[no-to-illegals]

it’s my understanding that Bundy was the “last rancher standing” in the area. The Feds have an interesting strategy; many of these ranchers could trace their lineage with their land back to the late 1800’s. At that time the government was encouraging folks to settle on land by utilizing the Homestead Act. Problem was the Homestead Act only granted settlers 160 acres which was ok for establishing a family farm back east. However, in the desert west 160 acres would/will only support a few head of cattle. So, what the original settlers did was to Homestead acreage around various water sources and utilize surrounding free range for grazing. I would not be surprised should this go to court that Bundy and other original ranchers to be not only found innocent but are grandfathered with grazing rights.

Makes one wonder how many laws have been rewritten since the 1800s to possibly and probably remove 'grandfathered rights'?

[snoringbear]

“Makes one wonder how many laws have been rewritten since the 1800s to possibly and probably remove ‘grandfathered rights’?”

Couldn’t say. However, these ranchers ancestors Homesteaded their respective 160 acres long before the open range came under jurisprudence of either the state or federal government. Hence, I suspect that these small islands of private ownership in a large sea of public land has been a festering thorn in the hides of radical environmentalists and their goons the EPA.