An Oregon man, Gary Harrington, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for of collecting rainwater – he surrendered Wednesday morning to begin serving his sentence.
This is how far gone our country is to a totalitarian state: a man can’t dig a big hole on his property and let rain fill it without going to jail.
Gary Harrington, the Oregon man convicted of collecting rainwater and snow runoff on his rural property surrendered Wednesday morning to begin serving his 30-day, jail sentence in Medford, Ore.
“I’m sacrificing my liberty so we can stand up as a country and stand for our liberty,” Harrington told a small crowd of people gathered outside of the Jackson County (Ore.) Jail.
Several people held signs that showed support for Harrington as he was taken inside the jail.
Harrington was found guilty two weeks ago of breaking a 1925 law for having, what state water managers called “three illegal reservoirs” on his property. He was convicted of nine misdemeanors, sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined over $1500 for collecting rainwater and snow runoff on his property.
The Oregon Water Resources Department, claims that Harrington has been violating the state’s water use law by diverting water from streams running into the Big Butte River.
But Harrington says he is not diverting the state’s water — merely collecting rainwater and snow melt that falls or flows on his own property.
Source: /cnsnews.com
Photo: IMAGE NAME
Sad state of affairs….what happened to our freedom?
Ivory says:
“Did anyone commenting here know that it is actually LEGAL to collect rainwater in Oregon? It is, if you collect the runoff from your roof’s rain gutters, buckets and tubs, or those massive rainwater barrels. What is NOT legal is what Mr. Gary Harrington did…dig three massive holes (ponds) that has collected THIRTEEN MILLION GALLON of rainwater and snow runoffs. One of the ponds he has stocked with large-mouth bass and built 10 and 20 foot dams around it…without getting the required permits. Somehow that would seem to deprive other people around him of God-given rainwater. His issue was debated with the Oregon Water Board and they ruled against him and required him to breach the dams, drain the ponds, and allowed that he could collect rainwater and snow runoffs the usual way. he refused and was tried and convicted.
A “little” different perspective.”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/man-gets-30-days-jail-catching-rain-water-property/comment-page-12/#comment-322256
Ivory says:
“Paul, obviously you are unaware that this law has nothing to do with a “prototype liberal society”…it is a 1925 law. There was no liberal/progressive party or society in those days…not even in Oregon. Again…just assigning blame to further your political agenda, and truth be damned!!”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/man-gets-30-days-jail-catching-rain-water-property/comment-page-12/#comment-322195
Ivory says:
“Yes, it is about rainwater and Oregon…yet, Obama’s name and administration is blamed extensively here. And my point from the beginning has been…people rather “point fingers and assign blame” to further their political and social agendas, rather than work together to find SOLUTIONS.”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/man-gets-30-days-jail-catching-rain-water-property/comment-page-11/#comment-322177
Ivory says:
“The “white guy isn’t to blame, either. It is that stupid 1925 Oregon law. Who’s coming to dinner? People with intelligence, moral courage… and the ability to comprehend, regardless of their race/ethnicity. That’s who comes to dinner in my house. Not anyone who rather assign blame, state facts based only on their opinions. By the way, Glen…why do you assume I’m liberal? Because I urge you to search for the truth before assigning blame…or, because I told the truth??”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/man-gets-30-days-jail-catching-rain-water-property/comment-page-11/#comment-322136
Want to live in Oregon?
Nonsense
If he was an illegal the government would have paid him for the water ?
🙁
This is bs , No ONE owns the rain !