level members discussing the shooting, the determination to hold their ground, and a refusal to accept orders from outside. It seems that a lot of people calling the individuals tried to talk them into abandoning their mission. I asked if they wanted a call out, and to a man, they said, “Yes”. So, I instructed my team to spread that dictated call out around the Internet. It was sent out at 7:56 PM PST, January 26, 2016:
From Gary Hunt, Outpost of Freedom in Burns, Oregon.
Attention all Oathkeepers, Idaho Three Percenters, Pacific Patriots Network, especially Brandon Curtis, Joe Rice, Eric Parker, and Stewart Rhodes.
This is a call-out to the membership of Operational Mutual Defense (OMD) and friends.
You have an obligation to proceed to the Harney County Resource Center (the wildlife refuge), immediately, in order to protect the patriots still there. If you fail to arrive, you will demonstrate by your own actions that your previous statements to defend life, liberty, and property were false.
To members of Operation Mutual Defense, this is an emergency. The purpose of Operation Mutual Defense is to respond to overbearing actions by the federal government that has become threatening to life, liberty, or property. Lavoy Finicum has been murdered by the FBI, and Ryan Payne [Bundy] has been shot.
They were en route to a meeting where had been invited by the Grant County sheriff to address the citizens in Grant County, a peaceful mission.
The time for all good men to come to the aid of their country has come — to the Harvey County Resource Center, which is 30 miles south of Burns, Oregon.
Stand by your oath. God Bless America.
You will note that it was directed at certain organizations present in Burns since January 2, or earlier. Though we didn’t know what the government’s next step would be, time was of the essence. There were a number of members of those organizations just 30 miles away, and they were absolutely necessary if the HCRC was to be held. They were present in order to discourage a “Waco type” raid, according to all of their public statements.
In my haste to get to the HCRC, I had failed to take my computer. I had mail lists that went to upwards of 800 people, and getting the call out to them was imperative. The “hot spot” at the refuge was no longer active, but efforts were being made to get it reestablished, so I opted to return to Burns to get my computer. When I returned to HCRC, I learned that women and children, as well as many of the men, especially from those organizations, had left. However, there was hope that they would soon be replaced by some of those who had been staying in town.
I had stopped at the bridge on Sodhouse Lane (the road to the HCRC) where a front-end loader had been placed on the bridge to prohibit traffic. Jason Patrick was there, as was a wonderful “young” lady named Barbara Berg. I found that the hotspot had not been restored, so I decided to wait in the press area (west of the bridge) and assist Jason in coordinating interviews with the various press. This task ended up going until about 7:45 the morning of the 27th.
Shortly before, a press crew had come in and said that a roadblock had been set up on SR 205, the direct route to Burns and the last of the available roads out from the area. They had been told that once you go out, you could not return.
At about 7:45, a lady from ABC called the press together and explained that she had received a call from the FBI. They had told her that there were “armed forces” on each side of us, and that the FBI could not provide for anyone’s safety, unless they left the area.
About that time, a friend called and said that she had been told that I would be assassinated when I left. I knew that the government did not like my writing, but I shrugged off the warning. However, that message remained in my mind and created a bit of apprehension.
I had intended to go to the Narrows (restaurant, store, and campground) about six miles west and cover what I could from there. Instead, I decided that I might be better off returning to Burns, though I was still a bit anxious about the message. I determined to place discretion ahead of valor, and return to Burns.
I asked one of the press members who I had spoken with, before, if I could leave with him so that there was someone present if the rumor were true. He said that he could not ethically do so, but informed me that he would be leaving shortly.
Most of the press proceeded to the Narrows, where he and I also went. When he was ready to leave, I pulled out behind him. At the stop sign, he remained conspicuously longer than necessary, so I pulled around him as he nodded at me.
As I approached the checkpoint, I saw that the woman in front of me had gotten out of her car, held up her hands, and walked toward the motioning agent. I was behind her about 50 feet, where the first stop was implemented. I removed my bulky jacket, not wanting to appear to have any place in which to hide weapons.
Finally, her car was driven forward by an agent, and I was motioned to the next stop. I arrived with head and hands out the window, except to the extent that I had to steer the truck. I then exited, walked across the road, then forward, hands raised, to the awaiting agent. I was patted down, asked my name, did I have weapons, and showed identification. He asked if I was press, I told him yes, he asked for my press credentials, I told him they were on the dashboard of my truck. Another agent verified that they were there.
Then, on to what was referred to as “Clearance #1”, where I was again questioned. By then, I was shivering; perhaps both from cold and apprehension, and the agent asked if I wanted a coat out of the truck. I affirmed, and as the agent drove my truck by, I was able to retrieve both coat and hat.
My truck, again, left me, and I was escorted up to “Clearance #2”, where I stood and talked with the agent. He was from the mid-west, and I asked him where he was staying. He said he had just arrived and immediately went on duty.
Finally, he received a report that I had passed clearance at #2, and I was allowed to go to my truck and drive up to “Clearance #3”.
At #3, I found that the agent was from “up north”, and had not stayed in Burns. So, it appears that they were deployed from their home bases directly to duty. This would explain why there were so few battle dressed agents staying in Burns or at the airport.
While waiting for my final clearance, the reporter behind me was passed through, drove around me and up the road. About 600 feet up, he stopped, and both he and his partner got out and took pictures, showing that I was still alive at Clearance #3, and the last of the checkpoints.
However, his passing me was a cause for apprehension. This was heightened when the next vehicle behind him was cleared and drove by me. I had been at #3 for almost twenty minutes, when I was finally cleared when he repeated what had been transmitted through his radio, “White hat is cleared”, and allowed to continue on toward Burns. A total of fifty minutes, filled with rising anxiety, and finally relief.
I had agreed to an interview with a reporter, in exchange for lunch, but first, I had to attend a press conference at eleven o’clock. After the press conference, we did the interview, and I returned to my room and a mountain of phone calls. After returning the calls, I was finally able to, after 34 hours, lie down and get some sleep.
When I awoke, I found that nobody had shown up at the HCRC to bolster the force, and even worse, that more had left. Concerned that many might be driving toward Burns, and not sure how long the few remaining there (down from the 8 or 9 that had been there at last report), I realized that circumstances, as they were, could not be improved by additional people arriving, with no place to report to, and the final door being shut. That 12-hour window when people could easily enter the area was closed. So a stand down was in order. I sent out the following at 9:21 PM PST January 27, 2016.
From Gary Hunt, Outpost of Freedom
In Burns, Oregon
Based on existing circumstance, support is too late, and would be dangerous, or at least result in your arrest if you attempted to get into the Refuge.
As I left the Refuge, this morning, troops were still arriving, according to those I talked with were arriving from various points as far east as Iowa, and further north. They appeared to have been staged at their home bases until they deployed directly to their field assignments. My estimate of perimeter troop strength would be 200-300, and one of these that I spoke with explained that he was “external perimeter”; they had even developed a protective perimeter concept, so that there were two lines that had to be overcome to gain entry.
At this point any effort to provide support for those inside by joining them would serve no useful purpose, and would be a fool’s errand.
OMD is currently working with others to establish a foundation upon which to build, so that the work begun in freeing public lands can be completed.
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We Need Veterans calling out Veterans who are supporting this Vile Current Ruling Classes of EVIL occupation of USA citizens resources and their rights to benefit from these resources and be the Industry that Processes these resources as well as Anyone that supports this current ruling classes efforts to divide Citizens away from their Constitutional rights , rights to be a self supportive society is a disgrace to the USA !!!!!!!
WHY we must ask is the reason for all this Dividing of Citizens away from their rights to be a self supplied society ??? We have seen this over the last 30 years with Trade POLICY after trade Policy , REGULATION after Regulation all that has ONLY DIVIDED THE CITIZENS AWAY FROM THEIR RIGHTS TO BE A SELF SUPPLYING SOCIETY , WHY WHY WHY ????? WHERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL Leave the Blood Money being Paid by this EVIL WRATH of Sadistic Thuggery , so that these who are Commanding such Wrath against the Citizens of the USA dividing them from their rights to be self supportive , WHO and How many will walk away leaving these vile creatures helpless on their Mission of SKULDUGGERY ??????????????????????????????
Whow. Americans contemplating waring with ANTI CHRIST Americans. Calling for a civil war. What a tragedy. What I see is the government being weopens ready. Having unlimited cobra and apache helicopters 5 on sight. And opposition with no matching fire power. A receipt for a slaughter aka Waco x3000. JESUS how we need you and the angels now.
[…] #4: Stand Up, Stand Down […]
[…] evening before, I had written a call out (explained in Stand Up; Stand Down). In that call out, I had recognized the necessity of an immediate response, and that response […]
[…] Introduction Burns Chronicles No. 2: Ambush Burns Chronicles No. 3: Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) Burns Chronicles No. 4: Stand Up; Stand Down Burns Chronicles No. 5: The Burns Community Burns Chronicles No. 6: Is There a Peaceful Solution? […]
[…] his field reporting on January 26th, Gary Hunt met with Ryan Payne in Harney County, Oregon, and described the […]
[…] estimate of when people outside could have known what had happened came out to 10:00 PM. Heck, I knew by 7:00 PM, and as I recall, it was one of my team members that had called me (in Burns) from another state to […]
Burns Chronicles No 5 – The Burns Community
Burns Chronicles No 5
The Burns Community
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
February 8, 2016
I arrived in Burns, Oregon on Sunday evening, January 24. After checking into the Silver Spur Motel, I drove down to the Refuge. At the gate (a truck blocking the roadway into the building complex), I was questioned. I mentioned both Ryan Payne and Ammon Bundy, as they both knew that I was coming up to write some articles about subjects peripheral to the story that was currently hitting the news, social media, and anywhere a listener or reader could be found. Unlike Waco, where fax networking was the patriots’ media, this modern age has made information access a whole new world. I was more interested in the back stories than what was readily available.
After a few radio calls, I was escorted down to the Admin building, then directed to MOB (Militia Operational Base), where I found Ryan. I was welcomed, warmly, and assured that access would be less difficult, in the future. It was mid-evening, so I returned to Burns and got a good night’s sleep.
I had picked up an ATT phone on the way up, but was unable to “initiate” it, so the next morning, having learned that only Verizon service is available at the newly named Harney County Resource Center (HCRC), I went to the local Verizon store and purchased a phone and a month’s worth of unlimited calls.
While waiting for nearly an hour to get my phone, another man that was waiting for service went outside to have a cigarette. I joined him and asked if I could interview him regarding what was happening in Burns. He agreed, so I got my recording out of the truck, and began my first, and only recorded, interview. His name is Chuck, and he had lived in and around Burns for over forty years. He drives a truck for a living.
When asked what he thought about what was going on down at the Refuge, he said, “I think those guys are on the right track.”
What about what is going on here in Burns? “I stopped at the airport yesterday and got treated like I was flying the ISIS flag, when I drove up there.”
Same thing when I went to the Courthouse. All I wanted to do was talk to a state cop. I had a horse missing. I had guys pointing guns at me; FBI agents pointing guns at me. I said, ‘Guys, I’m not packing’. They wouldn’t back off. You probably won’t print this, but they are a bunch of assholes. They need to back off from treating us locals like we’re gonna shoot them… I don’t want to be treated like an outlaw just because I live in this town.”
I asked him about the influx of Oregon State Police and the Sheriff’s deputies from other counties. He said, “They need to go home. I don’t want to be paying these federal agents and all these extra County Sheriffs and all of the State Police, when those guys out there are on the right track. All they need to do is go out and talk to them. We just don’t need them.”
I asked him if he believed that the federal government ever gave in, once they had made up their mind. He answered, “I don’t think so. If the jerk-off in the White House would just release the Hammonds, like he has done with all of the drug dealers and all the other federal prisoners — just sign a pardon. All they did is light a fire to protect their ranch. Just sign a pardon and let them go. This would all settle down.”
What about the aspect that those at the Refuge want the land to go back to the people? “I think that is where it ought to be. Not only in the Refuge, but in the Forest Service, and the BLM. I go out here and try to ride my 4-wheeler, I can’t. Cause every time I jump my 4-wheeler out of the back… Here’s the BLM cop telling me he’s gonna write me a ticket; because I’m going to ride me 4-wheeler on public land.”
You’ve seen the signs that say, ‘Enjoy Your Public Lands’, haven’t you? “No, no, not in this county. I’ve seen them. They’re bullshit. You wanna camp, you have to camp in one of their campgrounds that you gotta pay them to camp in. Then, they come and harass you. You can’t go to the woods anymore, cause they burned all the timber off, so now they got it all blocked off so they can do their experiments, or whatever the hell they are doing up there.”
