The Insanity in Oregon Is a Glimpse of Our Very Dark Future

[G_j]

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a28168996/oregon-republican-senators-militia/?utm_medium=social-media&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=socialflowFBESQ

People with guns have involved themselves in a legislative dispute while the officials of one political party cheer them on.


In these times, everything looks like an ill omen. The capitol is crowded with crows. But it is not an exaggeration to say that if you're not following the ongoing insanity in Oregon, you are missing a look into a very dark future. It begins with a not-at-all-unusual squabble between the Republicans in the Oregon legislature and the Democratic Governor, Kate Brown. At issue is a huge bill aimed at dealing with the climate crisis. On Thursday, every Republican member of the Oregon state senate took a powder, denying Brown and the Democrats a quorum and effectively killing the bill.

Now this is not an unusual tactic. Not long ago, Democratic lawmakers in Texas and in Wisconsin blew town for the same purpose—to throw sand in the gears of a legislative act of which they did not approve and could not stop by conventional means. In Wisconsin, it was to slow down an anti-union measure. In Texas, it was about a redistricting map that gerrymandered the Texas legislature into a farce. The legislative lamsters all had a good time, taking goofy videos in what appeared to be Holiday Inn lobbies while Republicans back home fumed. (The Texans, it should be noted, won a temporary victory.) What makes Oregon different is what the fugitive Republican senators did.


The Republican senators—with the full support of the Oregon Republican Party—made common cause with armed domestic terror groups. (Calling them a militia is a misnomer, regardless of what they may think of themselves.) When a Republican state senator named Brian Boquist heard that Brown was sending the Oregon state police after them, he told a local television station:

Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I’m not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon. It’s just that simple.

..more..

[Martin Eden]

1. Boquist threatens murder against law enforcement officers

While inciting dometic terror groups to violence.

How is that not a crime?

[2naSalit]

2. +1

[NewJeffCT]

3. It is

but, who is going to be the police officer that goes up to them to arrest them? Do they want to risk getting shot? Does the governor call in the national guard and risk a battle in the streets?

[Martin Eden]

4. Sealed Indictment

Wait until all the confrontation is over, then arrest him when things are apparently back to normal.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. +1. But isn't it the law that Republicons can break laws with no consequence?

[Martin Eden]

7. What I have in mind is an Oregon States Attorney determining Boquist committed a crime

Then creating an indictment, but keep it secret (sealed) until such a time as Boquist can be apprehended without an armed terror group at his back.

[Fla Dem]

5. Very frightening, we have given a box of matches to children. Predictable results.

In this case, we have allowed fringe RW anti government wackos to arm themselves comparable to US Special Forces. This emboldens them to stand up to local and state law enforcement.

IF, a big IF, we win the Senate and Presidency and keep the House we have to pass strong anti gun legislation. This is getting ridiculous. Literally, this could become armed combat.

Even if half these actions were passed it would be a positive move.

All guns registered
All gun owners licensed (Sheesh, you have to get a license to fish)
Waiting period for background checks on all purchases / purchasers even repeat purchasers.
No more gun shows. Guns sold only by a licensed dealer in an established business, no mail order purchases.
No high capacity magazines; max at 10.
No assault style guns
No Bump stocks.
Raise age to purchase guns to 21.
"Red flag" laws that temporarily restricts a person from owning a gun