On Kilter: Bundy won, America lost

BLM Sign, Clark County, Nev., April 3, 2014 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News

OPINION – Mark Twain famously said, “Loyalty to country always. Loyalty to government when it deserves it.” Until today I had always been one to lean on the improbability that the government ever really deserves it. But when the government chose to back down to avert the bloodshed of innocent life, while Cliven Bundy shamelessly put innocent life in harms way for his own agenda, I knew to whom loyalty belonged.

As Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie announced the stand-down of the Bureau of Land Management’s round up of Bundy’s cattle from federal land, there was reported to be a collective sigh of relief. It was over.

The round up, which began last week, which was adjudicated by federal court order and was being carried out by the BLM as well as adjoining agencies and civilian contractors, drew supporters for Bundy ranging from sympathetic ranchers and citizens to armed militias who mingled throughout out the crowds in the area.

The spirit of de-escalation was however short lived.

Cliven Bundy came forth after Gillespie, spoke and betrayed the terms of the stand-down announcing a series of demands that included but are not limited to the disarming of federal agents, and the removal of gates to national parks. This is consistent with the statements made last Wednesday by his son Ryan Bundy on the Perspectives Show with Bryan Hyde and Kate Dalley.

Later, Bundy gave the order to the militia which led to a tense standoff in a wash with dozens of Las Vegas Metro Police. The militia took their stand surrounded by women and children also in protest and demanded that the cattle be released.

Deputy Chief Tom Roberts, of Las Vegas Metro, then made an agreement with Bundy’s son Ammon, to release the cattle held there within 30 minutes if the crowd agreed to disperse.

Advocates for Bundy are hailing this a victory for not only Bundy, but for America as a whole and inferring that this is in fact a demonstration of the power of peaceful rebellion. Of civil disobedience. Despite that, there was nothing peaceful about it.
In actuality, this has perhaps done something quite different.

The stand-down gave a symbolic victory for radical anti-government militia groups, but more importantly, this event has changed the collective definition of the meaning of civil disobedience in America for the worst.

In an article in The Southwest Journal, a compelling case for the distinctions between criminal behavior for selfish gain and civil disobedience for the greater good of people is made.

The main thrust of such distinctions is that a true act of civil disobedience is marked by an emphasis by the disobedient acquiescing to the knowledge that they are breaking the law and accept the penalty for it in the interest of the common good.

Bundy does not think he has done a single thing wrong and furthermore, revealed his true character in the matter when in lieu of not getting his innocuous demands for a version of government take down and overthrow, he simply demanded people take back his cattle. Perhaps his sole motive all along despite alluding to some fashion of patriotism.

But beyond such distinctions another compelling case can be made for the media’s role in ratcheting up the fanaticism that ultimately was the cause of the breakdown of the agreement made between the BLM and Bundy as well as the decision to cease the roundup.

Furthermore, Bundy himself is responsible for doing less for the cause of putting into check a presumed-overbearing federal government. Instead, he appealed to the  nature of mob rule and incited potential violence – even when peace had been brokered.

In a 1968 article by Delbert D. Smith, the case for the deterioration of meaningful and effective civil disobedience as well as the media and general public’s culpability thereof, some 35 years later, still holds an almost prophetic weight. Smith writes:

One difficulty that the courts face with cases of civil disobedience is that the techniques are constantly changing because of the necessity of attracting public attention and notice. The ‘news’ content of the event and its adaptability to television or magazine coverage have become important criteria for determining the nature of civilly disobedient acts. It can be argued that the most undesirable forms of civil disobedience have developed as a result of the irresponsibility of our mass media.” However, the alternative course of action, which would be to prescribe some form of news management, seems equally undesirable. News suppression would not be viable in any event since the news media are able to ‘color’ an event simply by their use, non-use or placement of a particular article.

While it is possible to assert that the mass media manufacture pseudo-events by over-dramatizing incidents involving civil disobedience, and it may be that some racial problems have been accentuated because of uncritical and ‘sensational’ news coverage, it is also true that the frustration of nonviolent demonstrations by denying them press coverage may have the effect of precipitating violent demonstrations. The emotional effect of the newspaper, since it reports events that have occurred in the past in a formal manner that people have come to expect, is minimal compared to live television coverage which many times searches for the most dramatic (and possibly most unrepresentative) incidents that make for interesting visual imagery at the expense of balanced coverage. If obtaining publicity is one of the major inducements to acts of civil disobedience, and violent demonstrations receive more coverage than nonviolent ones, it is probable that the frequency of the latter form of demonstration will increase.

Further, the easy designation of every protest movement as an act of nonviolent civil disobedience by the mass media without any concern for particular factors such as the public nature of the act, its illegality, or its conscientious nature may lead to the creation of a false public impression of the permissible limits of civil disobedience and one that is at variance with that found in the courts. The community standards that result may create difficulties in law enforcement that would not result if these standards accurately reflected a more sophisticated concept of what constituted civil disobedience.

As each act of so-called civil disobedience witnessed on the mass media is struck down by the courts, people will begin to lose faith in the legitimacy of civil disobedience as a socially tolerable form of protest.

The Bundy Range War was perpetuated by an irresponsible media vying for nothing more than ratings and an ill-informed and willfully ignorant public who, much like a NASCAR fan, come to the race simply in hopes of seeing a crash.

The militia groups, at least some, may have had noble intentions of some sort in the spirit of constitutionally- laden principles, but ultimately appeared to be the disgruntled and disenfranchised fanatical fringe element looking not for a cause to fight for, but a fight to support and glorify their cause.

The Bundy plea for support in a situation where he had clearly no arguable case in law, was a perfect storm of sorts.

The BLM and adjoining agencies in this situation are to commended for their prudence and immense restraint shown in the face of outright lawlessness masked as patriotism.

At the standoff in the wash, the true colors of these people was shown when they used for strategical advantage, the presence of women and children while threatening an armed response to the law.

Cliven Bundy, likely a victim to nothing short of his own pride, is no hero. He is certainly no patriot. He used pseudo-American sentiment to quite successfully create an event in history that perhaps once and for all will change how American ranchers in the west are perceived.

The stand-down was necessary to prevent bloodshed, but it must be recognized that if Bundy and a multitude of his supporters, militia friends, and even family members who broke the law, are allowed to go unpunished, anarchy will follow. Other groups, emboldened by the appearance of forcing a stand-down, will only continue to gain momentum. And furthermore, law enforcement as a whole will be rendered impotent as average people with disputes with current laws begin to wonder if they too can call a militia in to force the police to leave them alone.

And as if to embolden the assertion of the fact, a case in Texas is surfacing that while the facts are just becoming revealed, cannot allow for a repeat of the war Bundy started here.

In the case of Bundy and the Gold Butte designations, the government did it right. They continued to do it right in the face of the lawless behavior of a rancher and his militia henchmen. They earned and deserve our loyalty.

For those who were closest to this event, who were there, who witnessed it first hand,  and for everyone afar who will be affected by it, it is of the utmost importance that you speak up in defiance to allowing this stand-down to be the end of this battle. Equal rights under law were attacked, and ultimately defamed by this rancher. We cannot let that stand.

See you out there.

Dallas Hyland is an opinion columnist. The opinions stated in this article are his and not representative of St. George News.

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Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @dallashyland

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

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261 Comments

  • Combat Vet and Democrat April 13, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    The BLM showed restraint and that was good but, for the good the nation, at the right time and it can’t too log from now, the cattle must be removed and none can allowed to return to the public land involved in this dispute. This may have been about cattle and money at first but, when a armed mob entered the picture that changed. Federal law is the law of the land, in every state and that must not be subject to question.

    • Zak Douglas April 13, 2014 at 1:58 pm

      You bootlicking statist make me sick

      • Really? April 14, 2014 at 10:12 am

        I was sitting here thinking about poor Mr Bundy and his cattle. The evil Federal Goverment was forcing him to pay for the land he was using and when he did not they removed his cattle. Now his ancestors had been on the land for 100 years and that apparently gives him the right to use the land as he pleases. Mr Bundy’s ancestors did not have a problem having the evil Federal Goverment remove the Native Americans from the same land. They were there for thousands of years before the Bundy clan invaded. I would also like to know how much Federal money, Bundy has taken over they years for farm subsidies and such. People call him an American hero, but really he is just as bad at the people on welfare that feel entitled.

        • Hobbs10 April 15, 2014 at 12:45 am

          Well, why don’t you research the issue of whether Bundy received “subsidies and such” before you make a snide remark. I would bet your ancestors aren’t any more perfect than Bundy’s, probably worse. One sure thing is if this land wasn’t settled by the likes of the Bundy family your sorry hind end wouldn’t have food on the table and you’d still be starting a fire with 2 rocks. What makes you think that the BLM walks on water.

          • Gabi April 15, 2014 at 11:15 am

            Hyperbole much?

          • Applejack April 18, 2014 at 4:38 am

            Im just going to say it. Cliven Bundy put innocent people in harms way when he ordered that his gun-loving, government hating, right wing nutto followers block I-15. What if one of them had decided to start shooting? An innocent person, who had nothing to do with Bundy or the BLM, traveling I-15 with their family could have been hurt or killed. Would you have supported him then? I hope the answer is no but experience with people around here says otherwise. People like Bundy and his supporters disgust me, not because they disagree with the government (as is their right) but because they obviously thought nothing of putting innocent people in harms way over something as stupid as grazing rights. Normal people who don’t like something about the government work to change what they don’t like through peaceful protests and a little thing called “the vote”. Neither of those 2 government changing avenues puts innocent people in harms way. I can’t of another person who thought nothing of hurting people who disagreed with him. In fact you might have heard of him, His name was Joseph Stalin.

          • Applejack April 18, 2014 at 4:39 am

            I can think* Please forgive my typos, it’s late.

      • Bundy Welfare Queen April 15, 2014 at 11:01 am

        Do you mean “statistics”?
        http://www.factandmyth.com/conspiracy-theory/cliven-bundys-cattle-and-the-federal-land-grab

        • Mary April 21, 2014 at 12:15 am

          Bundy Welfare Queen – Thank you for the link. This article summarized all the truth quite effectively. I had found much of this research on my own from reliable sources (not news networks, opinionated, questionable journalists, or right-wing nut jobs) but through court documents, state records, previous publications that already knew plenty about this character (Bundy), and multiple other reputable sources. I did find a shadow that I tried to pursue regarding Bundy’s assertion that his ancestors had been ranching in this area since 1870-80s when in fact his family had actually settled in Arizona (Bundy’s father born in AZ) and had been there well into the the early 1900s as late as WWII. The record is quite compelling in proving that Bundy’s claims are more than just murky. The tombstones in Mt Trumbull AZ (a.k.a. Bundyville) are interesting. Hmmmm. Do you think Bundy has been lying to the American public? What a revelation that would be.
          Quite frankly, the truth is not what is interesting here. Too many people are looking for a martyr for their cause. Personally, I wouldn’t want the likes of Bundy standing up for my constitutional rights. Bundy is only for Bundy. He’s just a little upset that he has bankrupted his children’s future by allowing those grazing permits to no longer be in his control. What most people do not understand is that these permits are often passed down to heirs and are as valuable as property. Ranchers have used them as assets and collateral on loans and as long as they continue to pay the fees, have a majority of control over those permits. In other words if one rancher has got em – another one can’t. The other assertion Bundy has made is regarding the water. Has he filed with Nevada State engineers the vested water rights on the Bunkerville/Gold Butte area? This is the only authority I know of that can declare that he has the “rights” to the water on public land, but I think those rights may have become more complicated for him if he wasn’t paying his grazing fees. I have been unable to determine this as I cannot access to the proper authority in this matter. Any suggestions?

          I hope people will realize that Bundy is no poster child for the positive results of peaceful rebellion and civil disobedience. He is a something much more disturbing. It’s either that or he’s a fool who does not know that people will find out the truth.

    • Epom April 13, 2014 at 9:36 pm

      Ahhh, so you would have been opposed to women’s suffrage and desegregation because “Federal law is the law of the land”? MLK was just a rabble rouser and Susan B. Anthony was an uppity woman who didn’t know her place, right? Just because it is a law doesn’t mean it is right, people like you dilute freedom and redefine it until freedom and indentured servitude are indistinguishable . The federal government just takes and takes and the people should just sit back and be ok with it? This wasn’t about cows, it was about tyrants 3000 miles away dictating what should be done with the land in our back yards.

      • Kennedy April 14, 2014 at 11:53 am

        Well said.

      • respect the law April 14, 2014 at 11:45 pm

        MLK and Susan B Anthony never took up arms. And they did not profit monetarily from the outcome like the Bundy’s.

