The trial of Cliven Bundy: A travesty of justice

americanthinker.com ^ | 4/12/2017 | Leesa K. Donner

[rktman]

This week, a group of men who stood face to face with government agents and refused to back down will find out how many more years of their lives that decision will cost them, as a verdict is expected in their federal trial in Las Vegas. It is the case of United States v. Cliven Bundy, et al.

Here's a brief look at how it all began.

"Are you really going to shoot these people if they move forward? Yes or no?"

Dennis Michael Lynch, a documentary filmmaker, yelled this pivotal question to government agents at a ranch outside Bunkerville, Nevada two years ago this month. As Lynch explained to Megyn Kelly later, he ran ahead of a group of ranchers and their supporters as they approached federal officials. The group planned to retrieve cattle the agents had taken from rancher Cliven Bundy, by force if necessary. Federal agents, you may remember, held that the land on which the cattle were grazing belonged to the government. Lynch's purpose was to bring some reason to the rapidly escalating situation. The ranchers were "willing to die," he said – not over some taxes and fees, but over the core belief that the federal government has limits.

[Reno89519]

I don’t use Wikipedia, but this confirms my view that the Bundys have simply stolen the use of our public lands. And their freeloading has prevented the BLM from leasingthese grazing rights to other ranchers. They then chose to arm themselves to prevent an end of their theft. They belong in jail, and should count their blessings they were not shot.

[rktman]

“....even if I use the word bunnies....” Yeah them iPads can be bothersome. But, as far as the bunnies? They have total control of my backyard and graze at their leisure. Federal lands in NV were part of the deal for statehood if I remember correctly. Which is suspect of course.

[combat_boots]

Navarro is an 0bama appointee.

[butterdezillion]

Her dirty underwear should be exposed so we the people can see how the US government makes the toxic sausage it uses to kill the Constitution and the republic.

[Reno89519]

We get lots of bunnies in our backyard too. About a year ago I got to watch an eagle snag one of them, then rip it apart while perched on a fence post. My wife insists on putting water and food out for birds and animals, so we get quite a collection throughout the day, outside my office window.

[Moonman62]

Federal lands in NV were part of the deal for statehood if I remember correctly. Which is suspect of course.

...

This conflict started in 1993. I think the issue of who has legal ownership of the land has already been decided in court.

[mad_as_he$$]

There were .gov drones in the area.

[NewMexLurker]

There are a lot of strong feelings here about this topic, and I suspect you are in for some flames. But for what it’s worth, I also have a problem with the Bundy’s stopping payments for their grazing permits, but continuing to run their cattle on public land.

I grew up in southern New Mexico, and at that time there were a lot of ranchers down that way; some large but mostly small outfits. All the ranch kids came into town for school, and many of them were my friends growing up. Almost all of those ranchers paid for permits to graze their cattle on public lands. And it seemed to work out pretty well for all concerned.

Every once in a while, a rancher would break the rules; typically running more cattle on the public lands than they had paid for. When they got caught, sometimes there would be a fine to pay, but for repeat offenders sometimes they would lose the right to their permit. When that happened, there was always another rancher standing in line, willing and quite happy to buy the open permit. Always.

I’ve been away from that area for many years, and maybe things have changed. But with the ranch families I used to know, I think probably most of them would not support the actions of the Bundys.

[beelzepug]

Any operation that sadistic bastard Dan Love is involved in is automatically suspect. It really is a shame people like him are even permitted to interact with the public.

[Twinkie]

Lavoy Finicum?

[LucyT]

The trial of Cliven Bundy: A travesty of justice

Thanks, HarleyLady27.

[HarleyLady27]

You are very welcome...

[oldfart]

Were it as you have recounted, I too would be critical of the Bundys. But the problem goes a bit further back than just that simple explanation.

Why (and how) does the federal government claim ownership of the vast areas they claim? According to the 17th paragraph of Section 8, Article 1 of the “supreme law of the land,” the federal government cannot own all that land.

I have not studied this case so there’s lots of room for me to be wrong but aside from the habitual disregard of the Constitution there has been no “legal” amendment of the parts that supposedly limit the feds from claiming everything that isn’t nailed down - except responsibility for their actions.

If the Constitution is still in force then all that land the Bundy cattle were gazing actually belongs to the State of Nevada or to the various counties (if that is what the State decreed.) I understand that Cliven Bundy tried to pay his grazing fees to the county or state but was turned away.

[deport]

I know there are a lot of varying opinions on this whole fiasco so get after it.

************

I suspect opinions are all over the board. Here is an older article giving
some details of the situation over time. How accurate it is and what today’s
positions are I have no idea.

http://www.factandmyth.com/conspiracy-theory/cliven-bundys-cattle-and-the-federal-land-grab
Fact Check – The Bundy Ranch Cattle & The BLM

[deport]

Scroll down to the section entitled “is Bundy Constitutionally correct?”
and it discusses exactly what you are referencing regarding Fed ownership.

http://www.factandmyth.com/conspiracy-theory/cliven-bundys-cattle-and-the-federal-land-grab
Is Bundy Constitutionally correct?

[Reno89519]

Nothing in the Constitution says the government cannot own land. They bought it in the first place. And thief Bundy is a very poor standard bearer to protest that ownership.

[itsahoot]

Nothing in the Constitution says the government cannot own land.

I think you are dead wrong abut that.

[Reno89519]

So, how then did we buy the land west of the Mississippi, or buy Alaska? How did the government buy land anywhere. Nothing says they can’t and the evidence shows they have and do!!! I am not sure where to classify this ‘government can’t own land’ claim, maybe with faked moon landings?

[Edward.Fish]

The fact that Judge Navarro refused to let copies of the Constitution into the courtroom - and removed one person for having a copy in his pants pocket where it could be seen - speaks loud and clear as to what the jury was supposed to think of the Constitution. Nothing. They were not allowed to see any evidence that we even HAVE a Constitution.

Mulling this over a bit, I have to ask: What differentiates this judge from a domestic enemy of the Constitution?*

Functionally the actions of this judge are contrary to the Constitution in any case (6th amendment), but even more disturbing and indicative of the spirit of these actions is that hostility towards the Constitution.

* -- The Oath of Office says: I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.