Mind One.
So hi. I'm here to infuriate you. It doesn't matter what side you stand on the issue happening in Oregon, there's a 90% chance that this is going to piss you off. And it should. Because if you're pissed off at the end of this post it means your brain is working at the end of the post.
My first point is that the actual victims in this whole shit show have been so horribly mistreated by the very protesters claiming to protect them it actually makes me physically ill.
Holy shit.
The Hammond family did not ask for a freaking militia to roll into to their backyard and make an already complicated and difficult situation a complete soup sandwich.
Historically there are few things that end worse for people, than when an outside group rolls in and makes their personal struggles a goddamn figurehead for a political movement.
But that really isn't my main point and I don't want to get too caught up in that. (Hammond family, I'm so so so sorry for this bullshit.)
What sparked this rant is the video that was released earlier today showing the death of one of the militia leaders. Robert Finicum. There's about a million and a half places for you to watch that video, but find the unedited version if you do. Let's take the events of that video and break them down without any of the bias of the situation weighing in shall we? (Keep in mind we don't have audio right now)
Suspect is travelling down a highway with two vehicles in pursuit.
Suspect does not immediately pull over when the lights come on behind him signaling him to do so. (This is illegal)
Suspect stops in the middle of the road instead of pulling to the shoulder.
Suspect appears to communicate with authorities for a few minutes.
(Keep an eye on his tail lights, you can see him put his vehicle into gear and back into park multiple times. What's this about?)
Suspect then flee's the scene of the traffic stop at a high rate of speed. (Also illegal)
Suspect is driving erratically, moving in and out of his lane. (More law breaking. Thank god the authorities had a road block up ahead, because that kind of driving is the kind that kills innocent people.)
Suspect comes upon roadblock and plows into snowbank, hitting a law enforcement officer of some kind in the process. (Assaulting an office is...a...crime.)
Suspect exits the vehicle immediately.
Suspect puts his hands into the air, but continues to move forward.
Suspect drops his hands repeatedly in a reaching motion, still moving.
Suspect is shot by authorities.
I had the ability to watch this video multiple times from an aerial angle. The officers on the scene did not. All they had to work with was the knowledge of who was in the vehicle, a man who had made it clear many times he was willing to engage in violence over his opinions, a man who they knew was armed, and a man who was refusing to cooperate with law enforcement officers.
Finicum had the right to his opinion, as we all do.
He had the right to bear arms, as we all do.
What he did not have is the right to ignore authorities.
What he did not have is the right to endanger other peoples lives like he did in fleeing the scene of the traffic stop.
What he did not have is the right to break the law repeatedly, present a tangible threat to the safety of others.
"Innocent until proven guilty" something that society doesn't seem to have a problem with when a criminal is involved, but when a law enforcement officer responds in a logical way to a situation, it seems much more "guilty until proven politically correct".
Mind Two:
Following in Mind One's footsteps, I will also most likely infuriate you.
On a quick side note, I would just like to point out that the reason for crap like this happening is that politics has gotten way out of hand. You can't say the word Democrat or Republican without people shouting insults and screaming how stupid it is to be either. For a society that is so against labeling people and claims to want to be at peace with each other, there sure is nothing peaceful about politics. And people wonder why I always decline to participate in political discussions.
On to the Hammond story.
For everyone who has not read the actual facts and is uninformed about the story, the Hammonds were definitely in the wrong. They already went to prison once, and then went back for DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. So word to the wise, if the government says "hey don't do that or you'll go to jail" DON'T DO THE THING. It's actually an incredibly simple concept.
So no, we probably shouldn't free the Hammonds. Let them serve their time in peace and maybe the second time around they will learn their lesson.
As far as the militia goes, it's insane. The Hammonds have been trying to get them to go home since day 1. They don't need help guys. Stop protesting on their behalf when they don't want it. Also, taking over a federal building is illegal. So fucking illegal. And to the so-called ranchers that have come from God-knows-where to protest and stir shit up, what the hell did you do with your ranches? As an actual ranchers daughter, ranches don't run themselves and neighbors will only do the chores for so long before they expect the owner to come back and take care of their own shit. Personally, I think going home and actually running your own ranch for a while would be better than getting involved in people's business that don't want you involved.
Now on to this guy who got shot by the feds. I watched that video Mind One is talking about. I saw everything she mentioned. Go watch it yourself if you don't believe us. To all of you saying it's murder and he shouldn't of been shot, please go Google the definition of murder, or God forbid open a dictionary. And if your too lazy to do that, her you go:
Murder (noun)
1. the UNLAWFUL PREMEDITATED killing of one human being by another.
So it definitely wasn't unlawful because he was not following directions given by the officers and he also actually hit an officer with his car in the video. And it was not premeditated either.
In case you are curious to learn more or don't believe me, below is the link to the whole story, including facts and real documents. I encourage you to read it and be informed before you start spewing nonsense all over the internet.
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/12/militiamen_ranchers_in_showdow.html#incart_big-photo