Posted on 04/10/2014 8:09:43 PM PDT by rightwingerpatriot
It's rather hard to believe in this day and age, but there's a range war in Nevada that's heating up. The last rancher in Clark County, Nevada, is defying the federal government's orders to remove his cattle from grazing on federal land. The land in question was restricted by the feds in 1998 from being used for grazing in favor of the desert tortoise, which is an endangered species. The rancher, Cliven Bundy, has been in a standoff with federal authorities since then. He stopped paying grazing fees stating that his family has used the land for 140 years, and that the rights of the state of Nevada supersedes that of the federal government. The feds, through the Bureau of Land Management, see it differently and have closed off the area and have begun rounding up the cattle.
The BLM have sent in several hundred officers and have put a cordon around the Bundy ranch. The situation is deteriorating as some militia members from other states are heading to Nevada to stand with Cliven Bundy, and federal officials and protestors have clashed. The feds say Bundy owes $1 million in grazing fees while he maintains he only owes $300,000. While you can argue the merits or the lack of them of Bundy's case, it is disturbing how the federal government is handling the situation.
First, the BLM has set up areas where you can exercise your First Amendment rights. If you're outside of those areas, you're subject to arrest. Cliven Bundy's son, Dave Bundy, was tasered and arrested for protesting outside the First Amendment zone. As an American, the fact that government officials are outlawing free speech is abhorrent (colleges are doing this as well). The entire United States is a First Amendment area, pure and simple. The designation of free speech zones is anti-American and sickening to the extreme.
Second, the large amount of armed response that the Bureau of Land Management is bringing to bear on this situation is obscene. It's estimated that several hundred federal law enforcement are being used, along with canines, helicopters, vehicles, and (reportedly) snipers. It seems like a huge amount of overkill for a land dispute, and it smacks of the federal government flexing its muscle to intimidate. Since so many resources can be allocated to removing a grand total of 900 cattle, I guess that the entire border with Mexico is finally secure and that the proliferation of gang and drug cartel activity within the border states must have been stopped.
From all the accounts I've read, I think that the farmer seems to be in the wrong. With that said though, it doesn't mean that the government doesn't have to pull a blitzkrieg in the area and stifle free speech. You could have the local authorities take a larger role in the situation to calm things down, but I guess that would get in the way of the federal government getting to show off their power. It's almost as if the federal government wants the situation to blow up so they use full force. Who knows how this situation will end? I only hope it doesn't end like Ruby Ridge or Waco, where lives were lost.
Dingy's protege/advisor of three years ago somehow became the Director of the BLM the other day.
The BLM is all about eliminating grazing on the BLM land in question to provide wildlife habitat offsets for the solar power projects recently constructed nearby.
They (Government) say they restricted the land to save the Tortoise, but...They’ve closed down the sanctuary for the tortoise, and are actually killing them now.
The cattle that are being rounded up are, reportedly, being killed.
This entire thing stinks to high Hell, and I hope more people will stand with the Rancher. If I could get there, I surely would.
It does look like they’re looking to kill someone with this. Another Ruby Ridge in the making. Sandoval is being pathetically subservient here.
If I were the governor, I would have the state troopers down there standing with the rancher!
The government had to pay a settlement to Randy Weaver for Ruby Ridge. Millions.
Didn't bring back his wife, but the government paid out of our taxes.
/johnny
The Endangered Species Act is killing people. It needs to be repealed. Who gives a damn about a stupid tortoise or a bait fish?
H0lder was involved in setting up the ROE.
The turtles apparently thrive in the presence of the cattle (the cattle poop (initially) contains 70% water and nutrients (’cause the cattle are not all that efficient in burning what they eat)).
It is beyond disturbing.
It's always about crony capitalism, properly called Fascism.
The area has an overpopulation of desert tortoises. Dingy Harriet had the area moved because one of her good buddies has a developed property in the area. All lies by an out of control feral big grubment.
Too bad the dicks at BLM can't manage a simple de-escalation. Doesn't say much about their management.
/johnny
Dingy is The MASTER!
See #2 (which also well describes Dingy).
5.56mm
You bet, he can make whopping profits for himself and his kid on real estate that he doesn’t even own.
And the election is still how many months away? What's their hurry?
So the rumor is the BLM has snipers deployed keeping an eye on the protesters. Fine. They're out what, 200, 300 yards maybe? Anyone else think there are some freedom lovers deployed another 500 or so beyond them, keeping an eye on them... Maybe some vets that know a thing or two about concealment in a desert environment... Think about it BLM, you really want to go there, out in the open? Not smart.
ping
Maybe I’m being the old curmudgeon in this, but it isn’t his property. Why should he be entitled to use it? Could he use my property? Yours? Sounds like he thinks he’s entitled. Not sure on what planet he is.
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