Did they burn some timberland here, in Harney County? “Oh, hell yea. They let the first get away, and then they come in and build backfires twenty miles away from the fire that was going. And, the two fires never, ever, got together. Thousands of acres have been destroyed by the Forest Service. One time, they brought in firefighters out of Georgia and they went out and built backfires along the roads, twenty miles from the original fire. They didn’t even fight the fire. And, they burned all of the timber off. I think they burned the timber off because they don’t want any logging. It’s not job security for these loggers to go out and log it. If they log it, we don’t have wild fires. We used to log this country and keep that timber thinned out and moved back, and the brush was kept down. Them loggers would replant, but they never clear cut. They go out and selective cut after the Forest Service marked the trees they wanted out. And, they would go out and they would cut them, drag ’em out, knock the brush down. We didn’t have fires. Now, we don’t have loggers, but we got fires everywhere; All the time.”
He continued, “There was a big fire out here towards John Day. It burned all of that country off, cause it hadn’t been burned in fifty years. The Forest Service just won’t sell the timber. If they won’t sell the timber, the loggers can’t have it. What’s the Forest Service got to do with selling timber? They don’t own those trees. It belongs to us. They won’t sell the timber. The timber revenue used to pay for our schools. There is no timber sold, anymore. There ain’t no logging goes on here. The mill is shut down, it’s gone.”
What do you know about ranching and cattle?
“I know a little bit about it. Most of the ranchers around here, they deal with them, because they have to.
I’ve lived here my whole life. I like to take my 4-wheeler out and ride. And, I can’t, anymore. That’s what’s got me siding with the guys at the Refuge. The Forest Service and the BLM are the gardeners that we hired to take care of our garden. They are not the law enforcement, they don’t own it. And, they need to quit telling me what to do on our property. They should just go out there and tend to our trees, go out there and tend to our water holes, make sure that grass is growing, and shut the hell up.
“It’s really not just my 4-wheeler, it’s that they think they own it. Many years ago, the first Forest Service cop I saw, she was in the county parade. She’s riding a horse and all Ramboed up; guns, tazers, all the Rambo BS, and she’s setting on a horse, and I asked her, what the hell does the Forest Service have that’s worth shooting somebody over. And, she says, ‘Well, I have to protect myself.’ So, I said, ‘Well, if you weren’t an asshole when you walked up to someone in the woods, you wouldn’t need protection. You wouldn’t need a gun to protect yourself. If you walked up to someone who was cutting a tree down, to burn in their house, and you weren’t a jerk about it, you wouldn’t need protection, you wouldn’t need a gun.
“It’s like these jerks up here. You know, treating me like I’m an outlaw walking up to the Courthouse. That’s my Courthouse up there. I paid for that Courthouse and the Sheriff’s Office. I can’t even go to the Sheriff’s Office. Can’t get anywheres close to it. I pay that guy’s wages. I pay for his building, I pay for his heat, we pay for all of that. But, we can’t go up there, because that idiot FBI agent has got it all surrounded. They challenge me with automatic weapons. They’ve got it surrounded up there. You can go to the Courthouse, but you got to get through FBI agents to get into the Courthouse. The Sheriff’s Office is right behind it, but you can’t go to the Sheriff’s Office. That’s my Sheriff, and I had a horse out. I went to the Sheriff’s Office to see if see if I could just get somebody on patrol to just watch out for it. State cops, and the Sheriff’s deputies. I wanted to talk with the State Police, but I had to have the cop come outside of the barricades to talk to me because I couldn’t go inside of the barricades to talk to him. A cop that I’m paying for. It’s horseshit, it is all horseshit!”
What about Judge Grasty? “He needs to be in the Sheriff’s jail. I don’t know him all that well. I know who he is.”
I did interview others, though more informally. At restaurants, standing in line at the Safeway, and a couple of them just stopping someone on the street.
The interview with Chuck is consistent with most of what I heard. There were some common aspects, as everybody I interviewed had no problem with what was happening 30 miles away, whether they agreed with what they were doing, or not. Thirty miles distance had no effect on the Burns community, except a little additional business, such as more outsiders in the motel and at the local diners.
Their concerns, apprehension, and “fear”, as expressed by Sheriff Ward, had nothing to do with those at the Refuge. There was concern over the FBI and multitude of Sheriff’s deputies from other counties coming into their community, setting up barricades, and otherwise the presence of so many law enforcement people in town. However, the greater concern seemed to be the number of people walking around their otherwise peaceful community, armed. These would be those who professed to keep things peaceful, and avoid another “Waco” at the Refuge, while arrogantly walking the streets, almost like the gunfighters of the past, though holstering automatic pistols instead of Six-guns.
Though both sides blamed the peaceful occupants of the Refuge, they chose to impose upon the community rather than direct their efforts at what they claimed to be the problem, or those to be protected.
When I asked if they had been to the Refuge, most answered that they already had, or that they intended to go down and meet the people that were standing up for their rights.
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When I read this I think there is a misrepresentation and certainly a shortsighted view of what the people expressed as you reported…
“However, the greater concern seemed to be the number of people walking around their otherwise peaceful community, armed. These would be those who professed to keep things peaceful, and avoid another “Waco” at the Refuge, while arrogantly walking the streets, almost like the gunfighters of the past, though holstering automatic pistols instead of Six-guns.”
I am more of the mind that those from other areas (not police or Feds) who were there armed did indeed help keep the situation from becoming another Waco or Ruby Ridge. If the ‘law enforcement’ had been the only ones, in all their numbers, who were carrying the arms, it could have been very easily turned into another Waco. I have little doubt that the presence of armed citizens gave the ones in charge a chance to think twice about initiating any killing at the refuge or in town, what happened out on the highway with LaVoy.
Perhaps the townsfolk didn’t realize that at the time but I’m sure after the FBI/SP murdered LaVoy in an isolated area, that if given the chance, they could have very easily done the same at the refuge and elsewhere!! They already had that mindset! The citizens did indeed insured that things remained as peaceable as possible!!
I doubt that those in town had anything, at all, to do with there not being another “Waco”. The government could not afford another Waco, as that is one of the greatest blemishes on their otherwise flawed image.
Didn’t stop them from murdering Brother Finicum in an isolated area though.
That’s another blemish on their record.
That will be the subject of another article, as they did try to assassinate Koresh at Waco.
[…] Today, however, they are comprised of people who want to take charge; they want to control the situation; they may even want to help save the lives of Active Patriots by convincing them to submit to arrest. And, they will tell others that they were simply trying to avoid any bloodshed — even after blood had been shed. Let’s refer to them as false patriots. (See The Burns Community) […]
[…] Burns Chronicles No. 3: Operation Mutual Defense (OMD) Burns Chronicles No. 4: Stand Up; Stand Down Burns Chronicles No. 5: The Burns Community Burns Chronicles No. 6: Is There a Peaceful Solution? Burns Chronicles No. 7: What is Brandon […]
[…] Today, however, they are comprised of people who want to take charge; they want to control the situation; they may even want to help save the lives of Active Patriots by convincing them to submit to arrest. And, they will tell others that they were simply trying to avoid any bloodshed — even after blood had been shed. Let’s refer to them as false patriots. (See The Burns Community) […]
SUPPORT
For nearly 24 years, I have never asked for monetary support.
I find that there may be expenses in the upcoming battle for FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
To be prepared, I must now ask that those who support that cause, and can easily afford to support it, to do so by offering that assistance, now.
Option 2 : $10.00 USD – monthly
Option 3 : $15.00 USD – monthly
Option 4 : $20.00 USD – monthly
Burns Chronicles No 6
Is There a Peaceful Solution?
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
February 09, 2016
I have heard professed patriots, such as Melvin Lee (especially, beginning at the 19:27 mark), on behalf of Pacific Patriot Network (PPN), claiming that what was accomplished by Ammon Bundy and others was wrong, that there is a peaceful way to achieve what they were trying to achieve. When what Ammon did is compared with our own history, they argue that there was no Constitution then, but there is one now, and we must abide by it.
So, let’s set the record straight by starting with the Constitution. There was an English Constitution, however, it was a compilation of acts and court decisions, beginning with the Magna Carta, and insuring the “Rights of Englishmen”. It was the Crown’s refusal to recognize the rights of the colonists, as they were enjoyed in England that led to the Revolution.
Our Constitution is written in a single document, with amendments in addition to the original. However, the Supreme Court will not pass on the constitutionality of a matter before it “unless absolutely necessary to a decision of the case”. In other words, only as a last resort. This was explained to the country in a 1936 Supreme Court decision, Ashwander v. T.V.A.
Lee also claims that there is a peaceful solution, suggesting demonstrating, petitioning politicians, etc. Well, those are fine words; however, they are nothing more than words. But, I don’t want you to take my word for it. I think that the best source would be a person, Representative Greg Walden, who had firsthand knowledge of the abuse by the administrative agencies, even though an act of the Congress was passed to set some rigid rules against such abuse. If our lawmakers pass a law and the agencies ignore, or circumvent, the law, perhaps you can explain to me just how a peaceful resolution can be achieved. Listen to the entirety of his Speech on the Floor of the House of Representatives (Published January 8, 2016 – 24 minutes).
So, what can we do to change things, peacefully? To get government back to being the servant rather than the master? I have read the OathKeepers postwhere they are trying to get Ammon and his people to leave. They suggest that a “lateral move” to another, friendly, county, would solve the problem. Well, it surely would have gotten them off the Refuge. And, we heard both the Sheriff and the FBI constantly touting that they were seeking a “peaceful resolution”, but, then, we have the aerial footage showing just how that turned out for LaVoy Finicum, Ryan Bundy, and the others who are currently facing 6 years of “peaceful” solitude.
Surely, had Ammon done so, they would have gone directly into the hands of the feds, or ended up being murdered, as happened to LaVoy Finicum on the 26th. So, words, whether from the feds, law enforcement, or professed patriots, mean nothing. Only actions speak loud enough to generate the attention, and the support of other freedom loving Americans. Consider, too, that we have passed the point of even thinking that words, unless backed up by the threat of defensive force, are worth any more than the words of those who are destroying our country, and those who seem to, under the guise of “patriotism”, support those deceptive words.
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Hear! Hear! Gary
Melvin Lee appears to be a reformist, that is, an advocate for working inside of the system in order to change in it from within. I say that because he mentioned that the government police are okay (despite being unconstitutional) and that the government courts are not corrupt, so he just doesn’t like the BLM as an administrative agency; he implied that American patriots should use the police and the courts to stop the BLM.
I don’t know what country he’s living in, but last time I checked, America is a police state, especially when you look at civil asset forfeiture as well as how “nuisance abatement” is being used by the government to run homesteaders off their own land. I ask anyone, how many people have been kept out of prison by the use of jury nullification versus those who have been convicted of committing “victimless crimes”? How many lawsuits have been successful in curbing the growth of government power? When was the last time running for public office or electoral voting shrank the raw exercise of political power?
Mr. Lee may want to beg those who falsely imagine themselves to be our rulers for his freedom, but as for me, I want to live without rulers.
“Surely, had Ammon done so, they would have gone directly into the hands of the feds, or ended up being murdered, as happened to LaVoy Finicum on the 26th.” – Baloney.
I am not going to relay strategies for exfiltration on your blog, but I assure your that Ammon and LaVoy would have been in good hands with experienced operators that would not have drove a tight convoy up a lonesome road without forward observers and serious recon.
I agree with the much of the remainder of your article, but remember we need people like LaVoy alive a lot more than we need martyrs. Putting hundreds of patriots on an X against FedGov is a fools game. We must be smart. We must be professional. We need to realize that FedGov propaganda is their strength. Unwinding that propaganda at every opportunity is our mission. We also need to remember that the vast majority of FedGov personnel DO NOT want to kill patriots. FedGov has a VERY limited supply of operators willing to kill patriots. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Some excellent ideas here:
https://readfomag.com/2016/02/fo-podcast-episode-034-liberty-thought-leader-round-table/
Sheriff Ward had offered to escort them, safely, to the county line. So, what would have happened if he had?
The government created an air of complacency. That led to the attitude that they could act freely. Then the elaborate trap was sprung, and LaVoy was killed.
Perhaps radio communications would have helped, but they were not a military mission, and they hose to act like free Americans, rather than with fear.
Everybody has a solution, though thy keep it close to their chest. However, that battle is not over. We hold the ground. What do you suppose should be done, now?
There is always an “X” during war. Those that fear the “X” tend toward keyboards. Those who hold the ground have snipers looking down from the ridge, but they stand their ground.
I hold that my article is accurate, as the show of force by the feds was extreme. When someone decided to flee to the Sheriff, believing, as he should, that the feds have no jurisdiction and seeking the protection of Sheriff Palmer, faced a roadblock that was set up to create a kill zone, not for those who had never threatened anyone.
They stood up, and are critiqued by those who did not. Four now hold the ground, while others fled even after saying that they would stay.
I consider the associations and influence of those that fled. And, there will be more brought to light about the influence of those who assume command, from a distance.
