Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Guest Opinion: Pacific Power joins American Business Act on Climate Pledge ... From the Council: Medford has much to do to prepare for The Really Big One ... Central Oregon fire prompts resort, neighborhood to evacuate ... Guest Opinion: Pacific Power joins American Business Act on Climate Pledge ... From the Council: Medford has much to do to prepare for The Really Big One ... Central Oregon fire prompts resort, neighborhood to evacuate ... OUR VIEW Our View: Oath Keepers find another mine to 'protect' MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Aug. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The Oath Keepers are at it again, this time in Montana. Members of the heavily armed, camouflage-clad group of conservative activists who vow to disobey orders they consider unconstitutional showed up to defend a gold mine on public land in Josephine County in April after mine owners invited them. The owners said at the time they were  concerned that the Bureau of Land Management might seize their mining equipment and destroy a cabin before their appeal was heard. A strikingly similar situation has developed near Lincoln, Mont., where mine owners on National Forest land cut trees, opened a road and built a garage without authorization, and armed Oath Keepers and members of two other groups showed up last week, saying the miners had asked for their protection. The armed groups stood guard at a closed gate and denied access to the public and to the Forest Service.  In both cases, the miners assert they have surface rights to their claim under the Mining Act of 1872, but the BLM and the Forest Service dispute that. In the Montana case, the Forest Service says the mine owners missed a deadline to file paperwork in 1986, and surface rights reverted to the Forest Service under the terms of a 1955 law. In Josephine County, tensions eased in May when an administrative law judge issued an order under which the BLM would hold off on enforcement and the miners would agree not to mine until their appeal was heard. A similar resolution could defuse the Montana situation, but neither case should have come to this. Contrary to some of the overheated rhetoric emanating from "patriot" groups such the Oath Keepers, this is still a nation of laws, and the courts exist to settle just such disputes as these.  Relying on the courts to resolve conflicts over private uses of public land does require both parties to abide by the result, even if it goes against them. If the miners lose in court, either here or in Montana, we trust they will stand down and not engage in armed confrontation with their own government.     MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501