Armed occupation leader cites religious faith in justifying Oregon refuge takeover

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. | Thu Oct 6, 2016 | 9:58pm EDT

Armed occupation leader cites religious faith in justifying Oregon refuge takeover

By Scott Bransford | PORTLAND, ORE.

Ammon Bundy, who led an armed occupation of a U.S. wildlife center in Oregon earlier this year, testified in federal court on Thursday that his hostility toward federal land ownership was shaped by his religious faith and "natural laws."

Taking the witness stand for a third day at his conspiracy trial in U.S. District Court in Portland, Bundy delved further into the ideology he said was behind the forcible takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by a band of militants in January.

Bundy told jurors that his group seized the refuge in rural eastern Oregon not only to protest what they saw as overreach by the U.S. government but to show how public lands should be entrusted to private citizens according to an ancient, divinely inspired set of doctrines.

“These principles, they’re not something that comes and goes,” Bundy, 41, said under questioning from his attorney. “They’re natural laws that we were teaching.”

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-oregon-militia-idUSKCN12705I

[upaloopa]

1. The old religious freedom defense. Similar to the Twinkie defense.

Make them back up the phony faith with some theology.

[canetoad]

2. Yeah, like Jesus

Did so many armed occupations.

[Major Nikon]

3. Pete: The Preacher said it absolved us.

Ulysses Everett McGill: For him, not for the law. I'm surprised at you, Pete, I gave you credit for more brains than Delmar.
Delmar O'Donnell: But they was witnesses that seen us redeemed.
Ulysses Everett McGill: That's not the issue Delmar. Even if that did put you square with the Lord, the State of Mississippi's a little more hard-nosed.
[laughs]
Ulysses Everett McGill: Baptism! You two are just dumber than a bag of hammers!

[Warren DeMontague]

4. Indeed, that land was divinely entrusted to the people in ancient times

[mike_c]

5. the fantasy defense....

The voices told me to do it, your honor.

[emulatorloo]

6. "God told me to"