WOW, the Feds once adain way over reach and convict asome ranchers as "terrorist's" ? As if if that;s not enough, the father son went peacefully to serve their time, the Fed's come back and say "WHOA, we don't think that's enough time, we should add a few years". Really!? I find it hard to believe they are going peacefully.
I also find it hard to think anyone would side with the Fed.'s but maybe all the facts aren't all in. Doesn't matter, Clive Bundy's son is rallying to go support the Hammond's and I might add unwanted support.
TERRORIST'S? Seriously?
Oregon ranching case sparks anti-government sentiment
"PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The father and son of a prominent Oregon ranching family plan to surrender at a California prison next week after a judge ruled they served too little time for setting fires that spread to government lands they leased to graze cattle.
Dwight Hammond, 73, and Steven Hammond, 46, said they lit the fires in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires. Cole
The two were convicted of the arsons three years ago and served time — the father three months, the son one year. But a judge ruled their terms were too short under federal law and ordered them back to prison for about four years each.
The decision has generated controversy in a remote part of the state where the Hammonds are well-known for their generosity and community contributions. It's also playing into a long-simmering conflict between ranchers and the U.S. government over the use of federal land for cattle grazing.."
"In particular, the Hammonds' new sentences touched a nerve with far right groups who repudiate federal authority. The son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a standoff with the government over grazing rights, is organizing opposition.."
Dwight Hammond said he and his son plan to peacefully report to prison Jan. 4 as ordered by the judge.
"We gave our word that's what we would do, and we intend to act on it," he told the AP.
Prosecutors said the Hammonds' grazing leases didn't give them exclusive use of the land or permission to burn public property. The fire charred just under 140 acres.
Though the family doesn't want confrontation, Dwight Hammond maintained their case isn't about fires: It's the climax of the government's efforts to take their land at a time when saving endangered species has gained in importance.."
"As for the Hammonds, they hope to keep the family business going with help from relatives. Maybe, Dwight Hammond said, when his son gets out of prison, "he can still have a family and a ranch to go back to."
Dwight Hammond said he and his own father bought the ranch in 1964; the purchase price included several federal grazing allotments — the rights to lease public land for cattle grazing. But as the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge came to surround the Hammonds' property, the rancher said, the family had to stave off pressure from the federal government to sell the ranch.
Over the years, the government chipped away at their grazing allotments, taking some and increasing fees on others, Dwight Hammond said. New federal rules made it harder to renew permits.
https://news.yahoo.com/oregon-ranching-case-sparks-anti-government-sentiment-164956550.html
I also find it hard to think anyone would side with the Fed.'s but maybe all the facts aren't all in. Doesn't matter, Clive Bundy's son is rallying to go support the Hammond's and I might add unwanted support.
TERRORIST'S? Seriously?
Oregon ranching case sparks anti-government sentiment
"PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The father and son of a prominent Oregon ranching family plan to surrender at a California prison next week after a judge ruled they served too little time for setting fires that spread to government lands they leased to graze cattle.
Dwight Hammond, 73, and Steven Hammond, 46, said they lit the fires in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires. Cole
The two were convicted of the arsons three years ago and served time — the father three months, the son one year. But a judge ruled their terms were too short under federal law and ordered them back to prison for about four years each.
The decision has generated controversy in a remote part of the state where the Hammonds are well-known for their generosity and community contributions. It's also playing into a long-simmering conflict between ranchers and the U.S. government over the use of federal land for cattle grazing.."
"In particular, the Hammonds' new sentences touched a nerve with far right groups who repudiate federal authority. The son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a standoff with the government over grazing rights, is organizing opposition.."
Dwight Hammond said he and his son plan to peacefully report to prison Jan. 4 as ordered by the judge.
"We gave our word that's what we would do, and we intend to act on it," he told the AP.
Prosecutors said the Hammonds' grazing leases didn't give them exclusive use of the land or permission to burn public property. The fire charred just under 140 acres.
Though the family doesn't want confrontation, Dwight Hammond maintained their case isn't about fires: It's the climax of the government's efforts to take their land at a time when saving endangered species has gained in importance.."
"As for the Hammonds, they hope to keep the family business going with help from relatives. Maybe, Dwight Hammond said, when his son gets out of prison, "he can still have a family and a ranch to go back to."
Dwight Hammond said he and his own father bought the ranch in 1964; the purchase price included several federal grazing allotments — the rights to lease public land for cattle grazing. But as the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge came to surround the Hammonds' property, the rancher said, the family had to stave off pressure from the federal government to sell the ranch.
Over the years, the government chipped away at their grazing allotments, taking some and increasing fees on others, Dwight Hammond said. New federal rules made it harder to renew permits.
https://news.yahoo.com/oregon-ranching-case-sparks-anti-government-sentiment-164956550.html
