Many of the militia members who came to stand with Bundy against the federal government say they are staying in order to continue “protecting” Bundy. Ryan Payne, a coordinator with Operation Mutual Aid, a national coalition of militia groups, says that militia units will remain “until we feel that there’s nothing more to worry about”:

Once you’ve won a battle, even though this was a bloodless battle and won the standoff, you prepare a defensive posture and prepare for a counterattack.