      • Gabi April 15, 2014 at 11:16 am

        Or… it’s about claim jumpers who defy the law of the land… now, and 100 years ago.

        100 years ago, had the Bundy clan jumped someone else’s claim, he wouldn’t have gotten this stand-off; where cowards hid behind women and children.

        He’d have simply lost his jumped-claim by jute, or lead.

      • Mary April 20, 2014 at 11:24 pm

        That is NOT what Dallas was trying to emphasis – please review:
        “The main thrust of such distinctions is that a true act of civil disobedience is marked by an emphasis by the disobedient acquiescing to the knowledge that they are breaking the law and accept the penalty for it in the interest of the common good.”

        Bundy will never accept the “penalty” . Bundy is not for the “common good” and comparing him to the likes of MLK or Susan B. Anthony is akin to using profanity. Bundy was seeking blood and he … near achieved that. There is nothing in his actions, behaviors, or his perceived justifications that will ever be accepted as “civil disobedience”.

        Dallas is spot on when he stated “(Bundy) revealed his true character in the matter when in lieu of not getting his innocuous demands for a version of government take down and overthrow, he simply demanded people take back his cattle. Perhaps his sole motive all along despite alluding to some fashion of patriotism.”

        Translation: Bundy is only for Bundy and No. One. Else.

        As for you knowing anything about what is occurring in “our back yards” , I recommend you support your assertions with reliable citations. Otherwise you are one more blustering fool that drank the Bundy Kool-aid.
        Ed. ellipsis.

        • civil disobedience April 28, 2014 at 6:30 am

          I wonder if you’re willing to follow that statement made by the author about what he thinks civil disobedience is to its logical end. If you were to advise Jews in Germany in the 1940’s is that the advice you’d give them on protesting the government? What about the Japanese in California a few years later? That’s what Korematsu did, and guess what it got him? Years in an internment camp. What about the founders? The millions of Chinese who starved to death under Mao and the millions murdered in the USSR, should they have protested the same way? Anybody can make assertions about what it means to be in civil disobedience. And what is described by the author is one way to do it, and only effective in some situations. If you want a better idea of civil disobedience I suggest reading the book on it by Henry David Thoreau our some of the works of Leo Tolstoy.

          • Mary April 30, 2014 at 11:56 am

            Intellectually I get what you are saying, but if I read your comment correctly, I vehemently disagree with your implication. Comparing Bundy’s dilemma to the very real brutality endured by those that you mentioned in your comment are beyond offensive. Again – profane comparison. Again – read what is being said. Bundy has no intention of sacrificing anything for his principles. There is nothing “civilized” about this man. He is a taker. His world view is more akin to the individuals who imposed the terror, misery, and pain endured by the groups you mentioned above. Maybe not in deed, but certainly in his behavior. This is me civilly denouncing your assertions – whether actual or implied – that Bundy has any credibility, integrity, or morality beyond what he believes will be of benefit to him. He is not a logical man, therefore there is no logical end except for the destruction he has created. Period. End of discussion.

    • Matthew Sevald April 14, 2014 at 10:55 am

      I’m also a combat vet, but i’m a constitutional conservative, not a statist. The federal government has long ago lost its moral authority to govern, and now it is losing the consent of its awakening populace. What is a law, save for acquiescence by consent of the governed and surrender of rights for perceived common good? Now the governed are withdrawing that consent. Simply because the bureaucracies currently in place remain extant does not give them authority.
      .
      I’ll close with this insignificant little bit of text you may have heard of once upon a time in a fairy tale – it’s one I still teach my children:
      .
      IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
      .
      The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
      .
      When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
      .
      We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
      .
      He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
      .
      He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
      He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
      .
      He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
      .
      He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
      .
      He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
      .
      He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
      .
      He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
      .
      He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
      .
      He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
      .
      He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
      .
      He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
      .
      He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
      .
      For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
      .
      For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
      .
      For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
      .
      For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
      .
      For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
      .
      For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
      .
      For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province,
      establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
      .
      For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
      .
      For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
      .
      He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
      .
      He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
      .
      He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
      .
      He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
      .
      He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
      .
      In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
      .
      Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
      .
      We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

      • Gabi April 15, 2014 at 11:18 am

        “The federal government has long ago lost its moral authority to govern,”

        Are you saying that Bundy HAS moral authority here? Why does he think he is better than every other rancher who dutifully, morally, and ethically pays his/her contractually agreed to rent?

  • Kendall Keate April 13, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    the Government Had To Know We Were Willing To Take Up Arms Against Them To Protect Our Rights And For The Future Of Our Children. We Are Sick Of being Walked On By The Government And We Got The Point Across. And For That We Are Proud

    • David Whipple April 13, 2014 at 2:17 pm

      I stand with your statement, Kendall.

    • Rational April 13, 2014 at 3:38 pm

      The government needs to know that we will not be sheeple.

    • Hobbs10 April 15, 2014 at 12:48 am

      You’re absolutely right.

  • Dave Andrus April 13, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    So true and proboly the best articles of fact that has ever been written on the St. George News. I hope to read more article’s like this in the future rather the a daily recap of car crashes in the area.

    • StGeorgeResident April 13, 2014 at 2:14 pm

      Couldn’t agree more.

    • Katina April 13, 2014 at 2:29 pm

      How can you say this article is full of fact, when in actuality it is full of crap! You are probably one of those who believe in Obama, Obamacare, and assaulting innocents! The BLM and such were in the wrong! WE THE PEOPLE own that land, not the feds!

      • Rational April 13, 2014 at 3:40 pm

        Katina, you are SO RIGHT!

      • Dave April 13, 2014 at 7:11 pm

        You are correct, WE THE PEOPLE, own that land. WE THE PEOPLE, through our elected representatives decided how the land should be used. It is our land collectively, not his to do with as he pleases. It is WE THE PEOPLE, he owes $2 million dollars. We are a nation of laws, not of mob rule and anarchy.

        • Simone April 13, 2014 at 8:58 pm

          I agree 100% Dave. 🙂

        • Epom April 13, 2014 at 9:48 pm

          That is a ridiculous statement. First, he owes slightly over 1 million and the feds in their infinite stupidity spent over 3 million to accomplish nothing. Second, our elected officials are corrupt, money hungry, sociopaths, that know only how to get elected and shouldn’t be trusted with a sand box let alone the land in our back yard. Any idiot can look at our political system and see it is broken and corrupt. Third, how many people even noticed the cattle on that land? 900 cattle in a 600 square mile area? Nobody noticed until this happened and nothing was done by the feds up until this point because they didn’t want that land until now. I am a member of WE THE PEOPLE and I could not care less about cattle grazing on a crappy piece of desert.

          • Hunter April 14, 2014 at 8:17 am

            So, if I want to go improve 50 or so acres and turn them into profitable backcountry campsites I should be able to? What if 300 others wanted to do the same?

          • Bundy Welfare Queen April 15, 2014 at 11:05 am

            So what, he should be allowed to continually use federal lands without paying? It’s his refusal to pay, combined with his implications of an “armed conflict” when the Feds came to remove his cows from federal land that resulted in these costs. Conservation costs money. If your cattle are going to graze on federal lands, yoou pay the fees–which he stopped doing in 1993.
            http://www.factandmyth.com/conspiracy-theory/cliven-bundys-cattle-and-the-federal-land-grab

        • spots April 14, 2014 at 1:24 am

          Excellent point!

          • spots April 14, 2014 at 1:29 am

            Excellent point referring to Dave’s statement.
            I have actually spend many hours in that part of the Mojave Desert – and have seen his cattle numerous times. The road into a gorgeous area referred to as Gold Butte goes past/through this land. The cows are often in the road. When you hike in the area you often see cows, cow droppings and cow bones. This is a really pretty part of the Mojave desert – cacti, rattlesnakes, mountain lions and all. It just does not seem humane to graze cattle there.
            Many, many issues in this situation, but those poor skinny cows make me sad.

        • PACSman April 14, 2014 at 11:01 am

          Unfortunately Dave, the BLM has no elected oversight. Corrupt as our elected officials are, these guys don’t have to answer to anyone. Check this opinion on youtube. http://youtu.be/tAwALTdrMZ8

        • Layne April 15, 2014 at 10:12 am

          We the People didn’t ELECT a single soul in the BLM. It’s a bureaucracy with no elected officials. Everyone on the BLM payroll was either appointed or hired. And the BLM answers to pretty much .., no one. The rules are made as they go and the director has full discretion.

          If you doubt that, look up the BLM’s own web page and find the legislation that created it. It’s pretty damn clear. And pretty damn scary.

          • Bundy Welfare Queen April 15, 2014 at 11:06 am

            No but you elect a Congress, and they have delegated this task to the BLM.

        • Theo April 17, 2014 at 9:45 am

          Well said Dave.

      • Francis April 13, 2014 at 11:59 pm

        Thank you, the property long since should have been returned to the
        State. I was there and their were women, children, babies, all races, ages and we were standing for States rights. A state that I was born in am and proud to live in.

        • Hobbs10 April 15, 2014 at 12:50 am

          Totally agree with you.

        • Theo April 17, 2014 at 9:49 am

          I saw the clip of the former Az sheriff talking about using women for shields. So what was really happening is the men were hiding behind them.

  • WakeUpTheMasses.com April 13, 2014 at 1:15 pm

    Whoever wrote this article is an idiot! Look up agenda 21. This was an attempt and an illegal land grab under UN Agenda 21 by the federal government.

    • Rational April 13, 2014 at 3:51 pm

      WAKEUP, the author of this article is an idiot, I agree. I’m surprised this socialist/communist is in Utah and is given an audience!! He/she is definiteiy an obamanation zombie.

      • Kendra April 14, 2014 at 12:19 am

        So, because the author disagrees with one stance on one issue from you, he is a socialist? That is just the kind of black/white attitude that is killing society’s intelligence.

    • Bundy Welfare Queen April 15, 2014 at 11:08 am

      Look up “non sequitur,” and get your facts right. No one is taking anyone’s land. The BLM was simply attempting to remove his cattle from federal lands because Bundy hasn’t paid his grazing fees in 20 years. But yea, keep reading those crappy InfoWars articles.

  • BoofB April 13, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    Please!!!! The government is NOT America!!! Cliven Bundy didn’t put anyone in harms way. Everyone went of their own free will to defend their God given right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Men and women have given their tears, sweat, and blood for us to have that right in defending us from all threats, foreign and domestic. Articles such as this will make the blood of every patriotic heart boil. We will not lay down and let domestic threats take over our country and our livelihood.

    • David Whipple April 13, 2014 at 2:18 pm

      Amen.

    • Maggie April 13, 2014 at 7:18 pm

      ….and I will guarantee you that the government is not done with the Bundys yet. If I were them I would not sleep.
      Remember that little song” This land is your land, this land is my land……………” Forget it!

      I am not blaming the guys with boots on the ground with the BLM as much as I am their bosses……their top honcho Neil Kornze, Harry Red’s friend was the one who jumped forward within 60 min of the news re Harry Reid ,the Chinese and this land. Now it could just be a coincidence ,it could be. We are all little guys when it comes to these folks in DC and it does not matter if you are for or against either side.

    • Hobbs10 April 15, 2014 at 12:52 am

      Thank You for your comment!!! I agree.

  • emilee April 13, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    Bundy is an American, therefore America won. Seriously St George news get a new columnist, one that stands with the American people….

    • skip2maloo April 13, 2014 at 2:28 pm

      That’s me!! I can stand with the American people! But where do I start?! Who is this unified group “the American people”? Those who agree with you and with whom you agree, Bundy being an example? And since he’s defined as an American, all other Americans (to be named by you) won. So am I an American? Maybe not, because I don’t understand or agree with your illogic? But if I agree with Bundy, then I presume I am an American. Still leaves you and me disagreeing on how we define an American, which means that one of us has to be non-American, or worse, un-American?
      Frankly, I’m an individual who sees the silliness on both sides of what I call the cow/tortoise fracas. I sided just slightly with the cow faction because I prefer steak to tortoise meat. And, like many, I keep guns and ammo at ready to fend off, if necessary, the feckless Feds or even the militia-monkeys, both of which can be a threat to my individual freedom in whatever guise.

    • Katina April 13, 2014 at 2:30 pm

      Agree!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Rational April 13, 2014 at 3:56 pm

      Definitely. An American columnist is needed here. A “columnist” who stands against American’s ideals and values is not needed here.

