I am a retired lawyer, lots of criminal defense work. Here is my most recent published letter to the editor:
I have been looking at the organized groups parading around in armed squads wondering just how that could be legal in Oregon. Turns out it isn’t.
First we have ORS 166.660 Unlawful paramilitary activity. It is a class C felony to get together, dress up, handle weapons, and talk about injuring people or property. It is a crime to get together to practice and plan to injure people or property. When you see a paramilitary group in public they claim they are doing nothing wrong. Their organized presence tells you they have committed the crime of illegal paramilitary activity just like the drill team marching by tells you what the members have been doing for the past few weeks.
If you felt uncomfortable watching squads of Proud Boys or whoever marching around Portland or Salem seething rage and armed to the teeth it is because you were watching people show you in public the felonies they are committing in private.
If one of these thugs threatens anyone with physical harm for acting within their rights, that is the crime of Coercion, ORS 163.275, also a class C felony.
If a person is threatening another, coercion, while armed with a firearm, then ORS 161.610 provides an opportunity to impose a five year gun minimum.
When the armed gang shows up in public claiming exclusive use of public space, enforced with threats of firearms, they should be asking, are the five year minimums going to run concurrent, or consecutive?(end)
I suggest everyone contact their local DA to determine if anti-militi and coercion statutes are on the books. Most importantly, how do you document these crimes and who do you call if you are a victim.
I have the advantage of looking cops right in the eye and telling them they would not be the first to lose their license to be a cop for not doing their duty, or doing something outside their duty where I can file a complaint.
My position on local law enforcement today is they are PRESUMED to be anti-democracy, pro white nationalist, incompetent bigoted biased assholes. It is really up to them to prove otherwise. Let’s give them an opportunity whenever we can.