Ruby Ridge and Waco, again...Wake up, America!

Nevada Governor Blasts Feds Police State First Amendment Area in Bundy Dispute
Constitutional rights sacred to all Nevadans Paul Joseph Watson Infowars.com April 9, 2014 Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval has inserted himself into the escalating standoff between cattle rancher Cliven Bundy and federal officials by blasting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over their creation of a First Amendment Area outside of which free speech is banned.

Image: First Amendment Area (YouTube). The First Amendment Area set up by BLM agents is a crudely taped off piece of land inside which supporters of Bundy, who is engaged in a long running dispute with feds over grazing rights on a 600,000 acre expanse in northeastern Clark County, are allowed to express their free speech. However, protesters have completely ignored the area, instead staging large demonstrations on Bundys ranch. The only presence inside the First Amendment Area are signs which read 1st Amendment is not an area and another that states, Welcome to Amerika Wake Up alongside a hammer and sickle logo.

Most disturbing to me is the BLMs establishment of a First Amendment Area that tramples upon Nevadans fundamental rights under the U.S. Constitution, said Sandoval in a statement. To that end, I have advised the BLM that such conduct is offensive to me and countless others and that the First Amendment Area should be dismantled immediately. No cow justifies the atmosphere of intimidation which currently exists nor the limitation of constitutional rights that are sacred to all Nevadans. The BLM needs to reconsider its approach to this matter and act accordingly, asserted the Governor. The Bundy family responded to Sandovals statement by saying they were disappointed that he didnt take a more firm stance to back them in their dispute with the BLM, but they were pleased with his sentiments regarding the First Amendment Area. Whenever you designate an area, then youre restricting it everywhere else. When you designate an area like that for first amendment rights, you [don't] give the people any rights. You [take them] away, and every other location, said Ryan Bundy. The Bundy family came face to face with the consequences of violating the free speech zone on Sunday when Dave Bundy was arrested for taking video footage from a state highway of BLM agents rounding up his familys cattle. Video footage later proved that armed snipers had their guns trained on the family during the incident. On Sunday, Cliven Bundy promised to launch a range war on federal officials after they began rounding up his cattle. Authorities are justifying the move by pointing out they are simply enforcing a 1993 rule change which prevents Bundys livestock from grazing on the land in order to protect the endangered desert tortoise. Bundy and his supporters see the spat as something entirely different, portraying it as a clash between out of control big government and patriotic American family farmers. With Bundys ranch under constant surveillance from armed agents ensconced inside what Ryan Bundy described as a military compound, some fear the standoff could lead to a Ruby Ridge or Waco-style tragedy. Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/paul.j.watson.71 FOLLOW Paul Joseph Watson @ https://twitter.com/PrisonPlanet ********************* Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Infowars.com and Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a host for Infowars Nightly News.
This article was posted: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 6:23 am

Tags: police state

' W ake up Am er i ca, 'says f am i l y i nvol ved i n BLM cat t l e di sput e

By Fai t h Heat on J ol l ey and Dave Cawl ey Apr i l7t h,2014 @ 6: 56pm

Bailey Bundy Logue

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CLARK COUNTY, Nevada A man has been released after being arrested Sunday during an ongoing dispute over grazing rights between the Bureau of Land Management and a family in southern Nevada, and the family is calling for action. A federal judge in Las Vegas first ordered Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy to remove his trespassing cattle in 1998, according to reports from the Associated Press. Similar orders were issued in July 2013, and again in October. Saturday, the BLM began taking some of the 908 cattle from Bundy. The BLM says Bundy's cattle have been trespassing on U.S. land without required grazing permits for over 25 years. However, Bundy said he doesn't recognize federal authority on land that he says belongs to the state of Nevada. The BLM released a statement on its website saying, "Cattle have been in trespass on public lands in Southern Nevada for more than two decades. This is unfair to the thousands of other ranchers who graze livestock in compliance with federal laws and regulations throughout the west. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Park Service (NPS) have made repeated attempts to resolve this matter administratively and judicially." The situation escalated Saturday after Cliven Bundy's son, Dave Bundy, 37, was arrested. Members of the Bundy family had gathered to film and take pictures of the removal of their cattle in an effort to document the event, according to Cliven Bundy's daughter, Bailey Bundy Logue. The family members had parked on the side of Nevada state Route 170, but the highway was included in the temporary closure of public lands, according to BLM representative Kirsten Cannon. Dave Bundy was arrested and cited with a criminal charge of refusing to disperse and resisting officers. Cannon said all public lands are closed within the designated closure area during the removal of the trespassing cattle.