I did not take issue with the majority of your article. Actually, just the one statement. As for the “X” during war concept, this is as untenable today as it was for George Washington during the revolution. All battles between the British and the colonies were lost by Washington until he realized that he did not have a force suitable for placement on the “X”. Today is no different. After the assault on Trenton (which Washington ran as an insurgent attack vice a let’s all stand on the “X” moment) the Colonial Army learned how to win. They learned that standing on the “X” against a vastly superior army was a fools game. The new “hit and run” strategy caused the enemy forces to spread across a large geographic area and expend massive resources to defend their supply lines. This approach weakened the enemy to a point where they could ultimately be defeated. To be successful, today’s patriots must not listen to those that insist on repeating mistakes from the past.
In order to lay claim that “we hold the ground” you must be able to control at least one way into an out of the ground your claiming. The alternative is that you are surrounded. In the current situation the “we” control zip. There is exactly a 0% probability that the cordon erected by the FBI can be broken to do anything for the remaining personnel at the refuge. They should have all left when the vastly more experienced leadership from the PPN told them it was time to go.
True, during Washington’s time, the tactics didn’t support ground held, as the armies, for the most part, were quite substantial.
Lets jump to WWI, WWII, and Vietnam, where, often, a position was held and relief sent, saving the day.
Thinking out of the box (especially the sandbox) is important. And, what is anticipated, if all comes together, is a substantially larger force on our side than on theirs, reclaiming and maintaining a supply corridor to the HCRC, and holding the ground. Anticipating that this would create a dilemma, forcing the government to negotiate, not necessarily on their terms, resulting in what can be turned into a victory.
[…] a previous article, “Is There a Peaceful Solution?“, I included a link to a video. Based upon a number of comments, it appears that many decided […]
[…] Six […]
[…] (OMD) Burns Chronicles No. 4: Stand Up; Stand Down Burns Chronicles No. 5: The Burns Community Burns Chronicles No. 6: Is There a Peaceful Solution? Burns Chronicles No. 7: What is Brandon Curtiss? Burns Chronicles No. 8: Active Patriots v. Passive […]
Burns Chronicles No 7 – What is Brandon Curtiss?
Burns Chronicles No 7
What is Brandon Curtiss?
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
February 15, 2016
I received a phone call from Ryan Payne, shortly after the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was entered by nine people, and restored to ‘open to the public’. Ryan indicated that there was a need for others to come join them, as they were concerned for the safety of such a small crew.
Now, many will question why they might be concerned for their safety, however, we need only consider the last few weeks to understand, as many patriots do, that the federal government tends to solve problems with bloodshed, unless all parties come out with their hands up, and submit to arrest whether there is a real crime, or not.
With the understanding that those who might enter the Refuge, since renamed Harney County Resource Center (HCRC), might find that the government would want to arrest them, it was felt by the Operation Mutual Defense Advisory Board (OMD-AB) that a caveat regarding that possibility be included in a call out.
Upon being advised, through other sources, that Brandon Curtiss, Idaho III%, had secured a 40-acre parcel for visitors to camp on, this seemed to be the solution to an alternate location for those who might otherwise not show up because of the caveat.
However, one of those inside of the HCRC expressed his concern that Brandon (“Brandon” will be used as a collective name for Idaho III% and Pacific Patriot Network (PPN), and the individual, as appropriate to the context), had stated that he was there, along with his following, to assure that there would not be another Waco, and suggested that “he would probably drop his gun and run, should things change for the worse”. It was with this in mind that I sought to contact Brandon, on behalf of OMD, and managed to do so through Pete Santilli, on January 10.
When I told Pete that I was trying to reach Brandon, he said, “just a minute”, and he handed his phone to Brandon. Brandon was cordial in the first part of the discussion, though he was rather assertive. “Any militia that come to Burns are under my command”, he said. That sounded like a sort of militia martial law, and Brandon, with 8 or 9 years of law enforcement experience, but no military experience, has taken command. But, then, I knew this was the “prime directive” when I called for Brandon. He also claimed to have secured forty acres for camping purpose, directly across from the Refuge, though I found out later that it was directly across from the Narrows, about six miles from the Refuge. Perhaps he “secured” it, or perhaps it was a fantasy, as he did not even know where it was.
I had been directed by the OMD-AB to ascertain whether, if Brandon decided to order everyone to go home, would he release those who came under the OMD banner? For him to understand what this question was being posed, seeking a solution, I prefaced it with the “drop guns” concern.
Can I say that I was surprised when he “dropped the phone and ran”? Well, I wasn’t as surprised as I might have been, since the first few minutes on the phone, I was mostly listening, while Brandon appeared to want to both ask and answer his question as well as the reason for my call.
Pete, endeavoring to get patriots to work together, reestablished communications by having Brandon call me. This time, however, it sounded as if we were on speakerphone, and additional parties were present, including Eric Parker and Brooke Agresta.
I tried to explain that I am old school, and when you seek a solution, you must understand the problem. I don’t believe that they ever fully digested that thought, as they spent quite a few minutes berating me, telling me what I said, which is not what I said, since I didn’t have the opportunity, and finally concluded with Brooke telling me that she would destroy me in the patriot community if I didn’t do something (I don’t recall what) in the next three minutes, as she spoke for the next two minutes and then hung the phone up.
Well, that discussion didn’t go to well, so I had to find an alternative for those who didn’t want to risk the possible consequences of staying inside of the HCRC. That, however, would have to be put off to another day.
That was my first ‘introduction’ to Brandon Curtiss, though his name had come up earlier. In a report given by Ryan Payne to an OMD-AB special meeting, November 19, nearly two months before the above incident, Ryan Payne explained some circumstances surrounding the meetings held with both the Hammonds and Sheriff Ward. The report, though second hand, bears out what subsequent events tend to substantiate. The pertinent part of the report can be heard in this 12: 30 – clip, Ryan Payne speaking.
The foundation for subsequent activities by PPN, Idaho III%, and to some degree, OathKeepers, is clearly established.
My next dealing with Brandon Curtiss occurred on January 28, two days after the murder of LaVoy Finicum. Due to the arrests made during the Ambush, I no longer had access to people and information that were necessary to what I intended to write. Though my room was booked for another night, I had decided to return home where I am accustomed to writing. So, I began loading my truck for the return journey.
The evening before, I had written a call out (explained in Stand Up; Stand Down). In that call out, I had recognized the necessity of an immediate response, and that response would have to come from the Harney County area, to be effective. What it said in part, was:
“Attention all Oathkeepers, Idaho Three Percenters, Pacific Patriots Network, especially Brandon Curtiss, Joe Rice, Eric Parker, and Stewart Rhodes.
. . .
You have an obligation to proceed to the Harney County Resource Center (the wildlife refuge), immediately, in order to protect the patriots still there. If you fail to arrive, you will demonstrate by your own actions that your previous statements to defend life, liberty, and property were false.
As I was carrying some things to the truck, a man walked up to me. I recognized him as Curtiss, and I noticed that there were 4 other men with him, all in their twenties or thirties, and 3 of them quite husky. Brandon introduced himself, and as is my habit, I extended my hand. He replied that he would not shake my hand and then accused me of calling him a coward. Now, the circumstances didn’t warrant, in most cases, my attention to exact words, however, my reply was something along the lines that I did not call him a coward, only his action, or lack thereof, would make that determination.
One of the, let me call them, “goons”, was taking video with his phone, so there exists a record of these dealings. So, if I am in error, let them come forward with the entire video.
As I continued to go to the room and return to the truck to load it, Eric Parker challenged me, as well. They tried to block my passage, and I had to walk around them. At one point, I was putting things in the back seat (4-door) and when I turned around, Curtiss had blocked as much of the area between the door and bed of the truck as he could block. There is no doubt that he wanted me to “push” my way through, and then claim that I had assaulted him. However, I turned sideways and managed to slide out and go about my business.
During the course of my coming and going from the room, I called the manager and asked him to call the cops; that I was being threatened and harassed. It might seem ironic to some that I ended up calling the cops on someone who spent 8 or 9 years as a cop, but why not give him a taste of his own medicine?
While the harassment continued, and threats were being made, I heard a voice from behind me saying, “Leave him alone!” One of the beefier goons went up and faced this rather short, wiry guy. When I glanced back over that way, a few seconds later, the goon had decided not to take on the little guy.
The manager walked by and told me that he had finally gotten through to the police. Just a minute or so later, Brandon offered me his hand. I told him that he had his chance, and chose not to take it. At about the same time, the little guy said, quite loudly, “Don’t do it”, meaning don’t shake his hand. I was really beginning to like this guy.
When I had the truck nearly loaded, I went over to see who this supporter was. I asked him if I knew him. He simply replied, “Wolf”. He explained that he was a friend of KC Massey, and it struck me that I had interviewed him when I did the story of the shooting by the BPS agent. I couldn’t recall, at that time what his real name was, and now that I do, I think I’ll just leave it at “Wolf”.
He told me that he had been asked to go to Burns to protect me, though he refused to say who gave him those instructions. So, that will remain a mystery to both the reader, and me but it was nice to know that someone, besides my family, was concerned for my safety.
While still talking with Wolf, the police finally arrived. I explained what had occurred to the officer. In the meantime, another patriot that I had met the night before had been watching from the second floor balcony, and he came down and joined us. Both he and Wolf confirmed what I told the cop.
Meanwhile, other cops were interrogating Brandon and the goons, so that head cop, the one that I had spoken to, went over to put the pieces together. Soon, he returned and said, “Everything has been taken care of. You have nothing to worry about. If there is a problem, call us and we well be here, right away.” I thanked him and wished him a good day.
Meanwhile, the second floor patriot was joined by his girlfriend. I offered to take all to breakfast, but Wolf decided it would be his treat. We went to a local truck stop and had a great breakfast, and a wonderful conversation between real patriots.
Interestingly, my dealings with Brandon Curtiss were not over. On February 4, just after 11:00 AM, I received a Facebook PM from him. It started out, “All bullshit aside with our differences, I am not planning on storming any barricades. That would be insane. This is getting spun up and out of control.”
This led to a rather extended PM exchange, and a phone call (identified in the PM), that led to what I thought would be a resolution of our differences and beginning to work together. It had to do with a conversation that I had earlier with someone who contacted me as he was traveling to Oregon.
The post in question, which will also appear in the PMs, states that PPN “will march through the barricades and through the FBI.” This information was passed on as unconfirmed, but would be necessary for the person to get to the Narrows and be prepared to bring those who were not affiliated with PPN to join them, if it were true.
My team continued to track the source of that information in an effort to confirm, or deny, the “information”. It had become quite apparent that many absurd stories had been circulating, by that time.
At 11:03 AM, February 4, I get a Facebook PM from Brandon Curtiss.
At 11:27 AM, begins the explanation as to what had occurred, and what the OMD position was in the matter. To aid the four inside (Fry, 2 Andersons & Banta), we wanted to see if we could get them some relief so that we could be sure of “holding the fort” long enough to put out a general call, hoping for many more to come to Burns to assist in keeping the public lands open to the public.
At 11:32, I suggest that we begin working together. Brandon agreed. Then, I indicate what the OMD position is, that we need the relief to get in to the Refuge.
At about 12:30 Brandon wanted to go telephonic. Not yet being sure that I could rely on what he said, based upon the previous experience, I recorded the call. A timeline to key parts of the conversation follows:
0:24 – 4:00: Explanation of how we can hold the ground. Brandon builds obstacle to discourage any real action. Then, he explains that he got a call from Oregon State Police (OSP) — based upon what he had sent me (in PM at 11:18 AM). So, I have to wonder why they called him. They didn’t call me, though I appear to be an instigator. Does Brandon have some special relationship with the OSP? Did they call him to get him to thwart any action that might provide relief to those inside?
5:06 – 7:50: He suggests that this would be a “point of no return”. Darn, someday, if we want constitutional government restored, there will be a “point of no return”. He thinks that we would need a thousand “well trained patriots”. To form the battle line that has been suggested would only require discipline. If we cannot get our country back without “well trained patriots”, then we just might as well put our hands behind our backs and back up to the nearest FBI agent. That is nothing more than an obstacle, really, an obstruction — which has little merit. When you have to fight, you fight with what you have. Patriots have been training for many years. Do we train into oblivion? However, I continued to discuss a tactic that has been presented, as that tactic would be both unanticipated and difficult to defend against.
8:29 – 9:00: Brandon talks about the call outs that they have done. Those call outs will be discussed, elsewhere, but they have been absent any show of force, rather, they are intended to just get people to Burns and let them be a burden on the town (See The Burns Community). Quite frankly, what he had, and continues to call for, has hurt far more than it helped those in the Refuge. He then states that those who had come to Burns, and the Refuge, scattered after LaVoy was shot. The cause and effect of that reaction is discussed in “Stand Up; Stand Down“, and there were persistent phone calls and text messages, from PPN, to those inside, to abandon their positions. This resulted in only 8 or 9 defenders by the next morning.
