Oregon Standoff: ‘Send Cigarettes And French Vanilla Creamer’

What’s now known as the “Oregon Standoff” has entered its second week. On January 2, armed militiamen led by the notorious Ammon Bundy, seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Burns, Oregon. Their grievance? Reportedly, the militia, armed with semi-automatic weapons, has an issue with the sentencing of two members of the Hammond family on federal arson charges. This despite the Hammond family publicly disavowing any association with the Oregon standoff situation or those perpetuating it. While Bundy and his co-conspirators show no sign of leaving the wildlife refuge, which is on federal lands, and while they have reportedly rejected several offers for a peaceful resolution to their armed occupation of federal property, the group is apparently in desperate need of some crucial supplies.

Local news station KATU is reporting that the anti-government protesters participating in the armed siege/occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge at the center of the Oregon standoff have requested, through an e-mail sent out by Carol Bundy, the mother of Ammon Bundy, a lengthy list of supplies essential for freedom fighting. The Oregon standoff participants requested everything from cigarettes to tampons to vanilla creamer (presumably to sweeten and flavor their coffee, which they also requested.)

Several different brands of cigarettes and other tobacco products were included on the “wishlist” sent out by the mother of the Oregon standoff organizer. All in all, the participants in the Oregon standoff seem to need virtually everything, from “razors” to “safety razors” and from “shredded cheese” to “sliced cheese.” On the whole, few of the items seem essential to survival, but merely designed to add to the comfort of those who’ve embarked upon an armed insurgency against the United States federal government.

Conspicuously missing from the list of requested items presumably compiled by the Oregon standoff participants? Guns and ammo. It appears that the group has plenty of firepower, despite its lack of tobacco, coffee, snacks, and hygiene supplies.

This is far from the first time members of the Oregon standoff have asked for donations. Raw Story reports that only days ago, at least one member of the Oregon standoff caused strife among his fellow domestic terrorists when he was busted dipping his fingers into donated funds the group had asked for and received online. Reports indicate that Joe Oshaugnessy, “Captain O” to his Oregon standoff friends, was caught drinking away donation money at a local motel. Indeed, Captain O, a recruiter for the Oregon standoff militiamen, was reportedly caught red-handed by a fellow Oregon standoff participant, Jon Ritzheimer. Ritzheimer reportedly tearfully told another Oregon standoff militia member about his discovery. That militiaman, Cai Irvin, took to social media to share the angst.

“Ritzheimer did call me — he’s f***ing pissed, he’s mad, he’s upset. He told me to tell all of you that Joe Oshaugnessy is a deserter and a coward.”

Despite the previous infighting among members of the Oregon standoff regarding donations, participants in the armed occupation of federal lands apparently don’t mind asking for more of them. Even money, which was at the crux of the previous discord, is on the list of requested donation items.

KATU reports that despite asking for more stuff from supporters, participants in the Oregon standoff are turning away offers of more manpower to assist in their winter occupation of the unguarded, unlocked and undefended Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. It’s reported that additional militia members from the Pacific Patriot Network showed up at the refuge on Saturday, in a convoy of 18 or so vehicles and well-armed to boot. The current occupiers of federal lands holed up at the refuge sent them away, reportedly telling them that they weren’t needed.

The turning away of additional manpower comes just days after the Oregon standoff organizers publicly called for more militiamen to join their cause. Currently, Raw Story reports that the Oregon standoff includes women and children, possibly to dissuade the local or federal government from taking action against the armed occupiers. A social media post from Captain O himself seems to confirm this.

It’s hard to say what will happen in Oregon in the days and weeks to come. Will the militiamen continue to try to extort the government by hiding behind women and children? Will they get their cigarettes and french vanilla creamer? Stay tuned for the latest developments on the Oregon standoff.

[Image Courtesy of Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]