W ake up Am er i ca.Look whatourancest or sf oughtf orand we need t o st and up f ort hat .W e need t or eal i ze what ' s happeni ng.They ar et aki ng ever yt hi ng away f r om us.Thi si sn' tonl y aboutone f am i l y.Thi si s about ever yone' sf am i l y.
Bai l ey Bundy Logue

Logue said Dave Bundy was taking pictures and recording on his iPad when he was asked by federal employees what he was doing. Logue said that Dave Bundy told the BLM workers that he was "exercising (his) First Amendment rights."

"He did not resist arrest, but they continued to beat him," Logue told KSL. "They put him on the ground and were standing on his head and had a dozen officers on top of him and dogs." The Bundy family was asked to leave the premises after Dave Bundy's arrest. Logue said that there were snipers and uniformed men on the scene during the cattle impoundment. "That's scary," Logue said. "I was angry, but there was nothing I can do. We were so outnumbered. With nothing but weapons of our cameras, we did our best at taking pictures. But when you're in that situation your mind is not thinking very straight." Dave Bundy was released Monday afternoon. However, the Bundy family said they feel that their First Amendment rights were violated and that they were entitled to meet on state Route 170 to take pictures. That is against our First Amendment right," Logue said. "They say its a First Amendment area, but we have rights everywhere. Since when have we had First Amendment areas? Thats not what it says in the Constitution. The Bundy family said they organized a rally for people to meet to support their First Amendment rights and their rights to public land. The rally was held near state Route 170 and I15 on private land and around 100 people held a peaceful protest, Cannon said. "We have got together hundreds of people from all over the world and they are here, not because this is about cattle," Logue said. "We are asking people to come and stand up for their rights. We have lost all state sovereignty. I mean (it's like) martial law in our home town, in America." Cannon said 134 cattle had been impounded by federal employees as of Monday afternoon, but the location will not be released during the ongoing operation. The cattle roundup was estimated to take between 21 to 30 days with further temporary closures during the operation. Wake up America," Logue said. "Look what our ancestors fought for and we need to stand up for that. We need to realize whats happening. They are taking everything away from us. This isnt only about one family. This is about everyones family. This is martial law and its in America and so what are you going to do to have it stay out of America? Cliven Bundy reportedly owes the BLM and U.S. government $1 million in back grazing fees, according to Cannon.

Read m or e at ht t p: //www. ksl . com /?ni d=148&si d=29387272#XqGpYFgt zM 6XTvEe. 99

Defiant Nevada rancher faces armed federal agents in escalating confiscation standoff

April 9, 2014 by Richard Berkow 1239 Comments Update: See video of protesters heated battle with police, below: A long-simmering dispute between a Nevada cattle rancher and the federal Bureau of Land Management has reached a boiling point, and participants have their fingers crossed it wont erupt into violence.

Photo: BundyRanch.blogspot.com Since 1993, Cliven Bundy has been battling the agency, as well as the National Park Service, the Center for Biological Diversity and the courts, to graze his cattle on 150 square miles of Gold Butte scrub land in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. He stopped paying his grazing fees back then, saying he fired the Bureau of Land Management as land manager. His Mormon ancestors had tilled the unforgiving soil since 1887, long before the 1934 Taylor Grazing Act allowed the federal government to seize control, TheBlaze reported. I have raised cattle on that land, which is public land for the people of Clark County, all my life. Why I raise cattle there and why I can raise cattle there is because I have preemptive rights, he asserted, explaining to TheBlaze that this includes the right to forage, too. Furthermore, Bundy has argued that it is the United States trespassing on Clark County, Nev., land, not he, and that he is a better steward of the land. He points out that the manure from his cows fertilizes the soil, that hes built water sources for wildlife, and that his cattle prevent the vegetation from growing overly dense and creating a fire hazard. But environmentalists, federal officials and the courts disagree. Armed federal officials and contract cowboys have been brought in to execute a 2013 court order and remove the trespassing cattle. Its high time for the BLM to do its job and give the [endangered desert] tortoises and the Gold Butte area the protection they need and are legally entitled to, senior Center for Biological Diversity scientist Rob Mrowka told the Mesquite Local News. As the tortoises emerge from their winter sleep, they are finding their much-needed food consumed by cattle. Bundys herd also hinders the plants ability to recover from wildfires, tramples rare species, damages ancient American Indian cultural sites and endangers recreationists, Mrowka added.