    • Simone April 13, 2014 at 9:11 pm

      Bundy, like your Fuhrer, I mean “Prophet”, Thomas S. Monson is nothing but a selfish lowlife looking for a fight. Want proof? When the BLM tried to take out land back for us, he and his clan of inbred rednecks went to every anti government, gun loving, right wing nut job thy could find and screamed “victim” even though they had not paid their land fees like every other decent rancher in America. He cares nothing about anyone or anything except himself and his money. No one, including his family is as important to him as money. If he did care, he would have paid his fees like every other decent hardworking American rancher and this little tiff would have never happened. …Just sayin’ 🙂

      • Jarad April 14, 2014 at 9:42 am

        For one thing lets get this straight. The BLM on average charges $1.23 per AUM (animal unit months). So lets say that Bundy was running 1,000 head of cows (which he wasn’t). So every month he’s fee would have been $1,230.00 and you times that by 20 years and it comes up to $295,200.00 which is way less than a million dollars. So I don’t even know how they came up with that amount? So this is nothing to do with money and everything to do with control of the land. And the way the BLM handled the situation was less than note worthy. If they wouldn’t have shut down the land and made First Amendment areas and started to throw people on the ground and tase people. It might not have gotten this far!

        • respect the law April 14, 2014 at 11:41 pm

          The remainder is from the fines assessed for not removing his cattle when not one, but two courts have ordered him to do so. It is not his land, has never been his land and he owes this money and by law must remove the cows. If you don’t like the law, work to change it. Don’t go threatening violence if you don’t get your way.

    • Kendra April 13, 2014 at 11:49 pm

      By definition, Bundy did not stand with the American people. They are calling him a Patriot. A Patriot, by historical definition, is one who does NOT have a devotion to one’s own country, but to an ideal of a different country or potentially new country. He commit treason, whether it was for a bad law or not.

      • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 8:17 am

        Wrong-o!! Can’t simply make up deifinitions, K.

    • Tracie April 14, 2014 at 11:37 am

      Sorry there Emilee, but you don’t get to decide that the “American people” are just those who agree with your worldview. The “American people” includes millions like me who disagree with you.

    • Carl April 14, 2014 at 7:13 pm

      Amen !

  • Trish April 13, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    Garbage, pure garbage! You should be ashamed to call yourself an American!

  • Combat Vet and Democrat April 13, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    I’m an American too and Bundy’s cattle are back out on my land and my tax money will pay (again) when they are finally removed. This isn’t over.

  • martin bonesaw April 13, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    I’m glad to see that the situation didn’t escalate into something more.

  • Crusader April 13, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    Dallas,
    Thank you for the outstanding article. Keep up your great work.

  • JustMe April 13, 2014 at 1:37 pm

    Utah you continue to disgust me- the title of this post is sickening. It shouldn’t be allowed at all. Trust me I’m sharing with huge news sources opinion or not this is maddening. First of, America did not lose a fight between citizen rights and a government agency called BLM is not an American loss. In fact its more of a citizens win its time we as people take back some of the rights our government is stealing from us. In now way will I agree with BLM taking cattle away for solar paneling projects signed with China. Our government has forced health care down our throats and is trying to take away gun rights. This is not the country it once was and our freedoms are dying every day. This whole situation is a glimmer of hope that our freedoms are still existing. After all the BLM officers were the aggressors throwing a woman to the ground and ordering a dog to bite. Disgraceful!!!

    • Maggie April 13, 2014 at 8:08 pm

      Hey I am from Utah and I do not agree with this guy. Neither did our Gov,Atty Gen.or our Sheriff or county commissioners in Washingtom County. Utah sent the BLM a letter telling them that the cattle could not be transported through Utah. So go light on us only a small minority from Utah do not get this…..the rest of us are fighting to get our land back from the government.

      • Hunter April 14, 2014 at 8:23 am

        Actually, the letter stated that Utah opposed the cattle being integrated into the population (i.e., sold) of our state out of a concern for disease and contamination of our own healthy cattle herds (the Bundy cattle all look pretty sad). It had nothing to do with the ideology that you’ve bought into here.

  • CJ April 13, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    You’re kidding me, right? My Hyland, you clearly are clearly overlooking the facts. I suppose the fact that Bundy has preemptive rights to the land AND owns the water rights is an inconvenient bug in your theory. Or how about that his family has legally owned the land since 1887. Or how about that it was never sold to the BLM or legally changed hands, but rather, the BLM was brought in under the pretense of helping ranchers to “manage” their land and resources. Or what about the fact that Harry Reid et al has been forcing ranchers off their property by sale or otherwise in order to score a big deal with the Chinese energy firm ENN? If you don’t believe me, Reuters ran a story about it as far back as 8/31/2014. This is not new information. It has been swept under the rug though because it only bolsters ALL of Bundy’s claims! I will type the link longhand to prevent it from going into commentary review, but you can read for yourself at: reuters dot com slash article slash 2014 slash 08 slash 31 slash us-usa-china-reid-solar. Check it out for yourself and start connecting the dots up to recent events.

    • CJ April 13, 2014 at 1:40 pm

      Oops, I meant “Mr. Hyland”, not “My Hyland”

    • VJ April 13, 2014 at 7:46 pm

      yes this is correct, also, his neighbors all sold their land to the gov’t, Bundy did not, the gov’t wanted that land and it wasn’t to protect the desert tortoise.
      and as far as this article? “presumed” over bearing government? no presumption, the government IS overbearing, way out of control, states can’t decide anything on their own anymore even when the people vote for something and yet the FED won’t enforce laws (i.e. immigration) but will tell the states what edu curriculum to use. Sorry, the author of this “opinion” article is on glue and paid off by the gov’t.

    • Kendra April 14, 2014 at 12:10 am

      Bundy…doesn’t own the land. There is something called “public land” that you can’t just claim as your own. It belongs to the citizens, but can’t be directly managed by the citizens, so it is delegated to an agency. That agency makes provisions for use and allows said use for fees. Bundy stopped paying his fees in 1993, because the government wasn’t improving the land enough. At this point, he should have taken legal steps to fight this, and even if he did already, the fact that he lost means Law was against him and things were fair, legally. After this, other ranchers were offered money by the BLM to vacate the land to allow the government to use it for projects. Bundy was not eligible to receive this money ($375,000, I believe) because he was not abiding by the law. THAT is why he is not in the right. He has CERTAIN rights to the land, but does not own the land itself.

      • DoubleTap April 14, 2014 at 8:21 am

        KENDRA: the BLM does NOT own land either. Bundy does not claim to own the land. Simply the grazing rights that he used to pay fees to the County, for years and years. The BLM never became owner of the land. As its name implies, they are to “manage” the land….NOT OWN IT!!!!
        The “project” you state are not for the benefit of we the people. Maybe Bundy thought that the $375K amount was to low, (which his land and cattle are worth much, much more than the $375k. You seem to be on the wrong track, but you are going in the right direction. Think about it some more.

        • respect the law April 14, 2014 at 11:50 pm

          There is no “right” to graze public land. This has been affirmed in court. Grazing is a privilege.

          • Chris April 15, 2014 at 4:39 pm

            Thanks. You are the first person to point this out. In the U.S., there are no grazing “rights” that attach to land, only grazing “privileges.”

      • Mary April 21, 2014 at 12:47 am

        Kendra -it’s okay. Don’t try to educate. CJ and folks like him/her who source these nut jobs are only digging as deep as the radical rags and do not want to know the truth. They wouldn’t know what real research was if it slapped them up side the head and ran over their legs 3 times with a semi-truck. They are completely enamored of Cliven Bundy and all of them want to name their first-born after him – even if it’s a girl. The “truth” is not sexy. The “truth” would take most of the air out of their cause and what would they be left with – nothing but a little shriveled up blow-up doll of Cliven Bundy. Children would start to cry. Sad.

    • Chris April 15, 2014 at 4:42 pm

      What planet are you from? Even Bundy himself admits that he does not own the land. Preemptive rights to graze on land have never been recognized in the law, courts or Constitution of this country.

  • char April 13, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    Bundy is a bully. He did not pay for his cattle. Period. He wanted a range war and incited those with weapons. I cannot believe those who backed hin. You backed someone who has paid nothing for 20 years.

    • Jacer April 13, 2014 at 4:47 pm

      I agree that Bundy should have been paying his fees regardless of his feelings for the government, but the BLM were the real bullies here. I am sure that this first started out 20 years ago as a pissing match between a cranky rancher and an A- type personality BLM official. However, everything that has taken place in the last several years has been government dominants to show us who’s boss. And quite frankly I am tired of not being able to have freedom of religion where ever I want to, the freedom to feel that abortion is wrong, freedom to prefer being a heterosexual, and eating meat and having my garbage pail sit in my driveway on garbage day until I get home from work, the list goes on and on. And technically these are freedoms, but I would have to be like Bundy to defend them. And that’s not Freedom. I am tired of having my rights nit-picked at because it’s not hip, or its dated. So if Bundy’s tactics seemed extreme to some, well, at least he stood up for himself. And someday you will be glad he did when you feel the government has strong armed you and you need people to come to your aid for your cause.
      NOTE: If your pro-choice, gay, vegetarian, or HOA enforcer, I don’t judge you. Just don’t force me to accept your ways if your not willing to accept mine.

      • Simone April 13, 2014 at 9:16 pm

        The BLM are not the bullies here, they are the repo men taking back our land.

      • Hunter April 14, 2014 at 8:26 am

        Last time I checked, buying a house in an HOA was a choice, and one that is fully disclosed prior to the purchase when one can ask for (actually demand) a copy of the CC&Rs in order to determine if the rules are too onerous for one’s liking.

        • Jacer April 14, 2014 at 4:49 pm

          Oh my gosh! It was an example of overuse of power. Cripes! Open your brain.

          • Hunter April 14, 2014 at 6:51 pm

            Fully open. My point was that the OP implies these groups are “forcing” him to accept their ways. The victim card as an excuse to flaunt the law (or in some cases rules) is getting a little old.

  • A real vet April 13, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    There is no such thing as a vet that is a democrat. Stop justifying your liberalism by prefacing your title with VET. Unless of course you were given a choice by a judge of going in the military or going to jail and you chose the military. John Kerry needs guys like you and Dallas.

    • Combat Vet and Democrat April 13, 2014 at 2:48 pm

      The government thanks me for my service every month with a deposit in my account. We can both be veterans but, not agree and by the way, you are not likely to change my mind by questioning my service nor my choice of political party.

      And by the way again, I did serve with a couple Marines who were given that choice and they did alright. They were young when they made their mistakes. I sort of admire John Kerry; after all how many guys with that kind of money went to Vietnam?

      • teancum April 13, 2014 at 6:52 pm

        Combat vet and democrat. Thank you for your service, now stop trying to take away my right’s and freedom’s.

      • DoubleTap April 14, 2014 at 8:27 am

        COMBAT VET AND A DEMOCRAT…… so you admire a Sec. of State whos claim to combat wounds was getting shot in the …* by friendly fire??? Figures. And he never had “that kind of money” until he married the Heinz woman (of ketchup fame), who inherited from her family. You should do better research. But, hey wait….that’s how liberal democRATS operate.
        Ed. ellipsis …*

    • skip2maloo April 13, 2014 at 4:31 pm

      Oh, so now the two-sided battle (as if we couldn’t count beyond that) is between “real” vets and unreal vets. Good heavens. Does no one chuckle at this silliness?! People disagreeing and working to resolve conflicts is a key part of what it means to be American. When we vilify each other and draw lines between us we risk moving closer to totalitarianism. We do have worse enemies than ourselves.

      • Sliza April 14, 2014 at 12:29 am

        chuckle. We all know libertarians are the only party that makes any sense these days.

    • Iraq vet April 13, 2014 at 10:00 pm

      I’m a veteran of the Iraq war and I’m also a democrat! Are you saying I’m not a real veteran?? Yes, I was a brainless republican back when I joined, but I learned how stupid republicans really are and how they brainwash people into believing there is a god. That’s the cause of war, religion.
      Now back on topic, this Bundy guy does not recognize the federal government and he owes them 1.3 mil. He has accepted money from the government to move his cattle and cashed the check, but still did not remove the cattle. Now, everyone of those rangers were doing their job; a bunch of hillbillies out trying to stop the progress of the Rangers work is unacceptable. The people that were tazed and thrown to the ground deserve every bit of it. They knew the risks of stopping a government operation. I work for the BLM and guess what!? We manage the land and preserve it from hillbillies like yourself. If the BLM wasn’t in place, our beautiful public lands would look like Tijuana. If you don’t like the way we preserve the land, than go live in Mexico. We need to let natural selection take place in America to weed out most of these dips…* hillbillies.
      St. George news, thank you for the very well written article.
      *Ed. ellipses

      • DoubleTap April 14, 2014 at 8:38 am

        IRAQI VET…..Thank you for your service. But you sure do talk a lot of trash on here. You call people names and degrade the people of this area. One thing you forget is that these so-called “hillbillies” are the people who pay YOUR salary. Many “hillbillies” are veterans also. You are NOT special. YOU work for us. It would do you well to ALWAYS remember this. As for you working for the BLM…..you have my condolences.