9:01 – 10:29: Discussion of passive and active support. Brandon seems to prefer passive (demonstrations), though he is Idaho III% (III% is the John Adams estimate of how many colonists FOUGHT, like with muskets, against the British). This is also the difference between Civil Disobedience, which might get you arrested, and Civil Defiance, which is defying the presumed authority with arms, as at the Bundy Ranch in April 2014. Then, he mentions LaVoy, and says that he doesn’t “want anyone else losing their life.” So, now we step into the world of “peaceful resolution”. That was the mantra of the FBI, Sheriff Ward, Judge Grasty, and, apparently, PPN, Idaho III%, and the OathKeepers.
13:40 – 16:40: Brandon explains that he spoke with Ammon and Ryan about letting them (Brandon) know when they were going to be “out and about” so they could be “over watch and scouting around”. So, they (Brandon) took a lot of hits since they weren’t there (at the shooting). However, the run into town has no good place for an ambush. It is wide open. Now, if someone wanted to provide “over watch and scouting around”, there was no reason for Brandon to drop that mission, since he should have known that the road to Grant County went through the Malheur National Forest, with plenty of trees, rolling country, and many curves — ideal for an ambush. As far as not being notified, the meeting in John Day was well advertised as much as a week, or more, before that fateful day. However, it is probably much easier to be sitting in a restaurant, enjoying a meal paid for by contributions made to support the operation, than to take the initiative and scout the route. If they had done so, it is quite apparent that the ambush location was established at least a day before, when branches were cut from trees to facilitate firing positions, snowmobile tracks, and the entire ambush area prepared, and probably quite obvious, at least to someone who could “scout” an area — before, not after, the fact.
18:25 – 19:10: Brandon has both numbers and was going to give them to B. J. Soper, presumably to let him know that we are “working together”.
21:44 – 22:04: Here, Brandon includes the FBI, along with OSP, as having contacted him. Why they have so much faith in getting answers from Brandon is a matter for speculation, at this point.
22:32 – 23:22: Brandon says, “Well, we will work through it. It’s okay. And the, by all of us coming to gather, and then working together, it just makes us stronger”…. We then, finally, “shook hands”, over the phone — that is the honorable thing that real men do. Then, he says, “This is what we all need to be doing, working together and building our network, you know, larger.”
So, we end the conversation with what should be a good and honorable working relationship.
On the morning of February 5, I discovered that, without notifying me, nor having received that call that Soper was supposed to have made to me, the “Call to Action” at the blockade had been changed to a demonstration at the site of LaVoy’s murder. Though I don’t have the original message that I received that morning, the following is the wording from pacificpatriotsnetwork.com:
So, what had been discussed (above) was simply tossed out the window, the location changed, and raises the question as to the sincerity of Brandon Curtiss, as we have learned to expect from government officials.
My comment, with regard to this “working together”, then continues the PM conversation. Needless to say, Brandon Curtiss’ true colors were amply demonstrated, not only by this most recent episode, but not in the least, inconsistent with what was reported by Ryan Payne, Brandon’s asserting authority over any militia that came to Burns, his abrupt rudeness and unwillingness to talk in the early conversations, and finally, this attempt to obtain information, suggest that he was honorable, and then assigning the responsibility, not on himself, as leader of Idaho III% and PPN, but on Soper, who was probably never informed of the telephone conversation and the agreement to work together.
NOTE: Though one of the comments (Matt Grove) below links a questionable business practice, reports at the following link refers to Brandon Curtiss’ business, Curtiss Property Management, where there are two other reports filed explaining his character. They are not inconsistent with what is presented, above. He is, it appears, simply a “con man”, both in real life and as a “patriot”.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/specific_search/Brandon+Curtiss
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Thanks Gary, I like reading your input, please keep up the good work.
After reading this post, I’m quite frankly confused by what I read.
It appears that the proposed support of the Hammond family, and/or this seizure and occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge (or whatever it is), was doomed before it even began, due to the seeming lack of organization and planning, further complicated by members openly disagreeing with each other.
From what I see, once the Hammond family, and/or the local residents of Harney County, Oregon and Burns, Oregon had publicized their rejection and objection to offers of assistance, the proposed mission should have been cancelled.
Mission success depended on favorable perception by the news media and the general public, and that wasn’t happening.
The situation was made worse when the original purpose of the mission (i.e., the unlawful prosecution and incarceration of the Hammonds) was apparently forgotten and even further ignored during the confusion accompanying the seizure and occupation of a deserted and rather desolate federal facility.
(Oh, by the way, how were the occupiers “impeding federal employees” if the federal facility was closed for the Winter, and there were no federal employees working there?)
Additionally, such a mission would have a much better chance of eliciting general support and sympathetic response if it were initially done during warm weather, and not during the harsh conditions of Winter.
Originally, the idea behind all this may have been a good one, but it obviously devolved into the wrong fight in the wrong place at the wrong time, with participants looking like panicky buffoons.
At least, that’s how I currently see it, based on what I’ve seen on the Internet.
Then again, maybe similar complications arose among members and supporters of the Sons of Liberty prior to 19 April 1775, with all their petty differences cast aside, once those first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord.
Dear John,
I am confused too. But from what I have gathered the Hammonds were threatened to curtail all communication with the Bundys et al or else. The threats were from the feds. Previous to those threats of lengthened incarceration and confiscation of assets, the Hammonds enjoyed conversations with the Bundys.
The occupation, in my estimation, failed to procure a clear message. At first it was about releasing the Hammonds. Then it became about govt over reach. There were many conflicting reports along the way. Often, those reports were interceded with what I call amateur attempts. You have the Oathkeepers, the III, and others saying they will then they won’t. There was Pete Santilli basically screwing up by misreporting or highlighting a ‘fact’ when yet unverified. Of course he never missed an opportunity to talk of his new black hat or that he was cutting edge journalist (Ladies and gentlemen, this just in) Effing self promotion. The Bundy message was unclear and the reports were confusing. Too many amateurs involved, not enough substantive reporting. The people were unconvinced. It was an atmosphere ripe for exploitation. The only story that was gotten out with any consistency was that the residents of Burns were against the ‘occupiers’. Even that was a lie. Perhaps the biggest lie.
In the aftermath, after the MSM went home, after the self-promoters had departed, we see that the people of Burns were decidedly supportive of the ‘occupiers’.
In my estimation, the charge of ‘impeding federal officers’ is contrived, fabricated, made up. Just prior to making these charges it was reported that refuge rangers wanted to go back to work but they couldn’t because…because their HQ was occupied. If that isn’t BS I don’t know what is. So of all that came out of this, that is the one charge??? What about trespass or tampering with fed govt equipment or a whole host of things? Utter BS. And to tell you the truth, most people across the USA would buy it. Most of this country have little idea what has been and is happening in the 11 western states. Nor would they care. O, some banditos out west got what’s coming. Why would the rest of the country eve connect this to the restrictions of the general govt as contained in the US Constitution? Wait…what?
As far as picking the season, you have a very valid point. But remember this was in immediate response to the Hammonds being recalled to serve their term. Thereby, do you wonder if the govt had something to do with selecting the season? Should Bundy, et al waited until the snow melt? Would it matter anyway since Burns is in the middle of the middle of no where? I’ve been in isolation and I like it. But it isn’t the place if I were to wont to call people to my aid. No matter what the season but yes the winter would make it more difficult. In fact, one could say that that the selection of winter was to cull the tough and ready from the herd. What herd? Well, the herd of a flaccid population of course. As in any society, no matter how grave the threat, but a few would answer the call to arms. Does 3% ring a bell? Hells bells, even Plato warned of this.
As much as it pains me to say, I completely agree with you that this was the wrong time. Except that if we were to look upon this not with jaundice but to see it as akin to the 2nd strike (See, American Revolution) we may develop the perception that yet another intolerable act has bee perpetuated upon the people. This especially since what is by all accounts a kindly, genteel man was gunned down-murdered-in an ambush perpetuated under a conspiracy to deprive one of life. Oh yes was this an ambush. Absolutely yes. What must possess the thinking man is if him why not me? The cold blooded murder of Robert Lavoy Finicum was intended as a clear message to any one of us that dare stand for liberty. ‘We will gun you down and sleep soundly in our beds.’ Is this your land, is this my land?
In any case, these folks who took a stand failed to get the message out. They failed to present a clear message and they failed to be consistent when the message ‘evolved’ from one issue to the next. God forgive me for what I am about to write, I can hardly believe I am to say this: this was amateur hour at the Malheur. They failed to get the message out, then they failed to be consistent. For shame anyone who promised backup. But they poibly are forgiven because the message was never clear even from the beginning.
Jeez Louise, this all reads like a soap opera. It’s like the Keystone Kops for crying out loud except its real and about standing up in defiance against an over reaching govt. I understand there may be petty bickering but what you have presented rises to such a scale as to jeopardize the entire operation. That is unacceptable. You best get squared away. Look in the mirror to see who I’m talking to. I’m no fan of Brandon but by God I’ll lone wolf it to defend my liberty if the likes of all y’all is the alternative. BTW: all I have to establish my cred is that while flat broke I had my truck loaded and headed for Burns until Lavoy was murdered in an ambush. Effing A I’m serious. But you guys appear to be as comical as girls. As for me, I refuse to be co-opted by misfits. Show me where I’m wrong. I gladly welcome constructive criticism. But eff y’all if you think what you and Brandon have presented o various blogs constitutes the fight for freedom. God bless you.
This is a completly different guy, and was a year and a half ago. Same MO, I didn’t see you mention it, but Brandon Curtiss even has corporation funny business going on like this guy.
https://operationamericanspring.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/anatomy-of-a-mole-2/
OAS had the same stand up/stand down going on. There were multiple times this Roberto guy tried in late night campfires, or overly long rides he would take people on he would start talking about trying to setup a false flag and things like that.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Brandon-Curtiss/Meridian-Oregon-83642/Brandon-Curtiss-Curtiss-Property-Management-Liberty-Property-Management-Kept-rents-secur-1266116
Blaine Cooper, his real name is Stanley Hicks. He along with Santilli(brandon’s claimed inspiration) and some others pulled similar things to this with the militias going to the border.
The level of skuldugery going on with these things is insane. I have really come to the conclusion that people are going to have to really put anyone who says they want to lead’s feet to the fire.
Oh, that phone call thing to get it off of chat where it is easier to show what had happened than having to listen to an audio recording, it’s SOP.
In addition to my past dealings with Brandon, these are the reasons I never will be part of anything he is involved in. At minimum he is a bumbling fool… All the way up to an informant who is leading Patriots to slaughter.
Lesson to be learned? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Yes, I have to agree with the soap opera and WE continue to get beat by the Divide and Conquer Strategy. He said, she said. If he/she/they are a part I/We am not a part, Trolls, schills, undercovers, snitches, rats, left, right! When does it stop and who does one trust? If I had that answer I would be set, but for now I am going on prayer, gut and FAITH! March 5th there is an event for LaVoy and the Patriots jailed in Oregon and the Patriots that have died and incarcerated before and there are many. I say start at the lowest level, your house , neighborhood, city hall, county seat, state capitol where ever YOU feel comfortable, but WE THE PEOPLE cannot continue to be divided and expect to get to the TRUTH of any of this and does it really matter OUR Country, State’s, Counties, Cities and houses are at stake. I don’t know I am just one guy in Gun Barrel City, Texas and I am moving forward or maybe it is backwards but I am moving. What else can one do, but move forward? #Stradog in Gun Barrel City, Texas I will leave you with this short video from Kenneth Webb aka ChangeDaChannel https://youtu.be/Ulhn1Vk-B1I
The refuge was NOT closed for the season – it was a holiday weekend. Therefore the employees were unable to work once the refuge was “taken over”. It was not abandoned nor in the middle of nowhere.
[…] you have to do is peruse the examples of miscreants like Jim Stach, Rick Light, Jerry DeLemus, and Brandon Curtiss in order to understand that not adhering to the biblical golden rule of “treating others as you […]
The militias are Fed front groups, especially Oath Keepers. I believe they are funded by George Soros. The only thing good to come out of this Oregon Standoff is that Americans now know not to depend on militias. They are false security. The better “militia” would be a real community of people being deputized by a constitutional sheriff or individuals (not organized militias) coming on their own to help. We all need to train on our own. Mostly, we need to do a complete blackout on the established militia organizations. Let the innocent members of these militia know they’re not Patriot groups and that being involved with them is just putting yourself out there for a roundup later, if it comes to that. Thank you for your work, Mr. Hunt.
[…] Burns Chronicles No. 5: The Burns Community Burns Chronicles No. 6: Is There a Peaceful Solution? Burns Chronicles No. 7: What is Brandon Curtiss? Burns Chronicles No. 8: Active Patriots v. Passive Patriots Burns Chronicles No. 9: Civil Defiance […]
[…] VII. What is a Brandon Curtiss? [2/15/16] […]
[…] VII. What is a Brandon Curtiss? [2/15/16] […]
Good article. I can tell you firsthand that Brandon Curtiss is nothing but a con man who robs little old ladies and service members serving their country overseas. He has stolen nearly $200,000 from a group of 30 people. Brandon is nothing more than a wannabe who lives in a fantasy world on other people’s (stolen) dimes.