The Bureau of Land Management website says Bundy has defied trespass laws for more than two decades, ignored rules and fees that other cattle ranchers have observed and refused repeated attempts to resolve the matter administratively and judicially, according to TheBlaze. While Bundy stated that he owed the BLM $300,000 in back grazing fees, spokeswoman Kirsten Cannon put the figure closer to $1.1 million. Plus, the roundup of the approximately 900 unwelcome cattle could cost as much as $3 million. But the 68-year-old Bundy has remained unintimidated. The Bureau of Land Management has overstepped its boundaries by not letting me access my rights, he said, and contended that it had inserted 200 armed officers watching our every move and stealing our cattle. Bundys wife, Carol, said snipers are patrolling the familys ranch. Spokeswoman Cannon responded that There are law enforcement and other personnel in place as needed to ensure that the BLM and National Park Services employees and contractors are able to conduct operations safely. Bundy has vowed to do whatever it takes to protect his property, and his 14 children and hundreds of supporters stand behind him. Dave Bundy, his son, was arrested on Sunday afternoon while attempting to film the contract cowboys at work, and cited for failing to disperse and resisting arrest. Thus far, 234 cows have been impounded as the Bureau of Land Management has temporarily closed the public recreation area. Bundys plea to the Clark County Sheriff to intervene was stymied as the action fell under federal jurisdiction. While the last rancher in southern Nevada argues its a freedom issue, federal officials are executing the no trespassing court mandate. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval weighed in with a statement Tuesday scolding the Bureau of Land Management: Due to the roundup by the BLM, my office has received numerous complaints of BLM misconduct, road closures and other disturbances. I have recently met with state legislators, county officials and concerned citizens to listen to their concerns. I have expressed those concerns directly to the BLM, Sandoval said. Most disturbing to me is the BLMs establishment of a First Amendment Area that tramples upon Nevadans fundamental rights under the U.S. Constitution. To that end, I have advised the BLM that such conduct is offensive to me and countless others and that the First Amendment Area should be dismantled immediately. No cow justifies the atmosphere of intimidation which currently exists nor the limitation of constitutional rights that are sacred to all Nevadans. The BLM needs to reconsider its approach to this matter and act accordingly. Whether violence and bloodshed can be avoided remains to be seen.

Updated 4-10

Armed Fed Agents and Snipers? Nevada Rancher Is Taking on the Govt in a Battle Thats Reaching a Breaking Point
Apr .8,2014 9: 27am BecketAdam s
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Armed federal agents deployed last week to northeast Clark County, Nev., for what can only be described as a major escalation in a decades-long standoff between a local cattle rancher and the U.S. government.

Cliven Bundy, right, and Clance Cox, left, stand at the Bundy ranch near Bunkerville, Nev., Saturday, April 5, 2014. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management started taking cattle on Saturday from rancher Bundy, who it says has been trespassing on U.S. land without required grazing permits for over 25 years. Bundy doesnt recognize federal authority on land he insists belongs to Nevada. (AP) Cliven Bundy, the last remaining rancher in the southern Nevada county, stands in defiance of a 2013 court order demanding that he remove his cattle from public land managed by the U.S. Department of the Interiors Bureau of Land Management.

The 67-year-old veteran rancher, who has compared the situation to similar confrontations with government officials in Ruby Ridge and Waco, Texas, told TheBlaze that his family has used land in the 600,000-acre Gold Butte area since the late 1800s. I have raised cattle on that land, which is public land for the people of Clark County, all my life. Why I raise cattle there and why I can raise cattle there is because I have preemptive rights, he said, explaining that among them is the right to forage. Who is the trespasser here? Who is the trespasser on this land? Is the United States trespassing on Clark County, Nevada, land? Or is it Cliven Bundy who is trespassing on Clark County, Nevada, land? Whos the trespasser? Claiming that all other options have been exhausted, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. National Park Service responded to Bundys inflexibility on the issue by calling on federal agents and contract cowboys to restrict access to the public land and to confiscate Bundys trespass cattle. Cattle have been in trespass on public lands in southern Nevada for more than two decades. This is unfair to the thousands of other ranchers who graze livestock in compliance with federal laws and regulations throughout the West, the Bureau of Land Management stated on its website about the case. The Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service have made repeated attempts to resolve this matter administratively and judicially. An impoundment of cattle illegally grazing on public lands is now being conducted as a last resort, it added. Federal employees and contractors have so far impounded approximately 234 of Bundys estimated 900 trespass cattle. The restrictions on the land are expected to stay in place until May 12. Earlier news reports stated that federal officials were considering auctioning the cattle to buyers in nearby counties in Utah. However, a Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman told TheBlaze Monday that the agency has no plans to ship impounded cattle for auction in the near future.

Embattled Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy, left, and his son Dave Bundy talk to a reporter on the corner of North Las Vegas Boulevard and East Stewart Avenue in downtown Las Vegas, Monday, April 7, 2014. The 37-year-old Dave Bundy was taken into custody by federal agents on Sunday afternoon along state Route 170 near Mesquite. He was released Monday after being issued citations for failing to disperse and resisting arrest (AP) The governments move to assert itself in the Gold Butte area shouldnt come as too much of a surprise considering the fact that its a move years in the making. In fact, the tense relationship between Bundy and federal government dates back to well before the 2013 court order. The fight began when Bundy stopped paying the Bureau of Land Managements grazing fees in 1993, arguing in court filings that he had no obligation to pay the agency because his Mormon ancestors had worked the land decades before the agency was formed. Bundy claims he owes roughly $300,000 in back fees, but the federal government says its more than that.