      • AARON April 15, 2014 at 8:29 am

        So in all of Mexico’s government frailties if they had our BLM their lands would look nice and orderly like our own? Is this your position?

  • Dieright April 13, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    The government is getting out of control anyways. How much are we going to take from them? They would tax air if they could figure out a way to do it. They keep taxing us and then they send our money to other countries. Cliven Bundy is a hard WORKING American. He is not on welfare, trying to get something for free. He is an old school rancher who believes in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. His family has used that land for generations and he believes, as do many of us, that the government is getting to big.

    • Kendra April 14, 2014 at 12:27 am

      That is EXACTLY what Bundy is doing. He’s trying to use this land for free. The fact that he is not paying his fees proves this. The land doesn’t belong to him, he only owns rights to it.

  • Ющенко April 13, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    This is why I live in America! People who still stand for freedom! Thanks to all Americans who are willing to give there life for freedom!

  • Dan April 13, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    Hyland? Alas, a true Scotsman would know something of the central role played by the philosophical principles behind Scottish independence and the Scottish Enlightenment in the formation of our unique American republic. Such an educated Scot would defer to Natural Law first and foremost. You may wish to disavow your kilt.

  • zed April 13, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    Had Bundy been a Native American or minority who had been using the land for the past 150 years, both the federal government and the liberal media would have given him a free pass. In fact, had a Republican been in the White House, the media would have been out there defending him, with no need of the militia!

  • Janice April 13, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    Wow that is definiately an opinion. You do not have one ounce of fact in that article and you have a right to your opinion. I hope and pray that the american people are smart enough to find our facts before they listen to your lies. Cliven is true blue american and those who are afganistan fighting for our freedoms are behind him in every way. Of course all of your articles on this matter have no facts.

    • skip2maloo April 13, 2014 at 3:42 pm

      I don’t find any facts in your reply. In fact, I see a few falsehoods: that the writer cites no facts (which he does), that Americans are all smart and willing fact-finders, and that the Afghanis are fighting for our freedom as well as Bundy’s interests. Just sayin…

    • Sliza April 14, 2014 at 12:34 am

      The people fighting in afganistan, aka a military sect of the government.. are against the government? Yeah that has a lot of logic to it. They fight for the government itself quite literally. Both sides of this fight are completely in the wrong. Funny how no one realizes that.

  • Devon April 13, 2014 at 1:55 pm

    You would would have sided with hitler if you would have lived during that era sir.

  • Jon April 13, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    America and freedom won. The federal government and tyranny lost.

    Unfortunately, what will probably happen next time is America’s tyrannical federal government will just come with bigger guns and more federal agents. America needs to wake up before that happens.

    • Happybrother April 13, 2014 at 2:46 pm

      i could not agree more. Government is out of control. They have forgotten they are public servants working for ” We the people ” being paid by ” we the people ” We have two choices, be led like lambs to slaughter or stand up to tyranny.

    • Simone April 13, 2014 at 9:26 pm

      Ok it’s time to stop watching fox news for a little while. The rhetoric is getting to be to much for you. Here is a fact to start you off on yopur journey to mental wellness
      1.) The only tyranny happening here is coming from Bundy and friends who have been stealing from us for 20 years.

  • JAR April 13, 2014 at 2:09 pm

    Dallas,
    Congratulations on your attempt to write off the meaning of being an American. It reminded me of how the opinionated English authors back in the 16th century would poke fun at the pioneers as being loyal to their own selfish wants and thus telling the King of England to stick it. How dare they!
    You have your opinion about how the government managed and covered up their blunder in a right, humanitarian way against the unlawful folks there.
    We hear your opinion load & clear. Please do a opinionated story on the American Indian dealings with the government. Should be a interesting read.
    I suggest you do a little homework on the history of a subject you want to use to gain attention to your writing talents before letting your true feelings put you in barrel.

    • skip2maloo April 13, 2014 at 4:19 pm

      Ah! A veiled threat against Mr. H! “Load and clear” camouflaged as “loud and clear.” And “over a barrel” is adjusted to “put you in barrel” (code-talk for “putting in one’s sights”, or “sighting in”), which implies another threat of the use of munitions. He’d best run and hide, quick like!

      • JAR April 13, 2014 at 7:33 pm

        Skip2maldo,
        Where did you get the idea these comments were a direct threat to Dallas? You better go take your medicine girl. I think Dallas is smart enough and a very good writer, to acknowledge he might have pick the wrong side of a issue this time. I merely suggested to Dallas to reevaluate his talking points vs. facts, so folks won’t put him in a non- American ‘Pickle Barrel’ (so to speak).

        • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 8:30 am

          Jar-head. Ever hear of satire, boy? 🙂

          • JAR April 14, 2014 at 9:14 am

            Your right skip2maldo. This subject has this old timer running around in circles. You stop and think about it,
            Dallas has hit a home run with this conversation. His editor should buy him dinner.
            As far as my recommendation to you to go take your medicine, Throw that junk med in the trash. You don’t need it. (maybe a education, but no medicine) har har.

          • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 3:23 pm

            Oh no. I’ll pop the pills daily. I’ve had enough education (PhD) to fill me. Now I just need recreational chemicals to keep me buzzed enough to giggle constantly at the silliness of people. Yup, including me. I think we may have very likely over-evolved. Shoulda stopped at cows and tortoises, who, if nothing else, don’t have spoken or written language with which to make fools of themselves. Cheers.

  • David Whipple April 13, 2014 at 2:15 pm

    ACTUALLY, “WE THE PEOPLE” – WON!

    Mr. Dallas Hyland, I could not disagree more with your article and opinion of this event. Cliven Bundy, and his family, were at the fore-front of the intense confrontation, and personally took risk (even possible loss of life) to defend their rights and freedoms, after our court system failed to protect from overreaching government agencies. Thankfully, many others including women, and children, did the same; reminisce of events like the Alamo, and thousands of fights for freedom during our countries Civil War, whose anniversary was also yesterday, April 12, 1861.

    “When President Lincoln planned to send supplies to Fort Sumter, he alerted the state in advance, in an attempt to avoid hostilities. South Carolina, however, feared a trick; the commander of the fort, Robert Anderson, was asked to surrender immediately. Anderson offered to surrender, but only after he had exhausted his supplies. His offer was rejected, and on April 12, the Civil War began with shots fired on the fort. Fort Sumter eventually was surrendered to South Carolina.” Source: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/tl1861.html

    Thank goodness, shots were not fired yesterday; but clearly were eminent – for what – Fee revenue to preserve desert turtles? The same turtles the BLM are now exterminating because it’s no longer profitable to maintain their government faculty in Las Vegas? Of course, the BLM backed-down because news cameras would make their actions a public atrocity. Why has no one called out the same government leaders for killing millions of turtles, including all forms of animal and plant life, during years of hundreds of nuclear atomic bomb blasts, merely a few hundred miles north of the Bundy Ranch? There are so many reasons why this entire incident is wrong on all sides. But for you to take only the “Governments Absolute Power” position, in your article, is alarming. Have you ever met or talked to any of the Bundy Family. I did Friday; I was in their home and met this wonderful group for the first time, and feel strongly for their support after learning what was beset upon them in the name of government protection and assistance.

    What is disturbing to many of us who support Cliven Bundy’s actions is, he was never able to address, face-to-face, the bureaucrats and power brokers demanding fees and levying fines on his generational ranch, dating back to the 1870’s founded by his grandfathers. What justifies new burdens by the BLM, which were placed on this grandfathered inherence? This ranch founded even before the Nevada was a state, or the creation of the BLM. In all these battles, these agencies, like the BLM, have not had to prove their case, justifying the fees and fines; Cliven had to prove why he shouldn’t have to pay or be subject to whims of government authority three thousand miles away! Remember, the BLM now controls about 85% of the land mass in Nevada, from Washington D.C. This creates a tremendous money stream, and no wonder there is corruption?

    In this twenty year battle, Cliven first defended against hired guns in the form of government unlimited-funded attorneys in courts, who could win? This week, he faced a multi-million dollar funded attack force, with official badges, armor, and guns; authorized from these same face-less and name-less power and wealth seekers in Washington D.C. He should have been backed-up by Governor Sandoval, County Commissioners, and even his own Senator, Mr. Harry Reid. Yet, these political individuals are simply in the authority line behind Washington, and their agencies like the IRS, BLM, HLS, and NPR. Even the FAA created a “No Fly Zone” covering 600,000 acres, to prevent media from watching the governments impending invasion on the Bundy Ranch. Agencies tried to create postage stamp “Free Speech Zones,” to limit peaceful protests. All Cliven got in support from his government protectors was “talk;” while the same talkers were sending badges with guns, to force the Bundy’s into compliance of their never-ending mandates, fees, and fines. To believe Cliven had a prayer against this sovereign domestic invasion by the BLM is ludicrous, had it not been for social media bringing support.

    Thank God for local citizens, and constitution toting patriotic militia coming to Cliven’s side in solidarity of our Constitution. Else, the Bundy Ranch atrocity would have never seen light of day. This event may be go on record as the day, April 12, 2014, when the new American Revolution began against an overreaching abusive federal government; run by faceless, unaccountable, immoral, and unethical tyrannical leaders (not all-but far too many today). Many now pray something good began on a small obscure desert ranch this day. I support Cliven Bundy and his fight for all our freedoms.

    • Biden 2016 April 13, 2014 at 4:41 pm

      Amen my brother. Well said.

    • Maggie April 13, 2014 at 8:21 pm

      Well written ! Would hug you for sure if I could and husband would approve.
      I always hope that someone who has the ability to put thoughts on paper this well will help people understand and care about what is happening and what happened to Mr Bundy and many others like him.

      I hope you are a journalist somewhere…..if not you are wasting your talents and God knows we need journalist with courage and not afraid to tell the truth.

      • Simone April 13, 2014 at 9:28 pm

        I have a question. Did your husband approve this comment?

      • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 8:31 am

        We should be hugging the cows. They’re the true winners!

        • Susan April 14, 2014 at 2:35 pm

          Well except for the 130 head of cows and calves that died from heat exhaustion, run to death from being chased by the helicopter and the feds contract “cowboys”. The 2 bulls that were shot and killed. Some that we saw released had cuts and rope burns from the rough handling. Many of the cows had extremely full udders, which shows that they were separated from their calves and unable to nurse them. A cow will hide her calf from danger just like a deer does. Then the cow leaves them hidden and moves away trying to distract whatever she perceives as danger away from her calf. In this case probably the helicopter. So there were calves that were hidden for protection by their mothers when things got scary during the roundup. The cows were then chased from the area by the helicopter and hidden calves were left behind to starve.
          This situation had gone on for over 20 years. Then all of a sudden Senator Reid gets word from ENN , the energy company from China that he has promised this land to, and that his son, Rory, is the paid the lobbyist for, that they need the land and Bundy’s cattle removed NOW. So Reid quickly appoints one of his staff members, Kornze, as temp head of the BLM and within a matter of days the cattle are being removed from the land. Any rancher knows you do not round up (or run) cows right in the middle of calving season.
          Another month wouldn’t have made much difference in the long run. But Reid and his son Rory , who will both gain financially from the Chinese deal are the ones who ultimately are calling the shots from the top, and trying to cover up the whole thing by making it look like it is over Bundy’s grazing fees. IT IS NOT! That’s why Bundy is taking a stand!
          These “cowbows” from Shane Sampson Livestock were paid just under $I,000,000 of taxpayer dollars to round up and mistreat the Bundy’s cattle. I saw a copy of the contract before the BLM pulled it from their web page. (along with all of the other documents having to do with this) Anyone know if that was legal of them to do?
          The BLM should have sent a Vet or someone in to monitor the treatment of these cattle. Shame on you, Sampson Livestock and BLM for the way these cattle were treated!

    • Kennedy April 14, 2014 at 12:07 pm

      Very well said.