He has filed bankruptcy THREE times since 2001, has yet to pay back child support since 1991, cheats on his pregnant wife. God willing, he will soon be in jail where he belongs.
.
[…] I wrote “What is Brandon Curtiss?“, I had nothing but gratitude for Wolf. He had stepped up when I was faced with Brandon […]
[…] Burns Chronicles No 7 – What is Brandon Curtiss? Burns Chronicles No 9 – Civil Defiance or Submission? […]
Brandon saved Lives in Burns Oregon on the 26th of Jan and in the days after….
I will stack my life on that, cause I had some real time lintel that had that whole set up as a kill zone 40-60 miles square centered on the refuge. They was ready and waiting for any and all patriots that responded to Lavoys Murder…
They had 15 Black water in Burns that AM Jan 26th, another 30 in Bend Oregon, 15 in Klamath Falls Oregon and another 20 in Ontario Idaho supported by Fbi, state police and sheriffs from other counties, in all four locations….
PRESS RELEASE
26 January 2016
Pacific Patriot Network – Oath Keepers – III%
Pacific Patriots Network – Official Statement for Immediate Release
They was ready, wanted a Blood bath of the utmost perorations. Him order a stand down, calling ‘Broken Arrow” saved god knows how many lives…. but he took heat from hot heads that do not believe or comprehended the lintel…..
On January 26, 2016, Ammon Bundy Ryan Bundy, Shawna Cox, Brian Cavalier, Ryan Payne and LaVoy Finicum were involved in a traffic stop between the town of Burns and John Day, Oregon. They were on their way to a meeting with local ranchers. Ammon Bundy, as well as the passengers of his vehicle were stopped, arrested, and taken into federal custody by the FBI. We can confirm that one man has been shot and taken to the local hospital and that another was shot and killed. We can also confirm that separate from the traffic stop, both Joe O’Shaugnessy and Pete Santilli were also arrested and taken into custody.
It has come to the attention of PPN that many individuals are responding to this news as a ‘Call to Action’. The Pacific Patriots Network is issuing an immediate “STAND BY” Order to all those who are mobilizing to the peaceful city of Burns, Oregon. We will not pursue any action until all of the facts have been pieced together regarding the traffic stop and the arrest of Ammon Bundy. During this time, cooler heads must prevail. We do not wish to inflame the current situation and will engage in open dialogue until all of the facts have been gathered.
Again, we must reiterate the current standing order. No mobilization of any kind is to take place until every piece of speculation and hearsay have been verified or dismissed. We will maintain the high road and continue to communicate with federal officials until a complete time line has been developed. In light of recent events PPN continues to support a peaceful resolution to the occupation of the refuge. As more information is made available to the PPN it will be released accordingly and via the appropriate channels.
Pacific Patriots Network Media Team
media@pacificpatriotsnetwork.com
Pacific Patriots Network
Update: January 29, 2016
OFFICIAL CALL TO ACTION
In light of the events that have taken place in Harney County, Oregon over the last two days, the official Pacific Patriots Network statement is as follows:
PPN condemns the violent action taken by the Harney County Sheriff’s Department along with the FBI in the shooting death of Mr. Lavoy Finicum.
PPN condemns the violent action taken by the Harney County Sheriff’s Department along with the FBI in the execution of arrests associated with the people at the Malhuer National Wildlife Refuge occupation.
PPN condemns the DISHONEST tactics used to arrest Jason Patrick on January 28th. Mr. Patrick’s safety, well being and emotional state were compromised when the FBI lied not only to Mr. Patrick but to PPN representatives trying to assist with the PEACEFUL removal of people at the MNWR. The FBI stated to Mr. Patrick and the PPN that he was “free to go.” Mr. Patrick walked 7 miles in sub freezing temperatures only to be arrested at the checkpoint north of the Narrows.
PPN condemns the false statements given to the public by the FBI, Harney County Sheriff’s Department and the Harney County officials.
IN RESPONSE TO THESE EVENTS, PACIFIC PATRIOTS NETWORK
IS ISSUING A
CALL TO ACTION
Calling on any and all Americans to come to Burns, Oregon to come to the aid of the American people standing against these violent, malicious and deceitful tactics. Come stand together with other Americans, and express our Constitutional right to PEACEFULLY assemble and air our grievances.
This operation will demand the following:
– Immediate detention by Oregon State Police of the FBI special agent in charge along with all agents and LEO involved in the shooting death of Lavoy Finicum. A first hand eyewitness account presents reasonable cause for arrest while the investigation takes place.
– Immediate removal of all militarized FBI personnel and equipment from Harney County. All State and County Law Enforcement officers are not included and requested to stay and assist in the process to keep the peace.
– Immediate resignation of Judge Steve Grasty, Sheriff David Ward, County commissioner Pete Runnels, and County commissioner Dan Nichols.
In order to successfully accomplish our mission, we will need any and all Americans to PEACEFULLY assemble within Burns, Oregon immediately. The success of this mission depends fully on the number of people that will come to PEACEFULLY stand and demand the items above be initiated.
A letter of intent will be legally served on the FBI special agent in charge at the time of Lavoy Finicum’s death, Judge Steven Grasty, Sheriff David Ward, Dan Nichols and Pete Runnels by January 29th, 2016. We will request to escort the FBI presence out of Harney County, Oregon and once complete, the attention will return to the resignation of the County elected officials.
PPN is dedicated to a PEACEFUL operation. If you have any ill intent, please do not come. We do not need you. Please come prepared with civilian attire and adhere to the policy of no long guns within the community.
Please come self sufficient and able to care for yourself for the time you plan to stay. Donations arrive daily but they are not sustainable for a large or lengthy contingency.
We ask that you email us at volunteer@pacificpatriotsnetwork.com if and when you are planning to come and stand in Burns, Oregon
Brandon Curtiss
February 10, 2016 · Meridian, ID ·
We are in a standby mode, the FBI has the refuge surrounded. No one is able to get close to the refuge, people need to understand that you can not just walk in there. We are still in Burns and monitoring the live stream. Please stay calm and keep cool heads. Those who are praying people now is the time to come together and pray fore these guys. God be with them……
Bj Soper
February 7, 2016 ·
I want to take a moment and spread some light on the last topic of discussion about David Fry’s last video.
I believe David does not understand what people are involved in PPN. David and Sean both talked to Brandon Curtiss. I personally had the calls mixed up but I was in the room with Brandon when we he talked to Sean and there are people that will confirm that Brandon indeed talked to David at 230am last week…
I believe David is under the impression that Brandon Curtiss is only Idaho 3% president. When in fact he is also a founder of PPN, just as I am with 3 others. I do not think David understands this, hence the reason for his statement.
I want to clarify my point of view here. Brandon and myself, along with many others have been in Burns for a very long time now. We talk on a daily basis and stand side by side for most the day, so we are fully aware of what each other knows. Brandon of course shared these 2 conversations with me.
With that information along with comments made by the FBI, reaffirming David and Sean’s position, when I contacted them one last time before our plan was cancelled on Saturday, I MADE THE CALL TO CANCEL THE PLAN ALONE. Now believe me, I trust the FBI here about as far as I can throw them, but they confirmed these comments made. I was not going to endanger people coming to assist in a peaceful plan when I could clearly see it was no longer achievable and the risk of a violent reaction from both law enforcement and the refuge was possible.
So say what you will about my choice. It’s on my shoulders only and it was based on the information I had at hand at that time. I was not going to risk more bloodshed.. It’s not needed nor is it wanted.
Let me make this crystal clear . If you are looking for a violent fight, go find another group to follow. If you are wanting blood for blood, go find another group to follow. If you are hoping a civil war starts here in burns, don’t bother being a part of PPN. That’s not what PPN is about, nor has it ever been. Taking up arms has to be the very last option. We have a duty to exhaust all other avenues prior to taking up arms. So call me what you will, that’s where I stand and will continue to stand.
We are not walking away from the issue. We are simply looking for another plan to try and help the situation resolve itself peacefully and without any more AMERICAN blood being shed on either side of the line. Saturday’s plan was not going to succeed, and the smart move was to cancel and work on another avenue. I’ve said it all alone. You don’t like what we are doing, we are open to ideas. But you will have to BE HERE in order for us to talk about it. Typing on the keyboard doesn’t cut it anymore.
To all the people that were on the road to help when the cancelation came, I am sorry. I would love to hear from you and tell you thank you for dedicating. For everyone else that talked and complained, hopefully next time you can put your money where your mouth is.. I don’t want to hear the story’s about why you could or would not come. There are people here that have it way worse, I can promise you that, but they have come to help regardless.
It’s not over and we are not done trying to help…
PACIFIC PATRIOTS NETWORK INFORMATION LEAK
Part One
February 4, 2016
BUCKLE UP AND LET’S HAVE SOME FUN
[ click here to download full training manual ]
In the recent weeks the Pacific Patriots Network has been involved in the ongoing situation in Burns, Oregon. Though members of the network were not and are not involved with the continued occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge buildings, we have been and continue to research the reasons behind the continued abuse of the people of Harney County.
The situation in Harney County and the corruption is so extensive that reports will need to exposed in a step-by-step process on each issue. The issues to be exposed include the dealings of Steve Grasty and his involvement in the Sage Grouse environmental aspects as well as involvement with and for the Free Masons along with involvement with environmental extremists, BLM/DOI, and his direct involvement in the abuses of the Hammond family. Next Brent Grasty, brother to Steve, who is involved in the continued abuse by BLM against citizens and their personal property via his employment with the BLM Vale District. Grasty’s wife, Cynthia Grasty, and her involvement in with environmental extremists. Pete Runnels and Dan Nichols will also be exposed for their personal gains which are directly related to the continuous fight for conservation projects and continued Federal Land Management in Harney County. Former Sheriff Glerup and his abrupt resignation will be exposed. The outlandish expenditures of the Refuge itself on supposed necessary research and volunteer expenses. The interest in minerals in Harney County by Private Corporate Giants and evidence thereof. The Department of Interior’s direct disregard for the rights of the people and their personal property, specifically the Hammond Family. The list goes on and on and the corruption starts at the county level, through state government including the current and previous Governors, and lands at the feet of Washington D.C. and the Secretary of the Interior. The evidence and documentation is overwhelmingly, but in case anyone is worried the evidence is secured across the United States and Internationally as well.
We will begin with the training and policies of the United States Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers.
Documents were provided to the PPN and provide proof of the continuous forward movement in mentality of the Federal Government and Law Enforcement associated and employed by the Federal Government toward a militarized police state.
According to policy 054 FW 1 – Serious Incident Notification Procedures
Section 1.5 – “What is a serious incident? A serious incident is a law enforcement incident, emergency condition, unusual event, or homeland security concern that could focus public interest on the Department or the Service or result in inquiries to the Secretary of the Interior of the Director.”
Oh well we wouldn’t want the focus of the public to be on law enforcement since that might mean they need to be held accountable for their actions.
Section 1.7 “What incidents do you report to the Service Duty Officer?”
Sub – section A. “Serious Incidents Servicewide: Table 1-2 summarizes the types of serious incidents you must report (see section 1.8 for information on how and when).”
There is a long list of events under this section but specifically under bullet point number 3 titled “Criminal incidents” is listed “Demonstrations involving civil disobedience.” Further down on that same list is “Crimes that might result in significant media or political attention.”
This continues to forward the less than transparent attitude of law enforcement on a large scale.
Moving on we see in the course materials for the LEFS-R/E 1502 Law Enforcement for Supervisors Refresher continued militaristic traits being taught.
On the Agenda page the scheduled event for Wednesday, 06/17/2015 is “Use of Force & Human Performance (Hold on, this one is going to be GOOD)!” which according to documents was to be taught by Ken Tassie, DHS FLETC (Department of Homeland Security, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center)
In the training materials section titled “Personal Liability Litigation Against Federal Employees” the section titled “When this briefing is over, you will:” which explains the benefits of committing an offense while on duty “Understand that your risks are low. Rest Assured legal counsel will almost always be available to you. Appreciate powerful legal defenses that can be raised on your behalf.” This section is taught by Paul Michael Brown, Senior Counsel, Constitutional Torts Staff, Torts Branch, Civil Division, U.S. Dept. of Justice.
Further in the lesson there is a section that explains why the attorney will retire in his current job titled “Unfortunately, Business is Good” where bullet points explain some of the reasons why Federal employees are sued including “Some segments of society hostile to government” and “Agenda litigation by those opposed to government policies.”
This would lead us to believe that LEO are ingrained with the idea that people are against them because they are against unjust administrative policies and procedures. Continued statements throughout this section of the training manual further prove this belief, those include:
“Continuous tension and scrutiny of government conduct vs. the citizenry”
“Claim: Bad Motive or Retaliation, Strategy: Be a good Bureaucrat”
“Challenges to Searches” in reference to the section showing common arguments to amendment rights.