I t sa f r eedom i ssue.I t s notaboutcows.I t s a st at er i ght si ssue. Shar e:

That number, the $300,00, that was a number estimated through Sept. 11, 2011, Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Kirsten Cannon said in a phone call with reporters Monday.

Since then, the estimated amount owed by him so including the $300,000 totals $1.1 million. In addition, the cost of removing the ranchers cattle from the public land will cost taxpayers roughly $3 million, according to initial estimates. The land was finally declared off-limits for cattle in 1998 and became a designated habitat for the federally protected desert tortoise. That same year, a judge ordered Bundy to remove his cattle. He refused to comply.

Contractors for the Bureau of Land Management round up cattle belonging to Cliven Bundy with a helicopter near Bunkerville, Nev., Monday, April 7, 2014. (AP) All throughout his decades-long struggle with the federal government, the veteran rancher has maintained that Washington has no right to order him from the land. The Bureau of Land Management has overstepped its boundaries by not letting me access my rights, not recognizing states sovereignty, and having over 200 armed officers watching our every move and stealing our cattle, Bundy said. The ranchers wife, Carol, said there now appear to be snipers stationed around the familys 150acre ranch. Asked about the Bundys sniper claim, Cannon would neither confirm nor deny the allegation.

There are law enforcement and other personnel in place as needed to ensure that the BLM and National Park Services employees and contractors are able to conduct the operation safely, Cannon said. Specific operations information regarding this impoundment will not be released.

W ho i st he t r espasserher e? W ho i st he t r espasseron t hi sl and? Shar e:

But the presence of what appear to be heavily armed agents isnt the only thing that has the Bundys on edge: Their son, Dave, was arrested and allegedly roughed up Sunday for filming federal agents while outside an area designated for First Amendment activity on the restricted property. He was held overnight. The 37-year-old Bundy was arrested following failure to comply with multiple requests by BLM law enforcement to leave the temporary closure area on public lands, Cannon said. She declined to comment on the claim that he was brutally treated. Dave Bundy was released from custody Monday and cited for refusing to disperse and resisting issuance of a citation or arrest, she added. Cannon could not explain why Dave was held overnight. The rancher said that he hopes Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie intervenes soon and ends the face-off once and for all. The federal government has no authority here, Bundy said. The sheriff has the authority. All he has to say is, no and thatll get the federal government out of here. I think he has that much power. It seems unlikely at this point, however, that the sheriff will intervene, as he has opted to let federal agents handle the situation. The sheriff has in the past advised Bundy on seeking legal counsel while the sheriff has extended federal deadlines. The sheriffs office referred media inquiries to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, which confirmed to TheBlaze Monday that federal officials are handling the Bundy operation.

Dave Bundy, son of embattled Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy, to a reporter about his arrest during an interview on the corner of North Las Vegas Boulevard and East Stewart Avenue in downtown Las Vegas, Monday, April 7, 2014. The 37-year-old Bundy was taken into custody by federal agents on Sunday afternoon along state Route 170 near Mesquite. He was released Monday after being issued citations for failing to disperse and resisting arrest (AP) That incident is being handled by another agency, a Las Vegas police spokeswoman said. Its something were referring people to the BLM. Asked about Bundys claim that the sheriffs office has ignored him, the spokeswoman added: Theres nothing further thats coming from this department about that incident, this operation. Were just referring everything over to BLM. Its not our operation. Theres no statement that has been issued about it. But with or without the sheriff, Bundy remains defiant.

A Bureau of Land Management ranger stands guard at the entrance of a staging area near Mesquite, Nev., Saturday, April 5, 2014. (AP) Its a freedom issue. Its not about cows. Its a state rights issue. I really hope that we can learn and defend our liberties here and keep on fighting until the end, he said. I dont when the end is going to be, but I believe that America is the greatest land in the world and it needs to be protected. Our rights and liberties need to be protected and were going to stand for that, he added. Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

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Feds move in on Nevada rancher's herd over illegal grazing

By Robert Gearty Published April 07, 2014 FoxNews.com Facebook3793 Twitter808 Gplus154

Cliven Bundy said his family's herd has always grazed on public land. (Courtesy Bundy Ranch) Next For 20 years, a tough-as-leather Nevada rancher and the federal government have been locked in a bitter range war over cattle grazing rights.

