Posted on 12/01/2005 8:23:46 AM PST by neverhome
Dear Friends -
A good friend of mine is being trampled by a "good ol' boys network" in Arizona. Kent Knudson has done nothing but protect his property and his family, but he's facing felony charges for doing so. Please join me in getting the word out on this. This could have happened to any of us, and cattle owners in open-range states will never willingly stop their abuse of other people's property. The Wild West needs to join the 21st century.
(Excerpt) Read more at alanburkhart.com ...
This guy is in the wrong. In my county we're under Code of the West laws too. They give you a pamphlet that explains it before you buy your property. The basic rule is: if you don't want open range livestock on your property, you have to fence them out. If you don't put up a fence, livestock are allowed to roam. This is all clearly explained to property owners. If he doesn't like the way we people live out west, move back east, or back to town!!
Any reason the owner of the cow that was killed may have it out for this guy? Something isn't being told IMO....
It was fenced - it seems.
Best way to deal with the quirks of the law in open range country is to move away.
People with cows are about as obnoxious as people with dogs. They'll tell you to your face that the animals gotta' poop, and if you don't like it get out.
The open range laws need to change. This is, afterall, the 21st century. He's offered to pay for the cow, but the rancher has refused payment. They're planning to make an example of Kent.
Open range may be legal, but that doesn't make it right.
Oops, didn't catch that. Sorry!
The guy not only admits to leaving the gate open but then shoots the cow. Is it any wonder the rancher is pressing charges? This guy deserves all he gets.
Open range laws are fine. It's been this way out here for a long time. It's part of our culture. Why does the West have to change to become like the East? I don't have cows, by the way. My neighbors' cows frequently break in and get to our garden, but I can't complain, my horses frequently get into their pasture too. How did the cow end up dead? He didn't explain that.
Well, we've all learned a lesson here.
If this ever happens to you, just rent a back-hoe and bury the cow.
Ok. I just now noticed the link to the sierra times article. It looks like he left the gate open, and he shot the cow. He is clearly in the wrong. Still the rancher should accept the payment and drop it. However people moving from the city or from back East still need to understand "you're not in Kansas" anymore! We don't like Easterners coming in and telling us how to live anymore than Southerners like Yankees telling them how to live.
"We don't like Easterners coming in and telling us how to live anymore than Southerners like Yankees telling them how to live."
Well...
" Our family has lived on 40 acres near Snowflake, AZ for over 25 years."
Sounds like he's been there for a while.
I missed that part....
He knows now what can happen on the open range in the West. And he hasn't closed his gate since.
If he disagrees with the law as it stands he needs to work to change the law. His original contention of being worried about cattle entering his land and posing a threat to his Mom who suffers from Alzheimer's appears to be a straw argument. Do the cattle no longer pose a threat to Mom or his property? He can't plead ignorance now.
From the Sierra Times:
Knudson, a freelance photographer, has a fence to keep cattle out, but had forgotten to close his gate when he rushed his mother to the hospital three days before because she had a mild stroke.
He obviously was aware of the cattle problem since he has a fence to keep them out but he is the one who neglected to close the gate.
Across the West, yellow signs warn of open-range territory along roads and highways, and mean the driver, not the rancher, is liable for hitting a cow with a vehicle.
From Knudson's write up:
Across the West, yellow signs warn of open-range territory along roads and highways, and mean the driver, not the rancher, is liable for hitting a cow with a vehicle.
Our family has lived on 40 acres near Snowflake, AZ for over 25 years.
While I understand he's lived there off and on over the last 25 years did he never see the signs? Did he think they didn't apply to him or did he think only certain areas were designated as open-range?
Having owned land in the panhandle of Texas where our family ran cattle and having an in-law relative who also ran cattle (both properties fenced), I understand and can commiserate with Knudson's frustration with cattle wandering onto his property. I also think the sheriff handcuffing and hauling him in was overkill but since the law states it's a felony to violate the open-range law, a citation to appear in court wasn't viable.
He's chosen to take his stand and while I agree there should probably be a change to the open-range laws I don't think he can play the victim card given he has a fence to keep cattle out.
They walked through the gate that was admittedly left open by the moronic landowner who then turned his gun on them instead of waiting until the rancher got home to get the message his cattle were roaming.
Puff Ping. This guy is getting the bad end of the stick!
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