Nevada Ranchers Part 1

     My next series of post will deal with an incident that recently took place in Clark County, Nevada. Over this past weekend, a rancher named Cliven Bundy had portions of his herd removed from pasture by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Sympathetic individuals from across the West rallied to his aid and came armed. After a tense stand-off, the BLM backed down and released the cattle. Fortunately, no one was injured. The BLM possesses a very simple reason for removing the herd. The rancher in question has not payed his grazing fees to use the land for approximately twenty years. Unfortunately, this issue is complicated by a host of other matters. As near as I can tell, these are the facts about the case.

1. Cliven Bundy's actions are unquestionably illegal.
2. The rancher's ancestors have grazed on the property since the 1800's.
3. The rancher attempted to pay the county his fees after refusing to pay the Federal Government.
4. The BLM has done little to enforce the numerous court orders requiring payment for twenty years.
5. The rancher owes some one million dollars in grazing fees.
6. Most of the infrastructure on the land in question was built by the rancher and his family with their money.
7. An endangered tortoise lives within the region.
8. The BLM was once responsible for euthanizing the same tortoises due to budget cuts.
9. The federal authorities erected "First Amendment" zones where protesters were supposed to gather.

     While Bundy is clearly acting illegally, some have argued that the Federal Government is overstepping its authority in this matter. As I gather more information, in the weeks to come I will analyze this incident and decide whether such claims are valid and Cliven Bundy is a freedom fighter who should be supported, or whether he is a rancher in need of jail time.

     Because this issue seems clear-cut at first, I beseech you, my readers, to remember that legal does not necessarily mean just. Even slavery was once legal. Wait for further evidence to be brought before making a decision. Also, if any of you know something that I have missed, feel free to mention it in the comments. As always, constructive criticism is appreciated.