"The lock was a damaged lock and I believe it was shown on CNN. The CNN coverage was after the Kim's car was removed from the area - they are saying the towing vehicle hit and damaged the gate and lock upon leaving the area...
but who knows..."
FROM the article (and all other recent sources)
"The gate was open, BLM officials would later acknowledge, because the bureau had failed to follow normal procedure and close it for the winter"
The article tells us, the BLM people admitted they did not lock the gate.
If you notice some of these guys are making a lot of argument, but they don't seem to have read the article, bray for instance doesn't give any clues he read it.
This is a good article...
http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1166234137153910.xml?oregonian?yedcsn&coll=7