Free: Contests & Raffles.
These people are zeroes in every sense.
There is already a thread on this topic. I wrote my views, and reason for them, in that thread. I will re-post my thoughts here:There has been so much said about the back story that the "front story" has taken a back seat. Yet the actual invasion and takeover of the wildlife refuge is a serious crime. And it is far from a victim-less crime. The Malheur Wildlife Refuge is now closed to the public. The public is being deprived of a wonderful area that they should be able to enjoy. Birdwatchers cannot cruise the refuge roads in search of species. Photographers cannot hunt for opportunities with deer, rabbits, or winter birds. Volunteers cannot enter the refuge to continue work on their ongoing projects. Schoolteachers cannot take their pupils to the refuge for field trips. Those militia folks have stolen a valuable resource from the public! This is a travesty, yet for some bizarre reason it does not seem to be at the forefront of the news on this story. Not only is the refuge currently being held hostage from the public, but the occupation could have lasting disastrous effects on recreational opportunities, educational opportunities, and ongoing scientific research projects. If the offenders shoot at or harass any deer, then the mule deer population will develop a greater fear of man, which would severely affect the opportunities that future visitors will have to both view and photograph the deer. The same can be said for the population of Cottontail Rabbits that live on the grounds around the Visitor Center and associated outbuildings. Knowing the type of people that many of these militia are likely to be, can we really guarantee that they will not do any hunting during their occupation? I seriously doubt that. They are armed and they have shown that they do not obey the law, so how can we know for sure that they will not hunt for (poach) or kill and wild game? My hope is that these people are removed as soon as possible. The need for expediency is paramount, because every day that these people are there is one more day that the refuge is closed to the public to whom it belongs. It is really unacceptable that the public lose ANY man-days of birdwatching, photography, or any other kind of lawful recreation that they enjoy on these lands.I also hope that extremely thorough investigations are conducted, and that the militia people are fully prosecuted for EVERY SINGLE CRIME, both large and small, that they have committed while in the refuge.
What is the "fight" about, really? Ranchers thinking they have the right to use public land for free or at a very low cost? And not liking it when they are told no?