“Miscellaneous Personal Legal Issues: Liens against personalty (assumed to be personal) and realty filed by kooks.”
In another section where it is described the possibility of a critical incident such as a shooting while on duty titled “Emergency Interim Rep” it states “Problem: Criminal investigation by locals, Solution: Private counsel at govt expense”
Under legal defenses we again see it stated further that “For state law tort claims, federal employees enjoy absolute immunity” and again reinforcing their absolute immunity by stating “If employee is nevertheless sued, he is entitled to substitution of the United States in his place”
The next discussion point in the training section is the pros and cons of federal employees securing insurance it is stated “Insurance not really necessary: Risk is low, DOJ almost always available, Powerful legal defenses, US often co-defendant” which shows the continued promise that federal employees can act as they wish because they will “be covered.”
The next section to pay close attention to is titled “Law Enforcement for Refuge Officers” is it stated under “What is Jurisdiction” it is stated that the broad definition is “The governments general power to exercise authority over all persons and things within its territory.”
Under the next section “Refuge Law Enforcement Program” in the portion specific to “Region 1 Major threats and Issues” which covers Idaho, Oregon, and Washington states, it states “Growing Anti-Federal Government Sentiment.” It is significant to mention that this is the only “region” that mentions that specific issues or “threat.”
Under Chapter 2 titled “Oath of Office and Management of Law Enforcement Authority” we see the oath taken by federal law enforcement employees, which is closely related to the oath taken by other forms of law enforcement. It should be noted that under the oath is stated “(Using the phrase ‘So Help Me God’ is discretionary and depends on an officer’s religious affiliation)” It is becoming customary to remove God from every aspect of this nation.
In the last section “An Introduction to the Federal Wildlife Canine Program” on page 38 under the “Drug Search” section it is stated “Ask consent to search the vehicle’s interior (Just to see their reaction), Do not tell them you are going to use a K9.”
As stated at the beginning of this report, we are seeing a continued push to train federal law enforcement with the mindset that people do not have the right to stand up and ask questions when they feel their rights are violated. Also, we have seen that the training being received by these officers promises them time and time again that if they step outside of the bounds of citizens’ rights they will be protected, in other words giving a free pass for officers to abuse citizens.
Frankly it sounds like instead of wanting to work with the 3% of Idaho, the 3% of Oregon, the PPN and Oath Keepers. You actually wanted action, you wanted to force a conversation with the Feds…. But they where not Feds. Black Water hired KILLERS is what you had there…
I am sure that you yourself was dealing with a over abundance of contradictory information from inside the refuge, from outside, from people that claimed they was inside, but never was…..rumors from locals, lies from the Media and Law enforcement.
I personally was up for 8 days, from the 26th of January until after Lavoy was put to rest with his family….I spent every minute sorting out everything, vetting the truth and slamming those that where only posting to see there words on the screen.
So did you even know that Black Water had that entire area, every road in and out within there “kill box”?
If you would have pushed on the block aid, tired to force your way in, you would not have even known from witch direction death came from.
Plus it was already FIRMLY established by the 3% of Idaho and the PPN, that there was no BE NO
“Again, we must reiterate the current standing order. No mobilization of any kind is to take place until every piece of speculation and hearsay have been verified or dismissed.”
Posted on the On January 26, 2016. That was posted in the ppn web sight about an hour after the signal went out “Broken Arrow”… the stand down, go to ground code.
You all sit back and take weeks digging up all of this BS in order to attempt to Monday Night quarter back the big Game….. Only problem is, missing lintel, as well as lack of training in Physiological warfare.
Asked your selves a question. Why is the leadership of the 3% of Idaho and the PPN being targeted so blatantly from local News papers, blog posts, even desertion with there own ranks?
Ask yourself why Melvin Lee the Patriot leader of the Patriotic Warriors that swore that Mark was NOT AN INFORMANT… or Stewart Rhodes that RAN and left the Bundy’s, up and PULLED all of his men out from BunkerVile in 2014 cause he received lintel that the government had authorized a DRONE STRIKE ON THE RANCH? Why are these guys being drug out over the coals like you all are doing The 3% of Idaho Leadership? Why are they not being hammered by the press or even on social media?
Why has the phys-op not reached them? Why is it focusing on Brandon Curtiss and the Idaho Leadership?
That is simple once you understand the MindWar, and understanding how our intelligence agency has disestablished, created civilian uprisings in other countries that went on to over through the government that was not “kissing” our ass enough….
https://www.oathkeepers.org/oath-keepers-academy/mindwar/
Or how they use there Mocking Bird Program agents to bash political treats, opposition to there agenda by manipulating then people against them….
Disinformation 101.
So why the Full court press on Bradon a the 3% of Idaho get so much attention?
They PISSED off the wrong people, established themselves as a verified treat…. I mean after all, by standing down, and maintaining that stand down ….. by taking the heat from all the pissed off hot heads that wanted to rush in guns blazing…. saved LIVES and upset there mission objective.
Witch was a mass execution of a few 100 pissed off patriots.
Franky, I will stand behind the man that is under fire from everywhere. Cause that is the Man that has the establishment nervous.
I stand with the man that has the traitors worried.
Not those that the Government, as well as there undercover Mocking Bird Agents are avoiding…. No way in hell. If the Media is not attacking there character, not hammering them, but are instead “Protecting them” by avoiding any Articles about them, just like the have done for Hillery these past years…. avoiding the truth, and attacking alternative media for posting the truth of her criminality….
Flat out repeated acts of treason.
So yes… By simple deduction, I stand behind the 3% of Idaho 100%…… and I support there decision to NOT escalate the situation in Burns last year.
So slam away…….
God Bless.
Al.
[…] Then those naysayers say, well, she was working with the FBI. However, as I have pointed out in a previous articles, Brandon Curtiss had agreed to help the Sheriff, whatever decision he made — with regard to the […]
[…] I wrote “What is Brandon Curtiss?“, I had nothing but gratitude for Wolf. He had stepped up when I was faced with Brandon Curtiss […]
[…] I wrote “What is Brandon Curtiss?“, I had nothing but gratitude for Wolf. He had stepped up when I was faced with Brandon Curtiss […]
Burns Chronicles No 8 – Active Patriots v. Passive Patriots
Burns Chronicles No 8
Active Patriots v. Passive Patriots
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
February 16, 2016
“…As to the history of the revolution, my ideas may be peculiar, perhaps singular. What do we mean by revolution? The war? That was no part of the revolution’ it was only an effect and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was drawn at Lexington. The records of the thirteen legislatures, the pamphlets, newspapers in all the colonies ought to be consulted during that period, to ascertain the steps by which the public opinion was enlightened and informed concerning the authority of parliament over the colonies”.
John Adams to Thomas Jefferson August 24, 1815.
I believe that Adams’s description of the Revolution, being the period in which the populace transitioned from faith in government to distrust of government, is probably appropriate for the 18th century as well as today.
Since Ruby Ridge, Idaho and Waco, Texas, we have seen a very substantial change in the attitude of large portions of our people, with regard to the government. The recent murder of LaVoy Finicum, with the full knowledge that those who murdered him will have absolute and complete protection from the government, is indicative of that distrust. The question, however, is not about that distrust, rather, which of us are truly Patriots, and which are only pretend patriots?
There was a transition, 241 years ago, where those who were loyal to the Crown and presumed that they would never fight against their government, found a moment in time had come to decide as to whether to maintain that obedience to the government, or take up arms against it.
On April 19, 1775, that time had come. Those within a reasonable distance of Lexington and Concord, thousands of them, picked up their arms and ventured out into the beginning of a struggle that would last for another six years. They left home and family, not knowing if they would ever return. They crossed the line, not because of what had happened to them, but rather what had happened to their neighbors, many of them from other colonies.
As word spread through the other colonies, many thought the problem was only between Massachusetts and the Crown. In time, they realized that the violation of the British Constitution and the loss of their “Rights of Englishmen” were in jeopardy, just as in Massachusetts. They, then, chose their course. They became Active Patriots.
The passive patriots that had not bought or drunk tea were split. Some became Active Patriots, while others remained passive patriots, throughout the Revolutionary War.
We are at that point in our history where we are facing quite similar circumstances. Some have already become Active Patriots, while others, though appearing to be active patriots, are, in fact, passive patriots, or worse.
The passive patriot simply needs to sit back and watch the world go by. Perhaps he might express support for the Active Patriots, or for their cause, or even make contributions to that cause, financially, or otherwise. But at best, he is a sideline supporter. Some might be more active by participating in interim forms of government, such as Committees of Safety.
Some of those passive patriots went to Burns, Oregon, recently. They were willing to demonstrate, carry signs, sound off in public meetings, and show support for those Active Patriots who had taken a step in Civil Defiance by opening the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge administration area to the public.
Of course, the Active Patriots went armed; the Second Amendment does provide for the “security of a free State”, which they had declared the Refuge to be. However, they made clear that the arms were solely for self-defense, and those who had the opportunity to visit the Refuge during these events found that the people inside were peaceful, unoffending, and courteous to all who visited them. They were not the haughty bureaucrats who normally occupied those buildings. And, those who visited them, without nefarious thoughts on their minds, were clearly passive patriots.
Now, there is a third side to this equation. We don’t find them in the historical context. But, we find them in proliferation in our current era of “revolution”. These are the ones that would have traveled to Concord to discourage colonists from firing on the Redcoats, diverted them to another activity (perhaps carrying signs or pitchforks), or perhaps even have told the British what the Active Patriots were up to.
Today, however, they are comprised of people who want to take charge; they want to control the situation; they may even want to help save the lives of Active Patriots by convincing them to submit to arrest. And, they will tell others that they were simply trying to avoid any bloodshed — even after blood had been shed. Let’s refer to them as false patriots. (See The Burns Community)
Those who went to Concord knew that blood was to be shed. The idea is to shed the blood of the enemy, and endeavor to keep your own from being shed, however, that consequence was a part of the effort.
During the course of events in Burns, there were many who contacted me, and others, asking whether the time had come. These were Active Patriots, simply waiting for that day we all know was coming, but not wanting to simply go to an event (Sugar Pine Mine; Montana Big Sky Mine) and camp out, away from family and digging into their own purses to act out a role. They really wanted to know if the British had fired on colonists, and if the colonists were going to fire back.
Some went to Burns. Some remain, and some have since left. They were insufficient in number to have any effect, because the false patriots had done everything that they could to divert as many as possible in the wrong direction.
If others are ready to go to a barricade and protest, or possibly for other purposes, they might divert them to over fifty miles away in a gesture of sympathy for a life lost. So, let’s look at the three, and put them in rather simple terms.
Active Patriot — One who is ready and willing to take up arms, regardless of costs, affect on family, or fortune, and is committed to the cause to that extent. These would properly be considered the real III% that are willing to take up arms.
Passive patriots — These are those who will go to varying extent to support the Active Patriot, by any number of means. They are the support every army needs, and they do so, willingly. Often, their activities might put their lives at risk, but that is inconsequential to the completion the efforts that they have begun. Time and money are their primary contributions. These are the Supporters of the III%.
Finally, we come to the false patriot. His actions tend to support the enemy, whether through disruption, diversion, intelligence gathering (frequent communication with the enemy), and often the attempt to discredit or ridicule those who are of the other classes. These people are not patriots; rather, they are, in fact, simply false. In years past, they would be referred to as “culture vultures” or “patriots for profit”, if their concern was primarily their monetary gain. However, others might be more accurately defined as “snitches”, “informants”, “spies”, or worse.
Since we have progressed from Civil Disobedience, where one might get arrested and spend a few hours or days in jail, to Civil Defiance, where we stand, firmly, against the enemy, and endeavor to turn the continued encroachment of our rights, then we can fully expect that the time will come, soon, in which the line is drawn and the point of no return has been reached. It behooves us to identify which role our neighbors will take. If they are to be Active Patriots, or passive patriots, then we are in need of both. However, if they are false patriots, then they need to be excluded from any aspect, no matter how mundane, of our work. They need to be expelled from our community, for they serve no useful purpose, except that purpose which serves the enemy.
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I believe the militia movement lacks the needed leadership of the quality of the Founders. I also believe that hearts and minds of the masses need to be won by today’s freedom fighters before any attempt to defy tyranny has any chance of success.
Those are my opinions and with a couple bucks will buy a cup of lousy luke-warm coffee.
Hearts and minds must have something to attach themselves to. If there is nothing to pursue, ain’t nobody going to pursue it.
I so very heartily agree with you Gary! We now have those who are denigrating the sacrifices that those Patriots in OR made! You description of the false Patriot seems to fit them to a “T.”
The language being used to describe the righteous anger felt by those who believe that LaVoy was unjustifiably shot, and in a premeditated way, and was murder are being defamed by these “false patriots” using Alynskyite tactics, such as calling them “Ambushers” and stupid and a host of other names.
