The ALRA believe that the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service had sentenced the Hammond family to "gain ownership of the Hammond ranch which is intermingled with Federal ground in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge" and to "inflict as much pain as possible on the Hammonds to reduce the chances other ranchers will stand up for their rights." The ALRA had also reported on the interference of Ammon Bundy during the Hammond family incident with the Bureau of Land Management. The Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, led by Ammon Bundy, was commented on by Len Vohs, the mayor of Burns from 2008 to 2010, stating "many locals and himself, share the frustration with the federal government that drove Bundy and others to occupy the wildlife refuge" and continued on saying "few support their tactics, and wish they would just go home." Len Vohs had also stated "the occupiers, few if any of whom are from the Burns, do not speak for the town" in regards to Ammon Bundy's group, who had also attended the rally for the Hammonds.