This weekend the confrontation got worse, when the feds hired contract cowboys to start seizing Cliven Bundy's cattle, which have been grazing on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The government officials brought a show of force that included dozens of armed agents in SUVs and helicopters. Bundy, 67, who has been a rancher all his life, accuses BLM of stampeding over on his rights. This is a lot bigger deal than just my cows, Bundy told FoxNews.com. Its a statement for freedom and liberty and the Constitution. The fight involves a 600,000-acre area under BLM control called Gold Butte, near the Utah border. The vast and rugged land is the habitat of the protected desert tortoise, and the land has been off-limits for cattle since 1998. Five years before that, when grazing was legal, Bundy stopped paying federal fees for the right. For more than two decades, cattle have been grazed illegally on public lands in northeast Clark County, the BLM said in a statement. BLM and (the National Park Service) have made repeated attempts to resolve this matter administratively and judicially. Impoundment of cattle illegally grazing on public lands is an option of last resort. But Bundy said he has grazed cattle on the land for decades, and his father and father's father did long before his 1,000 cattle roamed the area. He has long defied orders from bureaucrats he says are bent on running him out of business. Just before the round-up began this weekend, Bundy said federal agents surrounded his 150-acre ranch. His son was arrested on Sunday in an incident involving the agents. Theyve been bringing men in and equipment and setting up a compound, Bundy told FoxNews.com Monday. They got helicopters flying low. They got snipers around the ranch. Our access to public lands has been blocked. Were not pointing guns at anyone but were sure getting a lot of guns pointed at us. - Carol Bundy, wife of Nevada rancher Bundy said he is worried BLM might try to turn the situation into another Waco or Ruby Ridge. Yeah, theres a little fear in me, Bundy said. Theyre definitely set up to do that. Federal officials said BLM enforcement agents were dispatched in response to statements Bundy made that the agency perceived as threats. When threats are made that could jeopardize the safety of the American people, the contractors and our personnel; we have the responsibility to provide law enforcement to account for their safety, National Park Service spokeswoman Christie Vanover told reporters Sunday.

Bundy, who does not have an attorney, spoke to FoxNews.com from Las Vegas, where he had gone early Monday morning to ask Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie for help. Last week, Gillespie told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that neither Bundy nor the BLM should resort to violence. No drop of human blood is worth spilling over any cow, Gillespie said. Back at the ranch, Bundy's wife Carol said she and her husband were not looking for trouble. Were not pointing guns at anyone, but were sure getting a lot of guns pointed at us, she said. The trouble started when Bundy stopped paying grazing fees in 1993. He said he didn't have to because his Mormon ancestors worked the land since the 1880s, giving him rights to the land. We own this land, he said, not the feds. He said he is willing to pay grazing fees but only to Clark County, not BLM. Years ago, I used to have 52 neighboring ranchers, he said. Im the last man standing. How come? Because BLM regulated these people off the land and out of business. He said he wont let the feds do that to him. I said, No. Then, Hell, no, he said. BLM said in a statement two judges ordered Bundy to remove his cattle from Gold Butte. The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, said the federal action was long overdue. Despite having no legal right to do so, cattle from Bundys ranch have continued to graze throughout the Gold Butte area, competing with tortoises for food, hindering the ability of plants to recover from extensive wildfires, trampling rare plants, damaging ancient American Indian cultural sites and threatening the safety of recreationists, Rob Mrowka, a spokesman for the group, said in a statement.

TensionsincreaseasfedsseizeNevadarancher'scattle

Pos t ed:Apr09,2014 7: 27 PM EST Updat ed:Apr10,2014 1: 48 AM EST l By Laur en Rozyl a,Repor t er-bi o |em ai By Ti m Zi et l ow,Phot oj our nal i st-em ai l

Cl i ven Bundy has been gr azi ng hi s cat t l e on publ i c l ands f or20 year s.

LAS VEGAS -- Tensions are growing as people in the community of Bunkerville are trying to stop federal agents from taking cattle off of public land. During a Wednesday's night town meeting, community members came out in force to support rancher Cliven Bundy. They gave him a standing ovation when he got up to speak. "I love you people. And I love this land, and I love freedom and liberty," Bundy told the crowd. "I want to tell you and thank you for being brave enough to stand up for me, for my freedom, for my liberties and my land," Overton area resident Kelly Houston said. "I openly, publicly and personally say: I stand with the Bundys," Overton area resident Laura Bledsoe said. Resident not only showed support for the Bundy family, they also condemned the federal government for what they called heavy-handed tactics. Earlier in the day, BLM and park rangers had tasers ready to go as they faced a few dozen protesters. One woman claims federal officers hit her with their vehicle. A man says he was tased twice. In just a matter of minutes, the situation escalated from calm to angry with the protestors shouting and the rangers ready to respond with dogs, tasers and physical force, if needed. At the center of this battle is the Bundy family and their herd of at least 500 head of cattle. The BLM says the cattle have been allowed to graze on the federal land illegally for the past 20 years.