  • Kacy April 13, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    Pretty uneducated opionion for a columnist. Do some research into why the Federal government wants this particular piece of land so badly. This was less about a man and his cattle and more about freedom and defending the constitution. The federal government is corrupt. Politicians lie and cheat and steal from the American people every day. This is not their land, this is our land. The lawlessness that exists is happening in Washington. They were supposed to preserve and protect our federal lands but what they have done is steal it, tax us to use it,and now they use it to make bargains with corporate energy initiatives mostly with foreign interest. I’ll take the cattle on my federal land THANKS!

    • JAG April 14, 2014 at 8:43 am

      Thank you! Your comment is one of the most accurate. This fight is NOT about a man and his cows. It is about Big Government and the loss of our freedoms. The author of this article is certainly uneducated. He needs some serious lessons on the Constitution. Hopefully it isn’t his house and hard earnings they take first when all our freedoms are revoked by tyranny. If things keep going as they are and no one fights back against this overpowering corrupt Federal Government, all those who agree with his article will come to understand the hard way and they may be ruining the future lives for their posterity. Please study and understand the Constitution — the greatness that this land was built upon!

  • informed April 13, 2014 at 2:21 pm

    What a load of missinformation, this artical has no foundation to stand on and sounds eerily similar to the left talking points that aim to mislead and suppress honest truth. I am very disappointed in you Dallas, I will not be following you any longer. You have lost a reader.

    • skip2maloo April 13, 2014 at 3:51 pm

      It should be a relief to the writer that he has one less stalker to worry about! (I’ve never heard tell of a real or would-be stalker being so open with his anticipated victim.). But I’m disappointed that the lost reader doesn’t identify clearly the misinformation he alludes to, the foundation the artical lacks, and the particular talking points that counter his own (not-yet-revealed) talking points. I, too, am often disappointed in Dallas, but the stalker does no better.

    • DoubleTap April 14, 2014 at 8:44 am

      This article is a good example of why former firefighters should NOT become faux “reporters/journalists”. Dallas should have stuck to fighting fires and the such. Maybe he would do better protecting BLM land against wildfires.

  • Sara Williams April 13, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    I feel so much more enlightened now that I was able to read this article. It’s so hard being an “ill-informed and willfully ignorant part of the public.” It’s obvious that Mr. Opinion Columnist’s intelligence far surpasses us “crash seekin’ Nascar fans”
    The arrogance spewing from this article is nauseating. It’s based on zero facts and is 100% agenda driven. What amazes me about this progressive, elitist author is the condescending way he talks down to his audience and the people who supported Cliven Bundy. As if his supporters were a bunch of hicks just “lookin’ fer a a chance to shoot ther guns.” I know this is a foreign thought to you Mr. Columnist but some of us Americans actually believe in standing up for the constitution!?! And we’re willing to fight for it! My husband joined the military as young 17 year old kid and continues to serve. I have two grandfather’s who are world war II veterans. So it’s kind of important to us. I can’t understand why you think it’s fine for the BLM to have snipers, police dog’s , tazing protesters, a 60 year old woman thrown to the ground? I think your loyalty to government is far stronger than any loyalty you have to Country.

  • Will Ream April 13, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    I strongly disagree with this article, not only because it is I blatant support of a government that has become tyrannical, but also for the reason that it is encouraging the American citizens to blindly rollover and submit to having their God given rights as an American citizen, removed from them one at a time! Maybe Bundy did have an agenda, but does that give our government, whom we claim to have put in place, the right to assume a dictatorial role in forcing us into submission? We as Americans have needed to stand up for what our forefathers fought and died for, for some time now!

  • Becca April 13, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    Non-ranchers make me roll my eyes when they get in on this. Their ignorance is astounding. Read some facts instead of opinionated dribble.

    Why Clive Bundy isn’t WRONG.

    By : Kena Lytle Gloeckner

    There have been a lot of people criticizing Clive Bundy because he did not pay his grazing fees for 20 years. The public is also probably wondering why so many other cowboys are supporting Mr. Bundy even though they paid their fees and Clive did not. What you people probably do not realize is that on every rancher’s grazing permit it says the following: “You are authorized to make grazing use of the lands, under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and covered by this grazing permit, upon your acceptance of the terms and conditions of this grazing permit and payment of grazing fees when due.” The “mandatory” terms and conditions go on to list the allotment, the number and kind of livestock to be grazed, when the permit begins and ends, the number of active or suspended AUMs (animal units per month), etc. The terms and conditions also list specific requirements such as where salt or mineral supplements can be located, maximum allowable use of forage levels (40% of annual growth), etc., and include a lot more stringent policies that must be adhered to. Every rancher must sign this “contract” agreeing to abide by the TERMS AND CONDITIONS before he or she can make payment. In the early 90s, the BLM went on a frenzy and drastically cut almost every rancher’s permit because of this desert tortoise issue, even though all of us ranchers knew that cow and desert tortoise had co-existed for a hundred+ years. As an example, a family friend had his permit cut by 90%. For those of you who are non ranchers, that would be equated to getting your paycheck cut 90%. In 1976 there were approximately 52 ranching permittees in this area of Nevada. Presently, there are 3. Most of these people lost their livelihoods because of the actions of the BLM. Clive Bundy was one of these people who received extremely unfair and unreasonable TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Keep in mind that Mr. Bundy was required to sign this contract before he was allowed to pay. Had Clive signed on the dotted line, he would have, in essence, signed his very livelihood away. And so Mr. Bundy took a stand, not only for himself, but for all of us. He refused to be destroyed by a tyrannical federal entity and to have his American liberties and freedoms taken away. Also keep in mind that all ranchers financially paid dearly for the forage rights those permits allow – – not rights to the land, but rights to use the forage that grows on that land. Many of these AUMS are water based, meaning that the rancher also has a vested right (state owned, not federal) to the waters that adjoin the lands and allow the livestock to drink. These water rights were also purchased at a great price. If a rancher cannot show beneficial use of the water (he must have the appropriate number of livestock that drinks and uses that water), then he loses that water right. Usually water rights and forage rights go hand in hand. Contrary to what the BLM is telling you, they NEVER compensate a rancher for the AUMs they take away. Most times, they tell ranchers that their AUMS are “suspended,” but not removed. Unfortunately, my family has thousands of “suspended” AUMs that will probably never be returned. And so, even though these ranchers throughout the course of a hundred years invested thousands(and perhaps millions) of dollars and sacrificed along the way to obtain these rights through purchase from others, at a whim the government can take everything away with the stroke of a pen. This is the very thing that Clive Bundy singlehandedly took a stand against.

    • skip2maloo April 13, 2014 at 3:59 pm

      Look, Miss Becca. I’m a non- rancher who has sided (with some qualifications) with Bundy and his cows. And if I wasn’t so far away, I’d have shown up with a car stuffed full of weapons and ammo to shoot whoever seemed to need it. Don’t disparage me because I’m not a rancher. I’ve said it before: I LOVE steak, and anyone who can get it for me.

    • annie April 13, 2014 at 4:48 pm

      🙂

  • Neil April 13, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    While I do prefer the method of non-violent civil disobedience to armed confrontation, sometimes the only effective way to deal with the hubris of an overconfident bully that has gone unchecked for far too long is to punch him in the face as hard as you can. I don’t condone the initiation of force, but I do advocate for self-defense.

  • Bridget Sorensen April 13, 2014 at 3:42 pm

    This article is full of s….* I personally know the Bundys and none of this bulls…* is true. Cliven was protecting his rights rights that were there long before the blm was even a twinkle in anyone’s eye. When the government comes for your home your livley hood and your guns u can bet your ass u are gonna wish u had ppl standing with u too. Get yoyr facts straight or don’t write cause ur article is full of lies.
    *Ed. ellipses

    • skip2maloo April 13, 2014 at 4:05 pm

      I’m confused. If the editor didn’t censor “bulls…”* then what was omitted in the “full of s….*” phrase. Since there’s 4 dots after the “s” it could be “steak”!! And this would not only make sense but an aromatic sense that I crave more than the smell of bacon! Also proves whose side the SGN is on if they won’t even allow the word “steak” to be uttered in their pages. Shame, shame…
      *Ed. ellipses

    • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 8:36 am

      Dang! Sorry, Bridget. The church lady or gent censored you again. My fault.

  • melissa April 13, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    Great article. He should be thrown in prison.

  • BK April 13, 2014 at 4:22 pm

    The cause of the problem is usually the agenda of some hidden high ranking dirty politician or senator that is getting campaign money from an environmental group or has a stake in the cattle business for themselves or contributions from a union. Even more common is this scenario. The department of interior and hence the BLM allocates a huge amount of money to do a study that fits their criteria, say the impact of wild horses or cattle grazing on public land. A grant is given and someone tends to make a lot of money and it may even benefit their own agenda. Environmental studies are created as a means to receive large amounts of federal money in the way of a grant and very rarely to protect the habitat or the public. More than often the study evokes an action from the BLM and they turn it into a law. Most of the studies are nonsense. Unfortunately the power has gone to the top and once it does it is almost impossible for a tax paying citizen like Bundy and even a public outcry can do much to stop it. The same thing happens every time they close a riding area. We would have a very hard time getting a grant to do a study because it is now governed by agencies and people that see us as the problem. Now the best way to make money from a grant for a study is the agenda of climate change. Gore is the king of that taxpayers money grabbing movement. Not that’s it a bad agenda but it was created for the wrong reasons. Most democratic societies and countries fail and are destroyed by this slow and cancerous corruption. They only get a clean start after a major civil war that removes all the corruption. Half our society depends on government hand outs which in turn keeps them in power. This makes the situation becomes even more dramatic. History proves every new country will fail from greed. The constitution of the United States was one attempt to solve the problem. Maybe next time it will be written with the knowledge of what has happened to our country.

  • Dallas is a DB April 13, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    Dallas,

    I read just the headline of this article and knew you wrote it. I have restrained from ever calling you what you truly are. “A waste of human flesh.” Could you please refrain from ever writing another story and save the rest of us from your stupidity. You are the reason they have to put warning labels on certain products.

  • Anthony Allen April 13, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Take a minute and watch this. It is worth it.

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tAwALTdrMZ8&feature=youtu.be

    • Maggie April 13, 2014 at 6:25 pm

      This pretty well sums it up . So many do not know the history of this, and they better wake up. Nevada is OWNED by the federal government. Including Reno and Las Vegas for they are dependent on the government for future water and electricity supplies.

      • JAG April 13, 2014 at 8:11 pm

        Nevada is NOT “owned” by the federal government. The BLM is suppose to “manage” the land. The States own the land. The Constitution of America, if you have read it, limits what the Federal Government can own in Article 1 Section 8 Claus 17.
        When the BLM says they own the land, it is another one of their lies.

        • Chris April 14, 2014 at 5:38 pm

          Only problem is that not one court in this country has held that clause of the Constitution to mean what you say it does.

  • kerry d April 13, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    Glad to see someone in the BLM/law enforcement had the sense to back down to protect themselves and the public. The militias were looking for a fight and drove across the country hoping for one. They are no different than union goons brought in to protect a local strike, invited or not. Bundy is a fool and cannot win. The Feds aren’t done with him and the militias will tire of him and move on. He’s nothing but a welfare rancher, mooching on public resources. He’s certainly no hero.

  • Reader April 13, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    It’s hilarious to see people on here attempting to type on a keyboard they haven’t used before, as well as seeing them insert words not found in dictionaries. But kudos for finding your way to the comment section. (Insert hands with applause)

  • Crescent April 13, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    Gun-loving cowboys are no longer bound by Article III of the Constitution. Laws can be passed by Congress and and signed by the President as outlined by Articles I and II. They can be challenged in Court under Article III. If they survive those challenges, they apply to everyone who is not a gun-loving cowboy, as Gun-loving cowboys are now above the law.

    That’s it, really – the Taylor Grazing Act and FLPMA were passed and survived legal challenges – courts have found them to be constitutional. It does not matter if a person agrees or not – they were passed following constitutional procedures and survived challenges which also followed constitutional procedures. Bundy was charged under these laws that have found constitutional, he had due process, he lost.

  • james April 13, 2014 at 5:22 pm

    Thank you BECCA This is what is not being told the truth is the Feds are the ones who are in breach of contract there is much more to this story than what the people are being told.

  • Mark April 13, 2014 at 5:42 pm

    To bad all those morons didn’t get as stupid as I thought they would, that would of been nice to thin out the herd of inbreds.

  • Karen m Robinson April 13, 2014 at 5:44 pm

    Thank you thank you thank you. I’ve spent the last week trying to get people to understand this man is a thief, an arrogant liar. He put so many in danger with his actions, bringing those thugs here.

