Bundy Boy Jon Ritzheimer Gives A Lecture On The Constitution And Gets It Wrong
January 22, 2016

Crazy Jon Ritzheimer posted a new video to his Facebook page in an effort to "educate the public" about why the Bundy Boys are illegally inhabiting the Malheur Wildlife Reserve. Boy howdy, is it a doozy.

In it, he cites Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the United States constitution (while clutching his very own Pocket Constitution) which says this:

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of Particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--

So that we're clear here, that clause refers to an establishment of the national capitol, which currently is what we call Washington, D.C. For more wonkery on this, you can read the comments of the Founding Fathers during the discussion of this particular clause here, where it clearly refers to the location of the federal government.

Ritzheimer, however, appears to have taken this clause and twisted it around until he believes with all of his heart that the term "consent of the legislature of the state" somehow also applies to wildlife preserves in Oregon.

Ritzheimer wrote this and posted it with his video.

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17. We are here and trying to be as transparent as possible. We want this to end peacefully and if it doesn't then it's only because of a lack of education on the Constitution and because there were individuals who were willing to "Just do their job" like the Nazis and kill people because an evil tyrant stood behind them and pointed the finger at us. We The People are the boss. It's time for this false illusion of the government being the boss to end. God help us all if they come in here to pick a fight. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17. The Feds are not allowed to own or manage this land. They have zero jurisdiction here. Read it people and then call your reps and demand the Feds back off.

That last sentence seems to be what this is all about. In about the middle of the video, Ritzheimer says, "We can still talk about this and end this civilly."

"America has to have evolved enough to where we can have a peaceful resolution come," he stressed.

This is the same man who was willing to die a couple of weeks ago while defending his right to lay claim to federal lands where birds live.

He also claimed to have been "BSing with some deputies" after the town meeting last night where residents begged them all to go home, and convincing them he was right. This guy has an ego, I'll grant him that.

"I'm begging you people, do not let the Feds come in and just kill everyone," he pleaded. "We are going to stand for what's right, which is the Constitution."

Apparently Ritzheimer hasn't quite made it all the way through the Constitution himself, as Ian Millhiser explains:

As a constitutional matter, this is gobbledygook. The Constitution provides that β€œCongress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States.” Moreover, the Supreme Court unanimously held in Kleppe v. New Mexico, that this constitutional provision provides that β€œthe power over the public land thus entrusted to Congress is without limitations.” The federal government may own land, it may enact regulations governing that land, and it may do with its own land as it chooses, regardless of whether that land is within the borders of a state.

Sorry, Jon, but it looks like you need to go back to civics class.

Watch the video below:

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17. We are here and trying to be as transparent as possible. We want this to end peacefully and if it doesn't then it's only because of a lack of education on the Constitution and because there were individuals who were willing to "Just do their job" like the Nazis and kill people because an evil tyrant stood behind them and pointed the finger at us. We The People are the boss. It's time for this false illusion of the government being the boss to end. God help us all if they come in here to pick a fight. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17. The Feds are not allowed to own or manage this land. They have zero jurisdiction here. Read it people and then call your reps and demand the Feds back off.

Posted by Jon Ritzheimer on Thursday, January 21, 2016

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