How will the Oregon standoff end?

[Hortensis]

7. Sounds about right .

They've been able to vandalize a bit, but they came with a grand and noble purpose of opposing federal authority, which has been literally nowhere in sight because the feds arranged for sheriffs around the state to send in deputies to help protect the area residents. Thus our heroes are left alone to squat in some buildings in the wilderness, free to spout their defiance at each other and anyone who comes by to visit. The feds haven't even gratified them with a siege as they've been free to come and go.

I do expect any sentences to be unsatisfyingly mild. That's because the federal caution isn't about these guys themselves. The eye is on the many millions of modern anti-government John Bircher types who are sure our democratic government fell long ago and is controlled by a liberal or whatever dictatorship that is clandestinely sending all those who resist to secret prisons and camps. The feds know a bad ending here would feed a lot more fear and paranoia that would spread like wildfire in this social media age. The last thing they want is even one dead body, much less a Ruby Ridge.

Stupid situation, but we'll repair any physical damage quickly after these idiots get tired of wintering in the middle of nowhere.