    If people want to truly help a rancher being forced of off his rightful land Google Laney Family in New Mexico. Or better yet, here is the link.

    http://www.americasfreedomfighters.com/2014/04/12/feds-seize-familys-ranch-property-owners-fight-government-land-grab/

    These people have legal rights that Bundy does not have, but claims.

  • Karen m Robinson April 13, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    Here is the proof bundy has no rights to that land

    https://www.facebook.com/karen.m.robinson.35/posts/10152059496110878

    • Ed April 13, 2014 at 6:14 pm

      Karen, I watched the first few seconds of the video until this smart-ass narrator declared that the BLM was founded in 1976. Not true. It was in 1946, a merger of the General Land Office and the U.S. Grazing Service. If this is an example of this guy’s knowledge, I’ll do without. Where does BLM derive its Constitutional authority to manage Public Lands under its jurisdiction? The “Property Clause” of the U.S. Constitution clearly gives the Government the right to hold and manage public land.

      • Maggie April 13, 2014 at 6:45 pm

        You might want to refresh your knowledge with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 1976,the amendment ,which I believe is what he is referencing. Some times you have to read more than the first paragraph in Wikepedia .

  • Karen m Robinson April 13, 2014 at 5:52 pm

    Call the BLM and let them know you want your lands protected. 702-515-5000

    • Tara April 13, 2014 at 6:03 pm

      UNTIL ITS YOUR STREET AND YOUR PROPERTY/HOUSE THEY COME FOR AND THEY WILL!!!

  • Non-Tea Party Libetarian April 13, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    Any way you look at this, cattle grazing on public land is Big Government Subsidies/Welfare. White people need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and quit looking for government handouts. Big government over the last 200 years has basically given you free land (Homestead Act), paid for your education (GI Bill), backed your mortgages (FHA, VA loans), and when times got tough during the depression Big Government set up programs (New Deal) to redistribute wealth (from taxes) to almost exclusively white folks. I mean enough is enough right? Now you are threatening violence when your welfare is in jeopardy. What hypocrisy from the Tea Party crazies, yet again!

    • Tara April 13, 2014 at 8:07 pm

      Not all Ranchers/Farmers took those offered programs. I know my Great grandpa or my Grandpa ever did. Because they didn’t want any Gov . Involvement ?!

    • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 8:45 am

      Hey! Maybe I’ve found a friend in these pages! A Libertarian sans the do-like-us-think-as-one perspectives that many people mistake for this philosophy. And as a fellow libertarian, I can and will disagree with you and argue with you but recognize that we’re on the same page (re: the “white people” emphasis). See you ’round.

  • Tara April 13, 2014 at 6:01 pm

    Dallas Hyland, you should be ashamed of yourself!!! You sat back in your little office & didnt even attend or go research your info. You took photos from people you knew were supporting Cliven & used then against them. SHAME ON YOI!!!

  • Maggie April 13, 2014 at 6:03 pm

    Well it seems that our Gov.,AG and Wash county elected did indeed agree with Bundy as did Utah ranchers. Utah advised the BLM not to transport those cattle over our land . So I am sure we will be next on the hit list for some government agency. Why Sheriff Gillespie even noted that we half breeds in Utah better not come down there unless we had made our funeral arrangements. Nice guy! Still wonder why we will keep our guns when there are elected officials who talk like that? Rather you want to admit it or not this is a government out of control. It took me awhile to come to this realization also.
    Furthermore it seems that there is more to this story than meets the eye and I for one would like to know the truth. Why is Bundy the last rancher standing in this area? Is there any truth to the story re Harry Reid and son and the Chinese connection? Were the powers that be in Nevada paid off re the rulings on this land? What documentation does Bundy have re ownership of this land? Did the government discontinue their responsibility for care of the land in the 20 years that Bundy did not pay them? Is that money in escrow ? Did Bundy put his own money into the land in any way?
    Why does the state of Nevada not want their land back like the other western states? The Feds own 87 % of Nevada, some which is good ranch land some which appears to be unusable . MAYBE! The rest appears to be owned by the Corporations involved with gambling and little is devoted to middle class which appear to have been driven out or never allowed to be there. My guess it has to do with the financial growth of a few. How about mineral and water rights? How about drilling test wells in this area? What were the results of? There is some reason for all of this.

    Mr Hyland, be a part of the solution not the problem. Your opinion re this is about as valuable as mine, but I do not claim to be a journalist and present an online publication, you do! Without the facts this all means nothing to any of us as Americans, and neither of us should criticize either side without them. The BLM guys on site probably just doing their job and have families. Same for the people there standing up for the Bundy’s. Now if indeed our elected and appointed officials are a part of a money making scam both the BLM people on the ground and the citizens involved were endangered unnecessarily and this is where American’s all of us need to act. In the mean time ,how are the turtles?

    • Susan April 14, 2014 at 3:25 pm

      Maggie, THE TURTLES ARE DEAD. The BLM ” euthanized” them, which sounds better to them than killed or murdered. Cited that they didn’t receive enough of your tax dollars to keep the program going so they killed over 700 turtles. You can find several articles about it if you search. Which by way of disclosure and being fair, I need to say these are not the turtles on Bundys land. We once hiked in the tortoise reserve in southern Utah and we joked about did we dare take a picture of the one and only turtle we saw or would we be sent to federal prison for doing so. Lots of threatening things that would happen to us were posted if we bothered a turtle. Remember reading on their sign or the brochure at the entrance that in drought times the tortoise , who obviously can’t reach plants too far above his head, will survive by eating cow droppings. There is enough undigested nutrients in there for the turtle to survive on by eating it. I remember reading it because I thought that was interesting. So maybe the cows are actually the turtles friend?
      But the very people who are supposed to be protecting them in Nevada KILLED THEM!
      So proves again that it isn’t about the turtles or grazing issues.

  • Ed April 13, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    Jacer: In calling the BLM the “Bully”, exactly what did you expect this agency to do, 20 years after Bundy voided his grazing contract by refusing to pay his lawful fees, then ignored and defied court orders to remove his cattle from the grazing allotment? I think BLM used too much restraint. He does not own the Public Land where he had grazing contracts in the past, and lost his preferences in its uses when he made the decision to vacate his contract. The man owes US taxpayers more than a million dollars, and in my view is nothing but a thief who has incited mob violence to keep a lawful court order from being carried out.

  • Audie April 13, 2014 at 6:11 pm

    Wow, Dallas. Could you please be a little more retarded? America most certainly won. unless you think it is alright for the BLM to designate any area they desire as “public property”, charge you a fee to use it, and then restrict your usage, even though you were using it well before the BLM ever existed.

    Think about this. You own your own home. There is a sidewalk that leads up to your porch. The BLM comes in and says that is a public access point and claims it as public land. Then they charge you a fee to use it. The sidewalk starts to deteriorate and the BLM does nothing, so you fix it. Then the BLM raises the usage fee. If that’s not bad enough, the proclaim the fire ants are endangered and since they found a couple around that sidewalk, they limit the number of times the sidewalk may be used. Eventually, they just prohibit the usage altogether, even though it’s “public property.”

    According to you and the rest of these brain dead Obama supporters, that is okay, because it is “federal law.” Here’s the kicker. It is not federal law. If it is federal law, then please, by all means tell me what the public law number is and how my representative voted. Douchebag. Use your damn head once in awhile.

  • Cathy April 13, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    Well said, Dallas!! The people who stand with Bundy must be totally ignorant of the fact that the guy is nothing more than a common criminal who has stolen from us for over 20 years. I applaud BLM and the tactful way they handled a bad situation.

    • JustMe April 13, 2014 at 7:11 pm

      Cathy Cathy Cathy *I shake my head back and forth*, and any of you that side against Bundy I feel for you narrow minds. Go be sheep off in the fields. Follow the heards because it’s apparent that you are part of the problem this nation has been blatenly trying to create by weakening our education to gain power through greed. Enjoy your misguided ways following the imbiciles in our government.

      • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 3:29 pm

        Strong argument. Tight logic. Reasonable tone. Convincing examples. I wish I had the faculties to present compelling arguments like this. Guess some folks just got that gift.

  • kud April 13, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    Your the one who needs to gey a clue on what this fight is about..your so lost in what is actually going on..get a new job.

  • D April 13, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    The case in NM happened in 2004. If you are going to do research, please make sure to get all of the facts before posting. There are other “land grabs” going on, though. One in TX and one in CO.

  • zacii April 13, 2014 at 6:34 pm

    This article reeks of Toryism.

    Ironic that you call the protesters a mob, while mobs under the guise of government are the reason that the Bundys’ ancestors moved to the Great Basin in the first place.

    BLM, Carthage Greys, what’s the difference?

    I guess because one mob has badges and federal judges that makes them legitimate.

  • Bub April 13, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    There will be a nice cozy spot in federal prison for these bundy idiots. If this was a group of folks obstructing a mine, oil, or fracking operation they’d be branded eco-terrorists and thrown in jail immediately. How is it any different with these redneck idiots??? They should have called in the national guard to disarm these gun-toting nutbags. That’s what it’s there for, right?

  • Skip Wiarda April 13, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    Bloviation with very little fact involved … and the few facts that are touched upon are distorted and biased. Mr. Bundy did not “shamelessly” place anyone at risk. We stood with him as volunteers, proud and fully cognizant of the risk involved … yes, even up to and including the loss of a loved one. No one, NOT A SINGLE SOLITARY SOUL, felt the BLM would back away. The risk was plain, simple and understood. Mr. Hyland, you are simply not in possession of the full facts … your presumption of knowledge taints your opinion.

  • Crescent April 13, 2014 at 6:42 pm

    The Chinese story was discredited – there was a proposal for a solar plant at Laughlin, 60 miles from Bundy’s Ranch. The proposal was dropped year ago.

    Drilling tests mean nothing – drive through Wyoming, there are cows grazing all around wellheads, pumpjacks and tank farms.

    Bundy has no claim to the land at all – he does not recognize the right of the gov to own land. The federal government has claimed land as far back as the NW ordnance act of 1785. His ancestors filed a claim with the General Land Office (founded in 1812) for homestead on 160 acres way back when, and grazed on open range beyond the homestead. In 1933 the Taylor Grazing act was passed and Bundy’s ancestors began leasing grazing rights from the U.S. Grazing Service, just like everyone else who grazed on open range. In 1949 the Land Office and the Grazing Service were merged and became the BLM. The Bundy family continued to pay for leases, along with all of the other ranchers in the American west.

    Eventually, the grazing rules changed. Rules change for all businesses. Only the Ranch industry seems to think it has a god given right to avoid change; that they are immune from the same changing world that affects all other types of businesses.

    Bundy refused to accept change and tried to change the rules. He failed. He had due process, he lost.

    It is not up to each person to act on his or her own interpretation of the Constitution. We have courts for that, as described in Article III. He fought in those courts, and lost. The constitutional process was followed, and he lost.

  • Just some random guy April 13, 2014 at 7:00 pm

    I was there and could not disagree more. The protesters were reasonable, rational, and respectful. They let the BLM know that they were not wanted or needed. There were more than a thousand people there and countless thousands supporting from their homes. The people of The United States spoke loudly and thankfully the BLM listened. I hope this peaceful protest raises awareness that the BLM is out of control. The majority of Federal land needs to be returned to the states. This was the original agreement. The Feds are the ones in breach of contract.

  • CHJ April 13, 2014 at 7:03 pm

    An outstanding article, Mr. Hyland. Thank you for the perspective and much more accurate statements. As a veteran I am saddened by the anti-American antics that the mob pursued. On the one hand, there is talk of the Constitution yet at the same time, they want to ignore the order of law. Thank you again.

    • spots April 14, 2014 at 12:56 am

      I too was impressed with Mr. Hylands piece – it was very well thought out. Though not a veteran, I am disturbed that many of the Bundy supporters are claiming to be representing good patriotic Americans – yet are snubbing their noses at the law and our judicial processes. They are not representing me. They keep complaining about how much of Nevada is ‘owned’ by the Federal government, but fail to point out how much of that is military. Nevada is where many of our top military specialists train, where advanced aircraft and weaponry are tested. We have bases and test sites and all sorts of things happening here in Nevada. Perhaps he should be proud that Nevada has so much land ‘owned by the Feds’ – for military and other purposes. I love recreating in our public lands – these lands that are supposedly ‘off limits’. These are where I have spent many, many hours hiking, camping, bird-watching, animal tracking, star-gazing, pondering petroglyphs and pictographs, thinking, reading, relaxing. I share these delights with others whenever I can. This makes me proud to be an American. Not many other developed countries have set aside land for the use of all, to be protected in it’s natural state forever and/or to preserve history, archaeology, wildlife and more. This makes me proud to be an American. But I realize our parks, preserves, and all land ‘owned’ by anyone is in jeopardy if our nation is not safe. Balance and perspective and far-sightedness seems to be in order here. I fail to see how violence can help anything or anyone, except the bullies.
      Ok haters – let it rip……

      • LarryM April 15, 2014 at 2:37 pm

        Spot
        Thank you, Just so you know I’ve decided to steal you comment to share with friends.