So, instead of rallying around the flag in this instance, they seem to be doing everything in their power to denigrate the efforts of the True Patriots!
Oh, and how should we categorize those who chosen to run, or hide, now that the feds are saying that they are coming for people with lying indictment documents?
The tree of liberty should not be watered in unfertile soil, therefore discretion is the better part of Valor. To much of Oregon I say this, “fuck you”. The blood of Patriots is reserved for those worthy of the responsibilities of liberty, places such as Adderholt ranch, TX and Oak Flats AZ, not some bird sanctuary in a state with a lesbian Governor. Nothing against lesbians, just libtards.
Gary,
Have you seen this, yet?
The FBI cut and pasted the video they released. This guy has proven it. This link is to part 1, there are subsequent posts at that site (up to part 7 so far).
The video has been altered – big time.
http://www.doomsteaddiner.net/blog/2016/02/06/an-analysis-of-the-fbi-video-of-the-road-block-resulting-in-lavoy-finicums-death/
I was a photogramatrist in the Army. Of course, it was film, not digital, back then. We used aerial photography for 95% of our analysis.
I read parts 1 and 2 and think that he is guessing. What is clear, however, is that the imagery was downgraded.
If I remember correctly, the date/time was always on the upper left. There is more data now, since GPS and other technical advances have taken place. The obscured data would give a of of information, including, altitude, orientation, latitude/longitude, camera and vehicle ID, etc.
What is clear is that the imagery was downgraded. The date/time stamp should be bright white and crystal clear.
What we called “screening” then is where a screen, which obliterates some of the detail can be placed over the negative and mask out some detail, not really changing anything. In the digital age, this is probably much easier.
The 26 minutes of what the FBI first made available was 159 megabytes. I obtained a 1.4 gigabyte version that is clearer than the other version, but still not as clear as should be expected. I doubt that they did what the guy suggests, though they may will have downgraded the imagery for the sake of size, for if they cut out portions, like the 4 minute stop when Ryan Payne got out, people would accuse them of editing the footage. So the may have reduced the quality to accommodate easy downloads.
I have seen many theories evolve from the footage, but, at best, it is conjecture. I will not draw any conspiracy conclusions from any of it.
[…] Chronicles No. 6: Is There a Peaceful Solution? Burns Chronicles No. 7: What is Brandon Curtiss? Burns Chronicles No. 8: Active Patriots v. Passive Patriots Burns Chronicles No. 9: Civil Defiance or Submission? Burns Chronicles No. 10: Is There a Peaceful […]
[…] Burns Chronicles No 8 – Active Patriots v Passive Patriots […]
[…] Burns Chronicles No. VIII: Active Patriots v. Passive Patriots […]
[…] informants, militia, Moral Values, patriots, Resistance, revolution Category: Articles | Comment (RSS) […]
It is a little confusing where the line is between protesting and fighting a war for independence. One need not protest to death. Sometimes it looks like some are fronting like they are going to fight when they are just protesting. I think there are many Patriots in all facets of government and other walks of life that will not hesitate to take action when the time comes. They are needed to stay incognito and not sign their name to a roster or protest but they are there and they are helping to guide public opinion as they they stay prepared. I have a much contact with many warrors from all walks of life and I speak from my vantage point. Information exchange helps clarity.
Burns Chronicles No 9 – Civil Defiance or Submission?
Burns Chronicles No 9
Civil Defiance or Submission?
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
February 18, 2016
“But that it was clear that no act they [the state legislature] could pass, could by any means repeal or alter the constitution, because if they could do this, they would at the same instant of time destroy their own existence as a legislature and dissolve the government thereby established.”
Bayard v. Singleton, 1 N.C. 42 (1787) [North Carolina Supreme Court]
The unfortunate circumstances of January 26, 2016, which resulted in the death of LaVoy Finicum and the arrest of Ammon Bundy, Ryan Payne, Ryan Bundy, and Brian Cavalier was a blow to an effort to expose the dishonesty of the federal government in its pursuit of acquiring land belonging to ranchers in Oregon.
In fact, the story behind what happened in Burns, Oregon actually goes much further. It had begun to show the underbelly of the beast we call the US government, its failure in obedience to the Constitution, the very document that created it, and its failure to abide by established judicial “due process of law”. Perhaps most significant is its absolute disregard for human life, and especially so if that life is of one who believes in the Constitution.
Now, many have said that what was happening at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was of no concern to them. Some have said, “We (the militia) are here to protect our state. What happens in Oregon is not our concern.” And, they are right, but only to an extent.
In the hours that followed the events at Lexington Green and Concord, in Massachusetts Bay Colony, Militia from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York, marched on dirt roads to come to the aid of those from another colony. Within days, many more colonies had sent their forces to join those surrounding Boston. Of course, it was not their concern, though they did realize what had happened in Massachusetts would, eventfully, happen in their own backyards.
Many have stated that their greatest concern is that the government will come to take their guns, and that will be the time to act. However, they fail to respond to the slow and meticulous erosion of the Second Amendment, constantly progressing, bit by bit. But, they still have their guns, so there is nothing to worry about.
However, just a week after the Indictments were issued in Oregon, a Grand Jury in Nevada issued Indictments against five people who were involved in events at the Bundy Ranch, in Nevada, in April 2014, nearly two years prior.
Both acts, Nevada and Oregon, were acts of Civil Defiance. Let’s be clear about that term. Civil Disobedience is a term applicable to participating in something that might result in ones arrest, or perhaps being assaulted by law enforcement. These activities are conducted with the hope of political change. They are, at best, inconveniences.
Civil Defiance, however, is an act in real defiance against unlawful authority. Whether firearms are used actively, or passively, there is no doubt that Civil Defiance has the possibility for not just incarceration, but death.
During the Bundy Ranch affair, hundreds of armed patriots stood defiant against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employees and contractors who were trying to arrest cattle for grazing on public lands. The patriot weapons were simply for self-defense, fully in compliance with the Second Amendment. BLM was the aggressor, with force of arms and a “judge’s edict”.
In Oregon, once again, the patriots’ arms were for self-defense, fully in compliance with the Second Amendment. There is no instance of those at the Refuge, or away from the Refuge, ever threatening or intimidating anyone. In fact, they had a policy to let anyone venture into the occupied area, without threat, or harm. Their arms were for self-defense.
The government, in this instance, under the control of the FBI, was the aggressor, however, unlike Nevada, the aggressor chose to shoot and kill LaVoy Finicum. As can be clearly seen in the aerial footage, Mr. Finicum never had a gun in his hand. He was lured into an ambush and shot. He had no opportunity to defend himself, even if he had been armed. Quite simply, the government that he was exposing murdered him.
So, let’s put a little perspective on things. Whether you are in Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, or elsewhere, what you have been reading about is your future, as much as those who have been directly affected by those events. To “reason” that “it didn’t happen to me” is both acceptance of the legitimacy of the government’s proven practice, and submission to it. When it finally gets to you, those who had more courage than you, have already been taken by the forces of government, either to prison, or to the cemetery.
If you cannot stand up for your fellow patriots, and instead, make excuses as to why you did not come to their aid, whether by location or disagreement of purpose, then you have submitted, and you can clearly see your own future.
I was asked the question “Is there anything that we can do about this?” After some thought, I realized that the Indictment from Nevada was a message that the government is in the process of taking control. This raises the question as to whether we can back them down. If more of us begin standing up by occupying federally owned facilities, like the Refuge, or by taking other inspired actions, can we demonstrate that we are not backing down; that we are not willing to Submit to their unconstitutional activities, and that we will retaliate, as they have, by expanding our efforts in response to every unlawful or unconstitutional act committed by the government?
“In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free – if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending – if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained – we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight!! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!”
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
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Can you explain the picture for me?
Yes, it is a firing squad and it is aimed at you, unless you turn the tide.
Outstanding!!! I have been following your series of articles, and they are superb. I especially like this one. I hope and pray this opens eyes and minds, and shows the uncommitted they are in danger also. Let’s not even add in the unexpected demise of Justice Scalia…
Your right Gary, right about all of it.
We are all certainly committed, like the pig, whether we wish it or not, whether we believe in liberty or not. Every one of us.
You write “If you cannot stand up for your fellow patriots, and instead, make excuses as to why you did not come to their aid, whether by location or disagreement of purpose, then you have submitted…”.
I do not intend any disrespect, yet I disagree with this statement.
I do not consider these people to be “fellow patriots” and I disagree with their goals and tactics. This does not mean that I have “submitted” to anything, and here’s why:
Imagine a group of people are convinced that the local police force has been replaced by look-alike aliens, so they take over and barricade themselves inside a Taco Bell. They announce they need help, and they declare, “If you do not assist your fellow humans because you don’t believe in our cause, you are submitting to the aliens.”
Neither of us would likely rush to their side. And neither of us would feel we have submitted to aliens, although the Taco Bell occupiers would disagree.
Probably, we would ask for proof of their assertions and determine the reliability of the evidence. If we still disagreed, they would probably consider us either: a) too ignorant to understand the situation; b) sadly confused or misled by forces and people who don’t believe in aliens; c) brainwashed by the pro-alien community; or d) part of the pro-alien, anti-police conspiracy.
No amount of discussion or explication would change their or our positions and beliefs.
Still, neither of us would feel that we submitted to the aliens. We would simply say, “Let’s eat somewhere else. Those Taco Bell people are not in touch with reality, and even though I wanted a gordita, they sound unpredictable and potentially dangerous.”
An alternative is offered in the article, though it sounds as if you would make an excuse for almost anything.
[…] and most of us, just “bumps in the road” – just stayed away […]
[…] would I bring this up? Well, a number of comments have come to me regarding my article, “Civil Defiance or Submission?” Many have suggested that they are III%er, and their duty is strictly […]
[…] No. 7: What is Brandon Curtiss? Burns Chronicles No. 8: Active Patriots v. Passive Patriots Burns Chronicles No. 9: Civil Defiance or Submission? Burns Chronicles No. 10: Is There a Peaceful Solution? – Redux Burns Chronicles No. 11: What are […]
[…] Burns Chronicles No 7 – What is Brandon Curtiss? Burns Chronicles No 9 – Civil Defiance or Submission? […]
[…] However, those who have to propagate the articles have taken a first step in civil defiance (See Burns Chronicles No 9 – Civil Defiance or Submission?). A much more definitive statement to the government is that, not just me, but We, will not […]
Burns Chronicles No 10 – Is There a Peaceful Solution? – Redux
Burns Chronicles No 10
Representative Greg Walden
Is There a Peaceful Solution?
Redux
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
February 22, 2016
In a previous article, “Is There a Peaceful Solution?“, I included a link to a video. Based upon a number of comments, it appears that many decided not to watch the video, instead filling in the answers, for themselves. They continue to assume that there is a peaceful solution to the problems that we are facing in dealing with the federal government.
Understand that Representative Walden spoke to the House of Representatives on January 5, 2016, just 3 days after the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was occupied, though the occupation had nothing to do with being “armed”; and the day after Dwight and Steven Hammond turned themselves over to the Bureau of Prisons, at San Pedro, California — to serve the harsh sentence imposed by the Appellate Court, not by the trial court.
I have underlined the more significant portions of what Rep. Walden had to say, so that you can fully understand that the administrative agencies tend to ignore the laws enacted in accordance with the Constitution, by that branch that has the sole authority to enact laws. The specific wording of that provision of the Constitution:
Article I, Section 1:
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
For those who believe that there is a peaceful solution, I can only ask, “Just how do you propose to achieve that solution, when the laws are ignored by the government, when they choose, and misapplied (as in the Hammond case) when they choose?”
* * *
Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues are aware of the situation in Harney County, Oregon, where a group of armed protesters have overtaken a Federal facility in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
This group is led largely by people who are not necessarily from Oregon, although they obviously have supporters from Oregon. They were originally there to protest the sentencing of Dwight and Steve Hammond.
I know the Hammonds. I have known them for probably close to 20 years. They are longtime, responsible ranchers in Harney County. They have been sentenced to prison not once, but now twice. I will get into that in a moment.
The point I want to make at the outset is for people in this Chamber to understand what drives people to do what is happening tonight in Harney County.
I have had the great honor and privilege to represent Harney County for a number of years. I have seen the impact of Federal policies from the Clinton administration to the Obama administration. I have seen what happens when overzealous bureaucrats and agencies go beyond the law and clamp down on people. I have seen what courts have done. I have seen the time for Congress to act and then it has not.
I want to put this area in perspective because I think it is really important to understand how big this region is. By size, my congressional district in Oregon is something like the seventh or eighth biggest in the Congress. If you overlaid it over the east coast, it would start in the Atlantic and end in Ohio.
The county where this occupation is taking place–Harney County–is over 10,000 square miles. There are 7,000 souls inhabiting it. If my math is right, that is one person for every 1.4 miles. One person for every 1.4 miles.
Just this one county is 10 times the size of Rhode Island. It is larger than the State of Maryland. And 72 percent of it is under the command and control of the Federal Government.