"You want to tase me? Go ahead," Ammon Bundy challenged rangers. He is the son of rancher Cliven Bundy and he claims the rangers tased him twice. The protesters came within inches of law enforcement trying to get the BLM to leave a section of the public land. The Bundy family says it's willing to put itself in danger for their livelihood. They claim federal rangers are killing their cattle in the process of rounding them up. "There's only one reason they have a backhoe and a dump truck up there and that is because they're cleaning up their mess from killing our animals," Ammon Bundy said. The ranchers say this is calving season and mother cows are being separated from their babies. "They haven't been able to feed their calves and that means the calves are starving to death," Ammon Bundy said. The BLM has denied killing any cattle intentionally, only saying that there may be some cases where a cow would need to be euthanized. "Get out of our state! Get out of our state!" protestors yelled. The BLM has left the area, for now. However, not everyone left the skirmish unharmed. One of the Bundy sisters says a ranger hit her with a car which threw her to the ground. "I'm shook up, my hand's cut, my knee's you know, banged up," Margaret Bundy-Houston said. Although the BLM rangers are out of the area, they insist they'll be back to take all of the cattle that are on the land illegally. In a statement released late Wednesday afternoon, the BLM and park service said in part: "In recent days, some peaceful protests have crossed into illegal activity, including blocking vehicles associated with the gather, impeding cattle movement, and making direct and overt threats to government employees. These isolated actions that have jeopardized the safety of individuals have been responded to with appropriate law enforcement actions. Today, a BLM truck driven by a non-law enforcement civilian employee assisting with gather operations was struck by a protester on an ATV and the truck's exit from the area was blocked by a group of individuals who gathered around the vehicle. A police dog was also kicked. Law enforcement officers attempting to protect the civilian federal employee from the attack were also threatened and assaulted. After multiple requests and ample verbal warnings, law enforcement officers deployed tasers on a protestor." The BLM and park service also point out that they have tried to resolve the issue with Bundy for more than 20 years. They accuse him of not complying with several court orders directing him to remove his cattle from public lands.

Besides complaints of tough tactics, people at the meeting Wednesday night also said the dispute was hurting the economic well being of the area because trails are closed and armed federal agents in the area are scaring away tourists.

US senator joins critics of federal cattle roundup

By KEN RITTER Associated Press Published: Tuesday, Apr. 8, 2014 - 10:52 am Last Modified: Wednesday, Apr. 9, 2014 - 4:35 pm LAS VEGAS -- A Republican U.S. senator added his voice Wednesday to critics of a federal cattle roundup fought by a Nevada rancher who claims longstanding grazing rights on remote public rangeland about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada said he told new U.S. Bureau of Land Management chief Neil Kornze in Washington, D.C., that law-abiding Nevadans shouldn't be penalized by an "overreaching" agency. Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval pointed earlier to what he called "an atmosphere of intimidation," resulting from the roundup and said he believed constitutional rights were being trampled. Heller said he heard from local officials, residents and the Nevada Cattlemen's Association and remained "extremely concerned about the size of this closure and disruptions with access to roads, water and electrical infrastructure." The federal government has shut down a scenic but windswept area about half the size of the state of Delaware to round up about 900 cattle it says are trespassing. BLM and National Park Service officials didn't immediately respond Wednesday to criticisms of the roundup that started Saturday and prompted the closure of the 1,200-square-mile area through May 12. It's seen by some as the latest battle over state and federal land rights in a state with deep roots in those disputes, including the Sagebrush Rebellion of the 1970s and '80s. Nevada, where various federal agencies manage or control more than 80 percent of the land, is among several Western states where ranchers have challenged federal land ownership. The current showdown pits rancher Cliven Bundy's claims of ancestral rights to graze his cows on open range against federal claims that the cattle are trespassing on arid and fragile habitat of