        • spots April 16, 2014 at 2:54 pm

          Please do! – share away – there are some very interesting and thoughtful posts on the Facebook site ‘Stand Against Cliven Bundy’ as well. Despite the name, the site is not name-calling, abusive – or even about the man himself that much. Rather it is a series of thought provoking and informative statements related to the many issues involved in this situation.

  • Drbillyjoe April 13, 2014 at 7:09 pm

    First of all, The people are the winners here. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and just because a law is passed does not mean it is legitimate. Article 1 section 8 of the Constitution defines the duties of Congress. One of those duties is to acquire land from the states, with the okay of the state legislatures. Those lands acquired are to be used for a specific purposes and almost all the purposes involve erecting government building on the site. The Federal Government has control of that land. Do you see any government building on the Nevada Land in question or are there any plans to build such buildings on the site? There is no Constitutional basis for taking land to protect any animal!! With these facts in mind, this land still belongs to the state and only the state can keep people off the land or charge fees to residents. Mr Bundy has already said he would pay fees to the state but not to the Federal Government, who has zero authority on this land.

    • respect the law April 14, 2014 at 11:59 pm

      Comments like this are why you need a license to practice law. Dr Billy, you clearly don’t have one.

  • Rob April 13, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    What a load of crap. BUNDY didn’t show up in typical fly-with-a-sledgehammer fashion with TWO HUNDRED ARMED AGENTS, did he? He didn’t go overboard when a couple of agents and hired cowboys could’ve done the job, did he?

    They asked for it. They got it. Zero pity. Next time they’ll restrain themselves.

  • reality April 13, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    Wow you can really tell who has special interests in the China wind program and fracking

  • Dave Spencer April 13, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    We are lucky to have the BLM protect our land from ourselfs. They are constantly protecting keeping us from distroying our land. If we didn’t have them we would have ATV trails over ever foot of land. Well done on the story! Bundy wants everyone else to do his dirty work. It’s also funny that everyone is hiding behind a fake or just a first name. The author gave his full name and also it said it was an opinion article.

    • kacee April 13, 2014 at 8:26 pm

      You mean people should be allowed to have a different opinion than others? What kind of Liberal attitude is that?

    • spots April 14, 2014 at 1:01 am

      Thank you so much for pointing out that it is an OPINION piece. No matter what your views, please understand the difference between a factual news article and opinion piece. He is supposed to express an opinion, and share opinions of others, and give reasons why – it is supposed to make you think!

      He also lists many references and links to other sources – from many areas of journalism. There are many news articles (factual) as well as other opinion pieces.

      His piece is doing what it should – getting people to think about the topic/issue at hand. Well done!

      • DoubleTap April 14, 2014 at 9:06 am

        All the comments and posts on this are also opinions as well. EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion just like Dallas is. So what’s with all the negativity towards supporters/non-supporters of Bundy?

        • spots April 14, 2014 at 3:33 pm

          Everyone is entitled to their opinion and entitled to express that opinion. I am only speaking for myself, but I take issue with HOW some people choose to express that opinion. There are many complicated issues here. There is a lot of information out there, much of it incorrect. I appreciate opinions from all perspectives. I just do not like to read hateful, name-calling emails from anyone. That does not resolve anything, it does not teach, inform, educate or do anything but spread anger. The comments I find most interesting and informative are the ones that present information with reasons and/or facts. The hateful, name-calling is just a waste of my time – regardless of what perspective it is coming from.
          Unfortunately, it seems that the meanest, most hateful comments are coming from those who are supporting Bundy. Of course, that may just be my own bias!

  • Canyon April 13, 2014 at 7:26 pm

    Of the two sides, only one was interested in the safety of all. The BLM stood down to preserve life, and the mob attacked. Unfortunately, I have many friends who have mistaken anarchy for freedom.

  • sessions April 13, 2014 at 7:33 pm

    Cell phones were shut down, news broadcasts were off line, and there was a no fly zone issued above the area. Please inform me of which news agency covered this to get ratings. The media didn’t cover squat, compared to what actually happened. I couldn’t be more proud of my fellow countrymen. By the way, the only violence that ensued was by the hands of the BLM. Militia were there to show support, good thing too, considering the Feds threatened to open fire on American citizens. As for that article you cited, I hope there are more protests like this, because it’s blatantly obvious that showing up with signs and catchy slogans doesn’t change …. They setup a …. First amendment zone for …., that alone speaks volumes of what our government thinks of our rights.

  • kacee April 13, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    SO help me out here. Does Bundy owe the property tax for his property or grazing fees for our property? I mean I pay my property tax. I call all militia members to my aid as I refuse to pay the government any more property taxes so my neighbors ankle biters can go to school I mean heck I don’t have kids going to school or so the fire department can come put out a fire at my property I mean I don’t plan on having a fire there so why should I pay. Oh and I won’t use the roads the government builds anymore either so lets go militia and fight this evil tyrannical government

  • Kendall April 13, 2014 at 7:59 pm

    we were just Americans protecting our freedoms. those women and children chose to be there to take part in that incident because they are sick of the tired of the government is putting on the people. those were the men women and children willing to stand up and do something about it. so tell me what were you doing during this event? sitting at home drinking tea? this government is in turmoil and “we the people” are ready to do everything it takes to fix the issue. the issue has never been about cattle, tortoise, or Bundy. Its Been about our rights as an American people. if you were not their experiencing that then how can you sit around and tell people that we were the aggressors? it’s time we start pushing back. we were not there for blood shed. even most of the BLM did not want to be there and we understood that. they were just obeying orders.

  • Rainbowruth April 13, 2014 at 8:11 pm

    Frankly I am tired of this anti-mormon hack. Has anyone else noticed that no matter the subject matter Hyland is just a pissy anti Utah, anti mormon, hate filled, self absorbed, trouble maker? Get a life you putz! At what point do you choose to be honest with yourself? Perhaps a boycot against your column is in order. The beauty of America is we can choose what to and not to read. As of now I choose not to log into st. george news, purchase product from their sponors, or refer others to this site. In fact just the opposite, my guess is that there are others that feel the same as I do…any true blooded American can decide if they want support your dishonest attempts at journalism. Folks vote with your actions…good luck St. George News!

    • Simone April 13, 2014 at 9:42 pm

      Ok. Thanks for your input. See you next week. 🙂 I’m not a staffer or Journalist, Ive just always wanted to say that to people who like to talk boycott but don’t really mean it. You know I’m right.

    • DoubleTap April 14, 2014 at 9:10 am

      Unfortunately, this is what happens when a fireman becomes a columnist.

      • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 3:31 pm

        And that’s your opinion. Worth (or as worthless) as much as anyone else’s. (see your comment above). Tap, tap.

    • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 3:39 pm

      Joseph Smith was also a perceived trouble maker. It all depends on context and position and perspective. Maybe Dallas is a prophet. We’ll miss you, Ruth-less. Besides there’s only one way to check anyone’s “true, red-bloodedness”. And I’m all for gettin’ that verification process goin’! Just got all my little babies loaded and just waitin’ fer game time!

  • Sarah April 13, 2014 at 8:30 pm

    How did he break the law? He paid his fees to the State of Nevada (which they vouched for) and then the federal government decided he needed to pay them instead. This article is not correct and I disagree with the conclusion.

    • kacee April 13, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      The United States and Mexico signed the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. In that treaty, Mexico ceded land that includes the present-day state of Nevada to the United States; see also Sparrow v. Strong, 70 U.S. (1865) (“The Territory, of which Nevada is a part, was acquired by Treaty.”). The language of the Treaty itself refers to the land ceded by Mexico to the United States as “territories previously belonging to Mexico, and which remain for the future within the limits of the United States.” (1848). Courts in the United States have uniformly found that title to the land first passed to the United States through the Treaty.
      Actually it was Bundy who decided he was going to pay Nevada instead. Part of the Nevada constitution states;
      Third. That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within said territory, and that the same shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States.
      I think the government should have not been as heavy handed but this Bundy is a true American idiot too. I think my friend you have not heard the end of the Federal Government. Good luck

  • Tom April 13, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Both sides are complete idiots, and I’m just as stupid in posting my opinion here, and I’m in good company, just read the bovine excrement.

    • skip2maloo April 14, 2014 at 3:47 pm

      Tom’s got it! We’re all full of it in our own, uniquely-excremented ways! When do we figure this out so we can all just party, eat steaks and turtle soup, and laugh at our silliness?! I’ll start: I have opinions and a past that has influenced them. But I’m full or as much shit, poop, excrement, dung, crap, (shit, shit, shit – just to give “Ed” more work! Tee hee!) as the rest of us.

  • John smith April 13, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    Bundy owes the money. If he wants to keep his cattle on public land and make a profit pay your d…* fee s (aka rent) no other business can choose to not pay their fees and through a fit when it’s time to leave. 20 years is a bit much. MORMAN church ask all members are you honest with business dealings….. Hmmm not so much owes over a million dollars . Does he tell his bishop his tithing is in a trust as well. Something to think about . Dallas great article….
    *Ed. ellipses

  • top April 13, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    Yes all civil disobedience should be like the peaceful, thoughtful, law ignoring Occupy Wallstreet group….Hurting other people trying to work or go to work, breaking all the laws they wanted, getting paid for being there, etc. I was at Bundy’s in Bunkerville a couple of times and at the Overton Marina. Most people were quite respectful of the blm and others. One young man got irate after his friend and brother were arrested, challenged the blm to come and get him. But the rest was peaceful. And who was pointing guns at people first? The blm. They didn’t like it when there were others with guns? At the marina one young woman was carrying and you know, when I was at Bundy’s I felt more comfortable with all the guns being there than if the only ones with guns had been the blm.

  • Tony April 13, 2014 at 11:19 pm

    Mob rule defeated the rule of law and we all diminished by it. It is telling that the Bundyites flew the American flag below the Nevada state flag which was in turn below the Clark County flag. This deliberate disrespect of the American flag is akin to burning it except that instead of the offense lasting minutes, it lasted many days.

  • RedNeck Lefty April 13, 2014 at 11:35 pm

    Hey listen folks, just because you show up with your guns to play hero, that doesn’t make you a patriot. If you’re defending a guy who is cheating taxpayers by skipping out on 20 years of grazing fees, you’re not standing up for a little guy against a bully, you’re standing up for a con-man against yourself.

    Listen, if you’re taking up arms against the government, which is enacting laws passed through the legislative process outlined in the Constitution, you’re not protecting the Constitution, you’re burning it. If you don’t like laws, you work to elect people who will pass different ones. You don’t put on your camo and load your gun and throw a temper tantrum and call it “civil disobedience.” That’s not civil disobedience, it’s utter anarchy, and it’s as UN-american as it gets.

    Nothing worse than sending your own hubris up the flag pole and saluting it as if it were the flag.

    • Sliza April 14, 2014 at 1:26 am

      The only piece of common sense I’ve read in this comments area. Thank you. Civil disobedience is not being a derp with a gun waiting to start a fight.

    • CHJ April 14, 2014 at 7:47 am

      Redneck Lefty -Thank you for your comments. Well said. Too many claim they want what the “Constitution guarantees” but actually are simply tearing it apart. They seem to think we are operating under the Articles of Confederation instead of the Constitution. Also most do not know their history on how some western territories became states and those state constitutions. Thanks

  • RedNeck Lefty April 13, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    Kacee above makes a really good point: if Bundy really did inherit this land from his ancestors, he doesn’t owe 20 years worth of grazing fees, he owes 150 years worth of property taxes!

    • spots April 14, 2014 at 1:05 am

      I hope they are adding the costs of the failed round up to his bill. Not that we’ll ever see any of it. As a taxpayer, I’m just mad the BLM is spending this kind of money to accomplish nothing. I am guessing many BLM employees feel the same. The ones I know care about the preserving the land, for all, forever.

  • aja April 14, 2014 at 12:40 am

    Mr Hyland, You have come out of the closet. You called me inflammatory on a post previously and now you have offended this community and come out as an anti Mormon bigot. what a shame.