It is the public’s land. That is true. But what people don’t understand is the culture, the lifestyle, of the great American West and how much these ranchers care about the environment, about the future, about their children, about America, and how much they believe in the Constitution. Now we see the extent they will go to in order to defend what they view as their constitutional rights.
***
But, I want to talk about what happened with the Hammonds. I want to put in perspective what happens almost every year in my district. That is these enormous wildfires.
The Miller Homestead Wildfire in 2012 burned 160,000 acres, mostly in this county, if not all; 250 square miles, a quarter of the size of the State of Rhode Island. That was just in 2012.
The Barry Point Fire that year, in Lake County, next door, burned 93,000 acres. Last summer alone, we burned 799,974 acres across Oregon; that is both forest and high desert. In 2012, 3.4 million acres burned in Oregon.
There was another fire in Malheur County. The Long Draw Fire, in 2012, burned 557,000 acres, five times the size of Rhode Island. So 93,000 acres, 557,000 acres, 160,000 acres, all burning.
The Hammonds are in prison tonight for setting a backfire that they admit to, that burned 139 acres, and they will sit in prison, time served and time going forward, 5 years, under a law that I would argue was never intended to mete out that kind of punishment, and I will get to that in a moment.
***
When Secretary Babbitt, the Interior Secretary at the time, came before the House Resources Committee, of which I was a member, I said, Mr. Secretary, your own resource advisory committees in the area just reported that there was no need for additional protection on Steens Mountain, and yet, you and the President are threatening to create this national monument. Why do you waste the time of the citizens to go through a process to determine if additional protections are needed and then ignore what they came up with?
To Bruce Babbitt’s credit, he agreed when I told him: I think you would be surprised about what the local ranchers and citizens of Harney County would be willing to do if you give them a chance. To his credit, he said: All right, I will give them that chance. And, he did.
We went to work on legislation. It took a full year. I worked with the Hammonds. I worked with Stacy Davies, I worked with all kinds of folks, put a staffer on it full-time, multiple staffs, and we worked with the environmental community and others. And we created the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act, model legislation, never been done before, because I said: We don’t have to live by past laws, we write laws.
So, we wrote a new law to create a cooperative spirit of management in Harney County. The Hammonds were part of that discussion. We saved a running camp, Harlan Priority Runs. We protected inholders. We tried to do all the right things and create the kind of partnership and cooperation that the Federal Government and the citizens should have.
Fast forward on that particular law. Not long after that became law, and it was heralded as this monumental law of great significance and new era in cooperation and spirit of cooperation, some of those involved on the other side and some of the agencies decided to reinterpret it. The first thing they tried to do is shut down this kids’ running camp because they said: Well, too many, maybe more than 20, run down this canyon and back up, as they had for many, many years. They wanted to shut it down. So we had to fight them back and said, No, the law says historical standards.
Then the bureaucrats, because we said: You should have your historical access to your private property, if you are up on Steens Mountain, you should maintain that access like you have always had it. Do you know what the bureaucrats said? They began to solicit from the inholders in this area: How many times did you go up there last year? You see, they wanted to put a noose around the neck of those who were inside. That was a total violation of what we intended and we had to back them off.
See, the bureaucracy wants to interpret the laws we write in ways they want, and in this case, they were wrong, not once, but twice.
Then, a couple of years ago, I learned that, despite the fact we created the first cow-free wilderness in the United States under this law, and said clearly in this law that it would be the responsibility of the government to put up fencing to keep the cows out, as part of the agreement, the Bureau of Land Management said: No, we are not going to follow that law. And, they told the ranchers they had to build the fence.
I networked with my Democrat colleague from Oregon, Mr. DeFazio, who was part of writing this law. I said: Peter, you remember that, right? He said: Yeah, I didn’t like it, but that was the case. BLM still wouldn’t listen. So, we continued to push it and they argued back.
Well, it turns out there had been a second rancher who brought this to my attention who they were telling had to do the same thing, build a fence, when the government was supposed to under the law I wrote. The arrogance of the agency was such that they said, We don’t agree with you.
Now, there aren’t many times, Mr. Speaker, in this job when you can say I know what the intent of the law was, but in this case I could because I wrote the law, I knew the intent.
Oh, that wasn’t good enough. No, no, no. No, no, no. The arrogance of these agency people was such that we had to go to the archives and drag out the boxes from 2000, 1999-2000, when we wrote this law, from the hearings that had all the records for the hearings and the floor discussions to talk about the intent. And our retired Member, George Miller, actually we used some of his information where he said the government would provide the fencing. They were still reluctant to follow it. So I put language in the appropriations bill that restated the Federal law.
***
This is a government that has gone too far, for too long. Now, I am not condoning this takeover in any way. I want to make that clear. I don’t think it is appropriate. There is a right to protest. I think they have gone too far. But I understand and hear their anger.
Right now, this administration, secretly, but not so much, is threatening, in the next county over, that looks a lot like this one, Malheur County, to force a monument of 2.5 million acres, we believe. I think this is outrageous. It flies in the face of the people and the way of life and the public access.
***
We have fought other issues. More than half of my district is under Federal management, or lack thereof. They have come out with these proposals to close roads into the forests. They have ignored public input. They often claim to have all these open meetings and listen to the public, and then, in the case of Wallowa-Whitman, the forest supervisor who was eventually relieved because of this, I believe, completely ignored all the meetings, all the input, all the work of the counties and the local people, and said: Forget it, I am going my own direction.
There were 900 people that turned out at the National Guard Armory where they had a public hearing, standing room only and beyond, furious.
You see, how do you have faith in a government that doesn’t ever listen to you? How do you have faith in a government that, when elected Representatives write a law, those charged with the responsibility of implementing it choose to go the other direction and not do so? That is what is breaking faith between the American people and their government, and that is what has to change.
The other thing that has to change, the law under which the Hammonds were sentenced. Now, they probably did some things that weren’t legal. I have given you the size of the acreages that burned naturally. I haven’t gotten into the discussion about how these fires are often fought and how the Federal Government frequently will go on private land and set a fire without permission to backburn. That happens all the time.
In fact, in the Barry Point Fire down in Lake County, they set fire on private timberland as a backburn while the owners of the property were putting out spot fires down in the canyon. I drove down there afterwards. They are darn lucky to have come out alive.
There was nobody sentenced under the terrorism act there. Oh, heck no. It is the government. They weren’t sentenced. Nobody was charged. Oh, it just happened.
Now, fires are tough to fight. I have great respect for firefighters. There are always two sides on how these fires get fought. But I can tell you, a few years back in Harney County, because I went and held a meeting out there right as the fire was being put out, that the fire crews came in, went on private ground, lit a backfire on private ground, behind a fence line, that then burned out the farmer’s fence, the rancher’s fence, and burned all the way over and down into a canyon where there was a wetland, which would have been the natural break to stop the fire from the other side. You see, they never needed to burn that land.
These things happen in the course of fighting fire. It doesn’t mean they are right. But rare is it that somebody ends up 5 years in prison.
Let me tell you what the senior judge said when he sentenced the Hammonds the first time, Judge Michael Hogan, senior Federal judge, highly respected in Oregon. He sentenced Dwight Hammond to 3 months and Steve to a year. There were different offenses here.
He said, “I am not going to apply the mandatory minimum because, to me, to do so, under the Eighth Amendment, would result in a sentence which is grossly disproportionate to the severity of the offenses here.”
The Judge went on to say, `”And with regard to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, this sort of conduct would not have been the conduct intended under the statute.”
“When you ask, you know, what if you burn sagebrush in the suburbs of Los Angeles, and there are homes up the ravines, it might apply. Out in the wilderness here, I don’t think that is what the Congress intended.”
“In addition, it just would not meet any idea I have of justice proportionality. It would be a sentence which would shock the conscience, to me.”
Senior Judge Mike Hogan, when he did the original sentencing.
But, you see, under this 1996 law under which they were charged and convicted, it turns out he had no judicial leeway. He could not mete out a sentence that was proportionate to what the crime was.
So yesterday, Dwight and Steve went to prison again. Dwight will be 79 when he gets out. Steve will be about 50.
Meanwhile, in Harney County, on the ranch, Susie will continue to try and survive; 6,000-acre ranch, she needs grazing permits to make this happen. It would be a cruel and unjust act, by the way, if access to those grazing permits that allow that ranch to work were not extended. What possible good could come out of bankrupting a grandmother that was trying to keep a ranch together, while the husband sits in prison, her son sits in prison? What possible good?
They will serve their sentences. There is nothing, short of clemency that only the President can offer, that we can do. But we can change that law, and we should, so that nobody ever is locked in like that for a situation like this, where a senior judge, literally, on his final day on the bench, says this goes too far, it goes too far. They appealed that, by the way, and lost. But I believe that the judge was right.
***
They are good people. Their sons and daughters, by a higher proportion, fight in our wars and die, and I have been to their funerals. So to my friends across eastern Oregon, I will always fight for you. But we have to understand there is a time and a way. Hopefully the country through this understands we have a real problem in America: how we manage our lands and how we are losing them.
It is not like we haven’t tried here, Mr. Speaker. Year after year we pass bipartisan legislation to provide more active management on our forests so we don’t lose them all to fire, and we are losing them all to fire. We are losing firefighters’ lives, homes, and watersheds–great resources of the West. Teddy Roosevelt would roll over in his grave. He created this wildlife refuge in 1908.
There were some bad actors there in the 1980s, by the way. They were very aggressive running the refuge, threatening eminent domain and other things that took ranches. It was bad. That lasted for at least a decade or more. It has gotten better though. It is not perfect. There is a much better relationship, and the refuge and the ranchers work closer together. In fact, during this fire in 2012, the refuge actually opened itself up to the ranchers for hay and feed because theirs was burned out because of this big fire. So there was a better spirit there.
But there are still these problems: the threat of waters of the U.S. shutting down stock ponds and irrigation canals and a way of life, the threat of fire every year that seems to not be battled right and just gets away, and no one is really held accountable; the continued restriction on the lives of the men and women who, for generations, have worked hard in a tough environment. It has just gone too far. It is hurtful.
I hope people understand how serious this is felt and how heartfelt this is by those who pay their taxes and try and live by the law and do the right things and how oppressed they feel by the government that they elect and the government they certainly don’t elect, and how much they will always defend the flag and the country, and their sons and daughters would go to war, some will not come back–and they have not from this area.
… The BLM needs to make sure Susie Hammond isn’t pushed into bankruptcy and has her ranch taken by the government and added to those that have been. We need to be better at hearing people from all walks of life and all regions of our country and understanding this anger that is out there and what we can do to bring about correct change and peaceful resolution.
It is not too late. We can do this. It is a great country. We have the processes to do it right.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
* * *
The peaceful solution, then, should be solely those laws enacted by the Congress, such as the Steen Mountain legislation that Mr. Walden spoke of. The Executive branch is to carry out and enforce those laws. Though, as we have seen, they choose to interpret them other than the wording or the intent of those laws lawfully enacted.
Further, the agencies are empowered to adopt rules. To do so, they are to publish those proposed rules in the Federal Register and hold public hearings on the proposed rule. Now, this is just a bureaucratic trick. The hold the hearing, and regardless of the input by the public, the agency, once they have held the hearings, have satisfied the requirement. Then, they adopt the rule, even if 100% of the public input is contrary to the rule.
So when we realize that the legislative branch is without any constitutional authority to assure that they laws they pass have become “the supreme Law of the Land” (Article VI, clause 2), then we are at the mercy of the interpretation, or rules, of the agency that administers those laws.
With that in mind, let us return to the question:
Is there a peaceful solution?
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3 Comments
I don’t think so.. it has passed, been ignored and dismissed so offten.. what makes anyone think the government will come down from its lofty castle in the clouds and listen or even acknowledge that We The People own government?
No, there will not be a peaceful solution.
The fact is that the government and its agents (I include so called senators and representatives in this) have killed one man, Lavoy Finicum, indicted/charged the Bundys, and anyone else that they can. The State of Oregon then hides the identity of the murderer(s), through its agents. The next step would be the what I would call the “night raids,” in which the police, FBI, etc., will carry out on those that it can, then interrogate for more information and lead to more “night raids.”
The US government is dictating to Volkswagen to build or produce electric vehicles in the US, on top of dictating many other things to other companies like the bank accounts and financial transactions of US citizens abroad (FATCA and FBAR), foreign banks. It will not stop there, the entire Apple encryption reaches to many other companies that have not came out or cannot. The NSA releases which makes me digress and state that Snowden should have made it all available instead handing it over to the leftist “reporters.”
[…] No. 8: Active Patriots v. Passive Patriots Burns Chronicles No. 9: Civil Defiance or Submission? Burns Chronicles No. 10: Is There a Peaceful Solution? – Redux Burns Chronicles No. 11: What are the III%? Burns Chronicles No. 12: Jon Ritzheimer and the Grand […]