the endangered desert tortoise. Bundy has said he owns about 500 branded cattle on the range and claims the other 400 targeted for roundup are his, too. BLM and Park Service officials see threats in Bundy's promise to "do whatever it takes" to protect his property and in his characterization that the dispute constitutes a "range war." U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, noted that BLM officials were enforcing federal court orders that Bundy remove his animals. The legal battle has been waged for decades. Kornze, the new BLM chief, is familiar with the area. He's a natural resource manager who grew up in Elko, Nev., and served previously as a senior adviser to Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid. Reid aide Kristen Orthman said her boss "hopes the trespassing cattle are rounded up safely so the issue can be resolved." Sandoval, a former state attorney general and federal district court judge, weighed in late Tuesday after several days of media coverage about blocked roads and armed federal agents fanning out around Bundy's ranch while contractors using helicopters and vehicles herd cows into portable pens in rugged and remote areas. "No cow justifies the atmosphere of intimidation which currently exists nor the limitation of constitutional rights that are sacred to all Nevadans," the governor said in a statement. Sandoval said he was most offended that armed federal officials have tried to corral people protesting the roundup into a fenced-in "First Amendment area" south of the resort city of Mesquite. The site "tramples upon Nevadans' fundamental rights under the U.S. Constitution" and should be dismantled, Sandoval said. BLM spokeswoman Kirsten Cannon and Park Service spokeswoman Christie Vanover have told reporters during daily conference calls that free-speech areas were established so agents could ensure the safety of contractors, protesters, the rancher and his supporters. The dispute between Bundy and the federal government dates to 1993, when land managers cited concern for the federally protected tortoise and capped his herd at 150 animals on a 250-squaremile rangeland allotment. Officials later revoked Bundy's grazing rights completely. Cannon said Bundy racked up more than $1.1 million in unpaid grazing fees over the years while disregarding several court orders to remove his animals. Bundy estimates the unpaid fees total about $300,000. He notes that his Mormon family's 19th century melon farm and ranch operation in surrounding areas predates creation of the BLM in 1946.

Since the cattle roundup began Saturday, there has been one arrest. Bundy's son, Dave Bundy, 37, was taken into custody Sunday as he watched the roundup from State Route 170. He was released Monday with bruises on his face and a citation accusing him of refusing to disperse and resisting arrest. A court date has not been set. His mother, Carol Bundy, alleged that her son was roughed up by BLM police. Meanwhile, federal officials say 277 cows have been collected. Cannon said state veterinarian and brand identification officials will determine what becomes of the impounded cattle.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/04/08/6310409/nevada-governor-decries-blmin.html#storylink=cpy

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Nevada Rancher Threatens 'Range War' Against Feds

April 7, 2014 By ALAN FARNHAM

Nevada Rancher Threatens Range War Against Feds Next Video High School Stabbing Shocks Community Auto Start: On | Off A Nevada rancher's threat to wage a "range war" with the federal Bureau of Land Management precipitated a standoff today between supporters of the embattled rancher, Cliven Bundy, and law enforcement officials. Bundy posted a statement on the Bundy Ranch website on Sunday night saying: "They have my cattle and now they have one of my boys. Range War begins tomorrow." He invited supporters to show up this morning on his property, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, near Bunkerville, just west of the Utah state line. Tension growing between ranchers, mustang backers Bundy's beef with federal land management officials dates back to 1993, according to federal officials, when Bundy's allotment for grazing his cattle on public land was modified to include protections for the desert tortoise. Bundy, who told the Associated Press his family has been ranching this part of Nevada since the 1870s, did not accept the modified terms, and continued to let his cattle graze anyway. After legal maneuverings on both sides, a Nevada district court judge in 2013 permanently enjoined Bundy's cattle (some 900, by the government's count) from grazing on public property. The judge reiterated that decision in 2013 and authorized the U.S. government to impound the cattle.

Outlaws stealing cattle for meth money The first phase of that impoundment started Saturday, with 58 head of cattle being removed from BLM land, federal officials said in an online statement. As of Monday afternoon, that number had risen to 134, BLM spokeswoman Kirsten Cannon told ABC News. Removing the rest of the trespassing cattle should take another 21 to 30 days, she said. Bundy disputes the federal government's authority to take such action. The Nevada Sheriff's Office, he contends, is the only entity empowered to impound his cattle. The Bundy Ranch website calls the federal agents "cattle thieves." Cattle thieves, says the website, "Should be hung!" It urges supporters to "hang them with words of disapproval." According to station KSNY MyNews in Las Vegas, Bundy compared his situation to citizens' confrontations with the federal government at Ruby Ridge and at Waco, Texas. The station quoted him as saying, "They are the same agents who killed that kid over at Red Rocks," referring to the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man by two BLM rangers on Feb. 14, near Red Rock Canyon, outside Las Vegas. Asked by ABC News about that shooting, Cannon said the incident was still under investigation, and that BLM could not comment until the investigation was completed. Bundy's wife, Carol Bundy, reached by ABC News, said the family and their supporters intended to hold a rally today "to show that we are not standing alone. People are getting tired of the federal government having unlimited power." By noon today Nevada time, about 300 supporters had assembled, a Bundy spokesman, Dwayne Magoon, told ABC News. So, too, he said, had local and federal law enforcement officers. He described the federal agents as being heavily armed. He said that on his way driving to the Bundy ranch, he counted 12 law enforcement vehicles in the course of six miles. The BLM has described Bundy's use of the phrase "range war" inflammatory. "We support everyone's right to exercise their freedom of expression," Cannon said. But when threats are made, she said, federal authorities have an obligation to ensure safety. She estimated the number of Bundy supporters as being closer to 100. In a teleconference with reporters today, Cannon and a spokesperson for the National Park Service were told that Bundy supporters had reported seeing snipers present near the Ranch. Asked whether snipers indeed were on the scene, they said that law enforcement was in place, as needed, and that they could not comment more specifically. Magoon described the situation at the Ranch as "very peaceful" -- for now. The protesters, he said, were busy erecting a big sign saying "We, The People" and displaying the flags of Mesquite County, Nev., and the U.S.

