Posted on 06/27/2025 7:04:22 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Don’t Sell Off Our American Birthright
By Johnny Morris and Collin O’Mara
June 27, 2025
America's public lands embody a revolutionary promise. Rejecting the European model that reserved the best lands and wildlife for the crown, our nation established that our majestic natural treasures⁶ would be the birthright of every American. These lands are not only central to our identity—the places we hunt, fish, and recreate across generations—they also serve as the foundation of America’s outdoor recreation economy, which supports more than five million jobs and contributes mightily to our US economy.
A recent proposal in the Senate’s budget reconciliation package threatens to begin liquidating this natural inheritance of every American. The provision would force the disposal of more than a million acres of federal land across the West. While this is not an assault on our iconic national parks, wildlife refuges, and other designated lands, it does target the lands of the Bureau of Land Management where tens of millions of Americans hunt, fish, and hike. Importantly, these same public lands that are proposed to be sold also provide vital public access for sportsmen and women to other adjoining public lands. This is a bad deal for taxpayers, a threat to our way of life!
It just doesn’t make fiscal sense to liquidate capital assets that generate a compounding $1.1 trillion return annually for a one-time payment of what is, in the grand scheme of things, a relatively small amount of money. That’s not just selling the family farm; it's selling it for a fraction of a single year’s harvest. To be clear, we are not opposed to all land transfers. There are instances where land swaps or targeted sales make sense to meet specific community and housing needs, improve management, expand access, or enhance ecological connectivity. Responsible governance, however, demands an orderly and transparent process. We already have proven, long-established frameworks for this.
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 created a transparent, public process to ensure any land disposal serves the national interest.
The Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA), which was improved with bipartisan support during the first Trump Administration, established a smart, market-based system where proceeds from the sale of parcels are reinvested into acquiring high-priority conservation lands and creating new access for sportsmen and women. We should make these laws work better, rather than circumventing them. The reconciliation proposal abandons these safeguards, using a procedural shortcut to bypass public input and silence the voices of local communities. Worse, it raids the dedicated conservation fund created by FLTFA, diverting nearly all of the sale proceeds to the general Treasury and breaking the conservation covenant that guarantees a net-gain for conservation, wildlife, and public access. All of us at Bass Pro Shops and the National Wildlife Federation are proud to remain steadfast in our commitment to stand united with the sportsmen and women we are blessed to serve. This is why we have been working with a broad and unprecedented coalition that has risen in opposition. Nearly every major hunting, fishing, outdoor recreation, and conservation organization in the country— representing tens of millions of sportsmen and women—have formally urged the Senate to reject this provision.
We stand united that our focus should be on the restoration and improved management of our public lands “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people”—not selling them to the highest bidder! Heeding this call, the House of Representatives, under the leadership of former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Rep. Mike Simpson, wisely rejected a similar provision. The Senate should do the same.
The choice is clear: Uphold President Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy of wise stewardship or erode our nation’s outdoor heritage. Let’s not sell off our American birthright.
Mr. Morris is a noted conservationist and the founder and Lead Outfitter of Bass Pro Shops. Mr. O’Mara is president and CEO of the seven million members strong National Wildlife Federation.
Just like naming a stadium, we could sell rights to have a billionaires face on Mt. Rushmore with the Presidents.
This is a big deal on hunting forums right now. I’ve wanted to ask them why the Federal Government owns and should hold this land. I don’t ask, don’t need the bs.
Still, I think states should be given right of first refusal when off loading federal lands. At no cost.
I any case, Mike Lee is a scumbag.
Cabelas is a credit card company masquerading as an outdoors supplier
.
Mumbai Mike must be having mortgage problems, again.
Open the lands up to hunters and campers, do not sell it.
You think if these lands are sold off, outdoorsmen, aka Cabelas customers will still have access to them?
Exactly.
I always have a reason for what I write. I wait, let people step in it and let them make fools of themselves. These fellas have no interest in the common man. Come and get some. We're easy, no, I'm easy. Apparently, no one reads my prior posts.
I always have a reason for what I write. I wait, let people step in it and let them make fools of themselves. These fellas have no interest in the common man. Come and get some. We're easy, no, I'm easy. Apparently, no one reads my prior posts.
There, finally it more correctly done...lol.
Thats probably why it is on the table. The hedgefunds want the land.
You can actually argue both sides of this private public land argument
You need balance
The govt already owns a buttload of land
Plus it depends on who’s running interior etc that term
Whack jobs like to close federal land when they can
Different topic but related
Kali has to retain water and clear undergrowth
Trump should prioritize that
And drill like hell
Dick’s Sporting Goods is aptly named. I bought some 5.56 there, the clerk treated me like a leper.
I agree.
I am confused by your approach to this topic. Your use of the FR "Post" function is puzzling to me. I just don't know what you are getting at. You say:
This e-mail upset me to no end.
What part of the text in the body of what you posted shows that it was from an emaIL authored by the business firm "Cabelas"?
That business is nowhere mentioned in the article titled
"Don’t Sell Off Our American Birthright"of which the authors of which seem to be:
"By Johnny Morris and Collin O’Mara"What is your complaint and what do you want your treaders to understand?
Nowhere in the material you posted is thwere any indication of it being sent by email, or by Cabela's, or that the authors are writing at the request of the Cabela business, or that they or Cabela is speaking for you or addressing you as a potential recipient to be influenced.
How about making clear what this is all about, wehat your position on the matter is, and whty.
Please. what is your expectation for a commenter;s response to be?
Are you "for" the subject to be voted on, or are you "against" it?
What is the title of the bill to be voted on? (it wasn't until the end of your text that the context was the United States Senate and not some other as the forum for any action to be undertaken.<> Etc. Be more clear as to why you posted anything on this topic.
Yup, the elite would buy it for themselves and it would be lost to public use forever. And the best spots at that.
That’s horrible legislation. Those lands are used by Westerners to hike, hunt, fish, shoot, off-road, mine, camp and so much more. It’s not right that those public lands, used for decades by everyone, will now be sold off to light us like Larry Ellison, who will gate everything off and shut all the roads and trails down to public use.
It’s horrifying, how much this single bill will destroy recreation in the West!
Those lands that Lee wants to turn private are adjoining urban areas like Las Vegas and SLC. They are mostly flat lands, not high mountain ranges.
I’ll not go to the brown bear wing.
We no longer go to Cabelas ....too expensive.
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Well, I have to shop there... and do it soon. Somehow, I was the winner of $800 of Cabelas gift cards when at a trade show a while back.
Buffalo wrangling! Sell tickets! Fun for the whole family!
All jokes aside, there’s a big push to shut down access to the wilderness from us plebs and funnel us into their 15 minute plan. Here in western Canada I see it in action a lot. So far we don’t tolerate it, but they’re also going to be coming after our guns. What a time to be alive.
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