Danger in the Forest

[kidicarus13]

Reminds me of the related problems of the Rainbow Family gatherings in Colorado...

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...ado-shrinking/

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...nbow-gathering

http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/r...tional-forest/

[NeedMoreAmmo]

I think you're reading your own meaning into my statement.
(1) I was never suggesting armed raiding parties.
(2) Not apples:apples. This is their perceived "home".

I'm referring to when a group of volunteers on a clean up sweep are harassed/assaulted by a/the "resident/s" of the targeted area, to the point where it results in an armed self-defense scenario. Who is going to be screeching the loudest? Common-sense, productive law-abiding conservatives, or SJW's/the Left/the MSM... And just WHAT do you think they are going to be screeching about?

I know a lot of locals of all flavors would want to be involved in reclaiming their communities. I suppose you could request the vols to go in unarmed, or possibly LE escorted.
I think it would be great if the folks who are creating this situation (liberal D's) would do the bulk of the voluntary reclamation of these areas., along with anyone else that wants to help, but I have a feeling that would not be the case.

Anyway... Not trying to stir the pot, just trying to clarify my original response.

Granted that a cleanup group might be required to defend themselves. That situation would have to be dealt with when / if it happens I suppose, by the law. I would think that being confronted by a hostile group would be enough to get the SO involved, rather than a crew having to deal with some incident between private parties out in the woods.

I am all in favor of armed defense, and it is a valid point that having to resort to that manner of discouraging these invaders would be all over 9news. Perhaps coordinating these with the local LEO agency and USFS would be the best approach. It seems that is what the Peak 2 Peak folks are doing, with some success.

[Mtneer]

Reminds me of the related problems of the Rainbow Family gatherings in Colorado...

Nah, the Rainbows have been around for decades and overall fairly harmless. Heck, they even get permits for gatherings, have their own medic teams, and provide portajohns. Generally pretty good at self policing and cleanup, then they move on.

What's going on with the homefree in the past few years is far, far worse. This really is a new ugly problem. There have already been several wildfires due to this crowd, now that we're looking at a drought year....

[GilpinGuy]

Nah, the Rainbows have been around for decades and overall fairly harmless. Heck, they even get permits for gatherings, have their own medic teams, and provide portajohns. Generally pretty good at self policing and cleanup, then they move on.

What's going on with the homefree in the past few years is far, far worse. This really is a new ugly problem. There have already been several wildfires due to this crowd, now that we're looking at a drought year....

No, no....those fires are all caused by firearms and tannerite, so we have to stop shooting in the forest. The hippies are all about peace, love and the environment, so let them squat.

[hollohas]

The area I hunt was FILLED with squatters this year. They were everywhere. They were camped in and around all of the grounds we hunt. It sucked.

[TFOGGER]

Your proposed alternative? Neither I, nor the article OP linked suggested that these are armed vigilante groups, but rather the opposite. No different from cleaning up a trashed out shooting area.

Substantially lower chance of being stuck with a used hypodermic needle at most shooting sites, although the "people" that leave behind all kinds of garbage there disgust me as well. Cleaning up these camps puts the Samaritans at risk, even when the occupants aren't there to harass them. Not to mention the biohazard from just the basic filth that they choose to live in.

[Ah Pook]

Don’t get me started. To say the problem is on the rise is a vast understatement.

[jslo]

Few weeks ago they had a major "eviction" and clean out at Santa Fe and Mississippi. Park Rangers, police and "volunteers" with piles and shopping carts of blankets, sleeping bags, trash....

[hurley842002]

These were two different RV's parked within a mile of one another on Soda Creek road above Idaho Springs.

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[GilpinGuy]

Don’t get me started. To say the problem is on the rise is a vast understatement.

I'm biting my tongue here as well. It's all been said and, sadly, it won't change. If a few vagrants destroying several homes won't do it, what will it take?