On the ranch website, Bundy says his son had been arrested. That was confirmed today by BLM, which said in a published statement that, "On April 6, Dave Bundy, 37, was taken into custody in Bunkerville, Nevada, following failure to comply with multiple requests by BLM law enforcement to leave the temporary closure area on public lands." He now has been released, Cannon said. So far, the Nevada Cattlemen's Association (NCA), which represents some 700 ranchers in the state, is taking a hands-off stance on Bundy's protest. In a statement, the association noted that Bundy's case had been reviewed by a federal judge, and that a legal decision had been rendered to remove the cattle. The statement said that NCA "does not feel it is in our best interest to interfere in the process of adjudication in this matter, and in addition NCA believes the matter is between Mr. Bundy and the federal courts." Asked about the Bundy situation, NCA president Ron Torell told ABC News, "This has gotten way out of hand." Grain lower, cattle lower, and pork higher Asked if other Nevada cattlemen were as angry with the federal government as Bundy, Torell said, "absolutely not." It's true, he said, that many NCA members are disgruntled at having to deal with BLM's bureaucracy. But, he noted, 87 percent of Nevada land is public land, so cattlemen cannot survive on private land alone. "It's important for our permitees to work with the land management agencies. We want to be good stewards of the land -- to protect natural resources." Of the Bundy affair, he said, "These types of situations have a way of painting the entire industry with controversy."

Nevada Governor Calls Federal Cattle Roundup Intimidation

Apr i l9,2014 11: 09 AM Shar e on em ai l561 Vi ew Com m ent s

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Aug. 28, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. (credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

RelatedTags: Cl i ven Bundy,f eder alBur eau ofLand M anagem ent ,gov br i an sandoval , Nat i onalPar k Ser vi ce
LAS VEGAS (CBS Las Vegas/AP) Nevadas governor is criticizing a federal cattle roundup and what he calls intimidation in a dispute with a rancher who claims longstanding grazing rights on open range outside Las Vegas. Federal Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service officials didnt immediately respond Wednesday to Republican Gov. Brian Sandovals call for the BLM to reconsider its approach. Sandoval says hes most offended that federal officials have tried to corral people protesting the roundup into a First Amendment area. Federal officials say 277 cows have been rounded up since Saturday from a 1,200-square-mile area that it has closed to the public for the operation about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The BLM says Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy has allowed his cattle to trespass and graze for decades in the area.

Bundy, a descendant of Mormons who settled in Bunkerville more than 140 years ago, claims an inherent right to graze the area and casts the conflict as a states rights issue. He said he doesnt recognize federal authority on land that he insists belongs to Nevada. His dispute with the government dates to 1993, when land managers cited concern for the federally protected desert tortoise and capped Bundys herd at 150 animals on his 158,666-acre Bunkerville allotment of rangeland. Bundy protested by withholding his monthly grazing fees and kept using the range. The BLM canceled his grazing permit in 1994. A federal court in 1998 ordered him to remove the animals, and federal authorities in 1999 officially closed the Bunkerville allotment to cattle. Conservationists say the cows eat scarce forage needed by wildlife including the tortoise and horses. Federal officials tried to round up Bundys livestock two years ago, but he refused to budge. Since then, he has lost two federal court rulings and a judge last October prohibited him from physically interfering with any seizure or roundup operation. Wake up America, Bailey Bundy Logue told KSL-TV. Look what our ancestors fought for and we need to stand up for that. We need to realize whats happening. They are taking everything away from us. This isnt only about one family. This is about everyones family. This is martial law and its in America and so what are you going to do to have it stay out of America? In a statement called what the Bundys have been doing unfair. Cattle have been in trespass on public lands in Southern Nevada for more than two decades. This is unfair to the thousands of other ranchers who graze livestock in compliance with federal laws and regulations throughout the west, the statement reads. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Park Service (NPS) have made repeated attempts to resolve this matter administratively and judicially. (TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)