My problem with all the reports about this situation is that they all say that the farmer is in the wrong.
Well, he and his family were grazing on those lands before the BLM even came into existence. Then, when the BLM was created, they agreed to pay grazing fees, and the GOVERNMENT (the BLM) would pay for the road maintenance and other improvements.
The BLM is NOT, has NOT and will NOT use these grazing fees to do their agreed upon maintenance and up-keep. Unfortunately, all of the courts refuse to look at THAT evidence, and instead simply say, “You gotta keep paying.”
What the Gundy’s want to know is, “WHAT THE HELL AM I PAYING FOR, IF I GET NOTHING IN RETURN?” This whole thing is BS!
And as has already been noted, the first premise was the desert tortoises, but they are now OVER populated and the government has shut down the reserve and is killing the excess turtles! So, their entire case is a LIE, and STILL the courts refuse to look at the OBVIOUS evidence!
Actually, what he refused to do was pay on the basis the the US government did not own the land.
Agree fully with your posting!
That’s exactly the same takeaway I’ve gotten from reading many articles and seeing coverage on FoxNews.
The Feds ran off all of the surrounding ranchers, but the Gundys are fighting back; and they are getting support in their efforts.