Brian Levin: Why the Oregon standoff matters - NY Daily News

Brian Levin: Why the Oregon standoff matters - NY Daily News: It is, and that’s what makes the anti-government Patriot movement to which Bundy and his adherents more menacing than it may at first glance appear. Anti-government extremists are emboldened by confrontations when the response is too lax, and enraged when met with force. For now, however, law enforcement is using the most prudent method to de-escalate — by waiting a bit. Ammon Bundy, who happily took over half-a-million dollars in loans from the federal government, was in an armed standoff in April 2014, along with “militia” supporters who blocked a state highway and confronted rangers enforcing a federal court order against his father for years of trespass on government land and refusal to pay grazing fees. Ammon also kicked a police dog and was tasered, while armed supporters pointed weapons at federal and local law enforcement. Two anti-government Bundy supporters, who were booted from the ranch area by the family, later went on two kill three, including two ambushed Las Vegas police officers. Ryan Payne, who boasted of coordinating snipers against law enforcement in the 2014 standoff is currently holed up with Ammon Bundy and his brother Ryan, along with firebrand John Ritzheimer. Ritzheimer, who belongs to a militia support group 3 Percenters, was kicked out of the far right-wing Oathkeepers after he announced his intention of arresting a U.S. senator for treason. Ritzheimer, who staged a large mosque protest and sometimes sports “F--k Islam” t-shirts, was the subject of an FBI warning to police. He had posted a video with a gun in which he stated he was going cross country to confront Muslim columnists who insulted him. RYAN BUNDY SAYS LOCALS SUPPORT OCCUPATION IN OREGON Whether or not the Oregon occupation fizzles, far-right-wing domestic extremism still represents a threat to the United States. Their insurrectionist view of the Second Amendment holds that an armed citizenry is honor-bound to violently overthrow the government when it becomes tyrannical, and they believe it has. Unfortunately, mainstream politics assist them by tolerating extremist conspiracy theories that previously would not see the light of day.