The occupation of the wildlife refuge building in Oregon has evolved into a controversy surrounding gun control laws. Ammon Bundy, the leader of the group of armed men who have seized the federal building, frequently discusses a tyrannical government violating constitutional freedom, while he strives for recognition in the media as a freedom fighter.

The incident arose when Bundy assembled several men to protest the arrest of Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond. According to prosecutors, the Hammonds were convicted in 2012 for arson of 130 acres of federal land, but after a sentence of one year, prosecutors deemed it necessary to extend their sentence to five years. On Jan. 2, the day after the peaceful protests to reduce the Hammonds’ sentence, Bundy and his armed affiliates occupied buildings in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. In a video, Bundy stated that he and his supporters want to restore the glory of Harney County by freeing the land under Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. He invites people across the country to arm themselves and join him in the standoff against a “tyranny.”

These militiamen of Oregon portray themselves as heroes. But what is heroic or patriotic about breaking common law? Bundy and his men hold an unsustainable position in violently protesting federal law, and they will soon lose their hold on the wildlife refuge.

Bundy frequently uses social media, including both Facebook and Twitter to convey anti-government ideas. In one of his tweets, he claims his actions compare to those of Rosa Parks. But such a comparison means nothing, since the Montgomery bus boycott was a peaceful protest. Though he labels his actions as peaceful in order to garner support, his crew’s carrying weapons indicates a rather violent intent.

Why must these men go to such extreme lengths to express their ideas? Bundy knows that gun threats are enough to create tension and raise worry in the public. Without weaponry, the militiamen would be quickly shut down by the Oregon sheriff, but the armed threat prevents them from taking immediate action.

In fact, the movement no longer identifies as a protest. Bundy is trying to revive Harney County from its low income state by occupying federal property, at the expense of both the gov. Eventually, Bundy and his men will exhaust their “society” of all resources. Through a Facebook post, Blaine Cooper, one of the militiamen at the refuge, requested “snacks, supplies, or anything useful” to support their cause. The men use sympathy to gain popularity for their actions. However, the post was ridiculed all over the internet.

When the group finally loses all outside support and finally realizes the faults in its actions, it is unacceptable to allow them into society without facing the consequences of their actions. The ranchers would have to be arrested and their agricultural permits revoked. Past legal standoffs have only ended in either violence or a compromise favorable to the protesting group. It will be intriguing to see how law enforcement will prosecute those involved, if their actions will go unnoticed, or if they are arrested. No matter what, armed threats and domestic terrorism should never go unpunished.