3 percent group responds to Oregon occupation

BURNS, Ore. -- A spokesman for an Idaho-based militia organization said Monday that he did not condone the actions of a group that has holed up in an Oregon wildlife refuge building as part of a protest against the federal government.

The occupiers, who call themselves "Citizens for Constitutional Freedom," say the government has no right to federal lands. The group has also called for Dwight and Steven Hammond, a pair of ranchers imprisoned after their convictions in an arson case, to be freed.

Brandon Curtiss with Three Percent of Idaho said he was among the roughly 300 protesters who marched in Burns, Ore. Saturday in support of the Hammonds. But Curtiss said he had no idea that some of his fellow demonstrators planned to occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge building after the march.

More : Sheriff to armed protesters: 'Go home to your families'

Curtiss said he wants a peaceful resolution to the standoff, but added he does not believe the mix of armed ranchers and militia members are planning violence.

"I do not believe it will turn into a violent escalation," he said. "If the law enforcement side takes a drastic action forcing it into a violent escalation, I do believe they will stand their ground and they may have a different outcome. But as long as all parties, law enforcement and people there at the refuge building, maintain a mindset of coming out of this with a peaceful resolution, it will stay that way."

Law enforcement has not yet moved to force the group out. Bundy has said his group is prepared to defend itself if necessary.

Three Percent of Idaho is closely following the developments at the wildlife refuge 30 miles southeast of Burns, Curtiss said, and hope it will not culminate in a deadly standoff like Waco or Ruby Ridge.

Related: Militia members speak out about wildlife refuge takeover

But the spokesman said he felt that Ammon Bundy and the other members of the occupying group were being mischaracterized as hostile law-breakers.

"These are just a group of individuals, and they're not anti-government, they just don't agree with how the government's being run right now and they want to see some changes," Curtiss said.

Debbie Johnson, a rancher in Harney County, says she's looking for change as well. Johnson and her family turned out at a press conference held at the wildlife refuge Monday to hear Bundy speak.

"We wanted to come down and find out for ourselves what was going on," she said.

More: Burns, Oregon residents' message to militia: 'Go away'

Johnson shared Bundy's concerns that government regulations on grazing, hunting and water rights are jeopardizing the country's ranching families.

"Every year, it seems like they get a little bit tighter," she said. "It feels like we're getting pinched out."

Harney County Sheriff David Ward has called on the occupiers to go home. Multiple schools remain closed as a precaution, and employees at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge have been unable to return to work.

"You said you were here to help the citizens of Harney County," Ward said during a press conference. "That help ended when a peaceful protest became an armed and unlawful protest."