Thanks to law enforcement

The definition of a patriot is one who loves and defends his country. A group of individuals with extreme views on the use and management of federal lands armed themselves and forcefully occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. They proclaimed themselves patriots and demanded that federal lands be turned over for local control, and that two convicted arsonists be released from jail.

Two leaders of this group are the sons of a Nevada livestock producer who refuses to pay fees for grazing his cattle on our public lands, and who also staged an armed standoff with the federal government in 2014. The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge standoff ended with one rancher killed, the arrest of several individuals and the surrender of the last four holdouts.

The true patriots in this case are our federal, state and county law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to defend law-abiding American citizens. We owe a thank you to all who sought a peaceful outcome and for ending the standoff as peacefully as was possible under the circumstances.

Dan Trochta

Colbert