    What you have done is defined yourself as a liberal, progressive anti Mormon living in a Mormon community. You have grossly ignored that the support to Mr. Bundy has come from all across the fruited plain, from coast to coast, Catholics, evangelicals, Mormons, non denominational and non believers have come out in droves to support individual rights and Mr. Bundy.

    Ameirica won Mr. Hyland, Big Government lost. The Fed who forces their heavy boot on the producing citizen’s throats lost.

    Interesting to know that you Mr. Hyland do not write against Big Government. You do not write articles against the oppressive targeting of the IRS against the Tea Party, you do not write against the tyrannic Eric Holder who ran guns to the cartels in Mexico, you do not write against Hillary Clinton’s Bengazi fiasco where our Americans serving there died.

    Your progressive agenda is a disgrace Mr. Hyland. You believe in the “philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, and the equal sharing of misery”.You need to include that in your bio “about the author”. And now your coming out of the closet as bigot with your inflammatory comments outdoes every liberal behind you.

    What a shame Mr. Hyland.

    I take my apologies back Mr. Hyland, you should be ashamed of yourself.

    and yes, you know who I am.

    • DoubleTap April 14, 2014 at 9:16 am

      Very well said AJA.

    • Sprymom April 16, 2014 at 10:12 pm

      You are wrong. Government didn’t lose. We the people lost because one of our fellow Americans cheated us, robbed us, and made those following him look like fools for not knowing any better and giving in and going with the crowd. Lemmings over the cliff.

  • ck April 14, 2014 at 8:52 am

    This article DISGUSTS me. This is not news. I will never read this paper again.

  • fk April 14, 2014 at 9:30 am

    You people that support Clive are a bunch of ignorant fools. I hope the BLM snipes you all the next time they show up because they will be back. You haven’t won anything. They are regrouping and will be back. You morons. You should probably get a job since you have so much time on your hands and fight for something that is right not for attention because you have meaningless lives. IGNORANT, WHITE TRASH, REDNECK ,MORONS

    • Paul April 14, 2014 at 9:54 am

      You are an idiot.
      Wishing people dead that you do not agree with because you an uneducated idiot.
      You village is looking for you.

  • Brian April 14, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Hyland, I’ll make it simple for ya: We The People hired a butler and maid to help care for our property and watch our kids. After a long time, suddenly the butler and maid are telling US what we can and can’t do in our own house, and are trying to give US visitation “rights” to our own children (think common core and the abduction of children by hospitals like has happened over and over, most recently in CT). The feds work for US, not the other way around. Go and read Utah’s Enabling Act if you’re still confused about the nature of “federal” lands. They were NEVER federal property, the feds were given a brief stewardship to dispose of those lands in the interest of the people, not the retain those lands for their own interests (and to make the reid’s rich off their sale to ENN and other chinese companies). The butler and the maid are the trespassers here, not the people.

  • Paul April 14, 2014 at 9:37 am

    You sir, are what is wrong with this country.
    Do a bit of research about citizen, and state rights before you back the federal government.
    The federal government exists to protect the states from the states, and citizens from un-constitutional state laws.
    Since when did the the citizen become subject of the government ?
    It is the other way around there jack ass.
    The government works for us.
    You go lick their boots.
    While your at it, take a copy of the 10th amendment with you, read it, share it.
    Do a bit of research on the enabling act while your at it.
    The federal government is in breach of contract with many of the western states.

    • Sprymom April 16, 2014 at 10:08 pm

      Bundy does not own the land. He is not even renting it. He is freeloading on it. Would you allow him to put his cows in your yard? Rent free?? Maybe you would. And clean up after them for him.

  • Numenorea April 14, 2014 at 9:37 am

    Clive Bundy is the bravest man in America. The weasel that wrote this article needs a constitutional education.

    • Sprymom April 16, 2014 at 10:03 pm

      He is far from brave. Cheats and lars are cowards. He cheated all of us!

  • Paul April 14, 2014 at 9:48 am

    THIS IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL REASON BUNDY QUIT PAYING RANSOM TO THE BLM

    It is the BLM, not Cliven Bundy, who is in violation of the law and the Constitution, specifically Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution.

    The clause, known as the Enclave Clause, authorizes Congress to purchase, own and control land in a state under specific and limited conditions, namely “for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings,” and not, as the feds now insist, to protect an endangered tortoise.

    The Founders were opposed to providing a centralized federal government with unlimited authority to purchase and, as is routinely the case today, seize state and private land.

    During the federal convention debates in September, 1787, Elbridge Gerry, who later went on to serve as vice president under James Madison, contended federal purchase of land “might be made use of to enslave any particular State by buying up its territory, and that the strongholds proposed would be a means of awing the State into an undue obedience.”

    In order to make certain the federal government did not abuse the Enclave Clause, the words “Consent of the Legislature of the State” were added.

    Madison, Jefferson and the Founders were primarily interested in limited government and the diffusion of federal authority over the states for the protection of individual liberty. In 1992, the Supreme Court issued an opinion on the framers’ reasoning behind the state consent requirement (New York v. U.S):

    “The Constitution does not protect the sovereignty of States for the benefit of the States or state governments as abstract political entities, or even for the benefit of the public officials governing the States. To the contrary, the Constitution divides authority between federal and state governments for the protection of individuals. State sovereignty is not just an end in itself: rather, federalism secures to citizens the liberties that derive from the diffusion of sovereign power.” (Emphasis added.)

    Madison knew unlimited federal power inevitably results in unbridled tyranny. “I venture to declare it as my opinion that, were the power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for, it would subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited government established by the people of America,” he wrote.

    Despite the desire of the founders and the originating principles of the nation, conceived as a constitutional republic, the federal government has repeatedly and habitually exacted dictatorial authority in Nevada and throughout much of the West.

    “The United States government owns and has broad authority to regulate federal lands in Nevada,” the BLM arrogantly insists. “In response to challenges of federal ownership of the lands in Nevada, the 9th circuit held that the federal government owned all federal lands in Nevada, and that those lands did not pass to the state upon statehood.”

    This is in direct conflict with Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution.

    Cliven Bundy’s struggle with the BLM in Nevada is exactly the situation Madison and the founders tried to prevent. The federal government does not have the constitutional authority to own land, beyond what is stipulated in the Enclave Clause, and its seizure of land, under the obviously fallacious pretense of protecting a tortoise, is a serious violation of the Constitution.

    Madison made if perfectly clear in Federalist Paper 45:

    “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined… The [federal powers] will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce… the powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.”

    “It’s really about our constitutional rights and statehood,” Bundy has said. “And whether this area known as the state of Nevada is owned by the United States government or is owned by the sovereign state of Nevada.”

    Mr. Bundy, despite a propaganda campaign to the contrary launched by the federal government and its subservient media, is absolutely correct – the war shaping up between the Nevada rancher and the federal government is about states’ rights and, ultimately, the rights of sovereign individuals

    • aja April 14, 2014 at 9:03 pm

      Way to go Paul. This Mr. Hyland will not learn anything from us. He wants to be part of the government so he can put his own boot on our throats.
      He is a progressive commie and thinks he is wiser and smarter than the rest of us.

      This guy needs to be confronted every time he writes this bigoted hogwash. He and the progressives need to be defeated in the voting booth and the arena of ideas.

    • Sprymom April 16, 2014 at 10:01 pm

      You don’t stop paying your taxes because you don’t agree with how the money is being spent. Bundy was cheating and he should be punished for it. You don’t like the law then change iit not break it.

  • DP Bryant April 14, 2014 at 11:02 am

    Thank you for this.
    There is so much nonsense out there and this actually talks about real issues and pretending that the government is out to eat your brains.
    the point that civil disobedience requires knowledge that you are breaking the law is a great point.

    Thank you for writing this. It lets us know that thinking and understanding are not dead in the american desert. No matter how much the sun has seemed to bake the brains of the area.

  • fk April 14, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    Paul I was being sarcastic I do not wish anyone dead. This whole thing is ridiculous and I cannot believe how ignorant people are and how quick they are to stand up for something wrong. These folks need help!

  • sensible1 April 14, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    Great article.

  • Jeff B April 14, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    WAY TO GO BUNDY!!!!! WAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!! USA! USA!! USA!! USA!!

  • smokewagon April 14, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    Bundy owes how much? Oh man he better pay up it might cut into obamas next trip to Hawaii.

  • Keep public lands...public April 14, 2014 at 4:26 pm

    Mr. Hyland, thank you. Your Op Ed was right on. Nobody can deny that the BLM should have dealt with Mr. Bundy and his clan years ago. Unfortunately, the BLM is a political windsock. The so-called supporters of Bundy are a sorry, misguided group. Mr. Bundy has proven himself as being a self serving jerk, bully. For years Bundy and his clan have harassed numerous federal employees, and the public at large. His illusion of owning these lands has cause much damage while keeping the public on edge while he parades around. His cattle are unsafe, dangerous; a menace to a modern society. Mr. Bundy, his clan and his supporters welcome to the 2014.
    Now, the DOI, and the Department of Justice must regroup and bring this to a positive and peaceful conclusion. I demand this as a citizen. The public domain, public lands must be wisely used, appreciated, protected, and above all we must strive to keep public lands…public.

  • Toby April 14, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    I suppose form the thinking, of the author, Rosa Parks was in the wrong as well. She participated in civil disobedience.

    • Hunter April 14, 2014 at 6:52 pm

      I guess you missed the entire point of the column. What happened over the weekend was mob mentality and intimidation. Not civil disobedience.

    • Sprymom April 16, 2014 at 9:55 pm

      Rosa Parks civil disobedience yes. Robbing we the people by not paying? No you can’t compare the two!

  • smokewagon April 14, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    Star wars update Carrie Fisher may come back to play as one of the hutts. Funny that in return of the Jedi she was enslaved by jabba the Hutt now she may play one of the hutts.

  • JO April 14, 2014 at 5:09 pm

    becuase we the people have been paying to raise those cattle. I have the right to go and get one to take and eat. He does not own the land nor does he pay property tax on the land. The goverment has the right to change how the land is managed. Bundy is upset because he was not able to free load anymore. I am sure he would have blamed the goverment if there was a shoot out. Bundy used kids and women to hide behind and get his way

    • Keep public lands...public April 14, 2014 at 7:27 pm

      JO, your solution may have merit. Unfortunately, the cows you saw on saw on the news, you tube were Bundy’s “prized livestock.” These animals are in bad shape. Many look like beef jerky on the hoof. These animals must be removed, now. I have not been in the area for two years and the forage looks terrible in the photos published. Bundy’s cows have managed to bulldozed, destroyed all available water sources, driving other wildlife away. Their so called claims that water improvements have been removed are groundless. These so-called improvements were never approved. His standing is also without merit; he has not had a grazing permit since 1993. I really do not care about the fees. Get these animals off our public lands. Bundy must face the judge and be held in contempt, among other charges. Good night.

    • aja April 15, 2014 at 9:37 am

      Don’t you realize that “the government” has eliminated the cattle ranchers in Nevada and Bundy is the last man standing? That under the guise of a tortoise, grass, or smelt, they take land from public use and then sell it to the Chinese?

      Don’t be ridiculous and wake up!

      • Crescent April 15, 2014 at 10:18 pm

        Have you ever been to Nevada? Drive around sometime. There are dozens of Ranchers left in Nevada, maybe hundreds – Bundy does not even claim they are all gone. He claims to be the last Rancher left in Clark County. He’s wrong about that, as there are two others.

      • Sprymom April 16, 2014 at 9:52 pm

        Last rancher in Nevada? I live in a whole county of ranchers in rural Nevada! Bundys not the last rancher..liar rancher perhaps!

  • Tinker Toys April 14, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    Dallas do not fret. All of the criticism of you comes from people who think the book of mormon is real.

  • aja April 14, 2014 at 9:04 pm

    Sure tinker, you and your Mormon hating bigoted buddies make up such a gang of thieves.

  • aja April 14, 2014 at 9:36 pm

    from my friend Tom: In July 2011, the federal government agreed to allow China to buy up 600,000 acres of gas & oil fields in Texas. This is the same administration that would not allow new drilling; kicked Shell out of Alaska after billions of dollars of investments; shut down most offshore drilling; and tried to shut down Texas oil fields on the remote possibility that it might harm a tiny useless lizard that was most often known for being road kill.

    The acreage takes in the Gold Butte area where Bundy grazes his cattle.

    Mr. Obama prefers solar and windmills to oil and gas however.

    Bundy’s name came up in a solar project that the government currently wants to put in place with the Chinese communists using Nevada land This time.

    InfoWars posted documents found on the BLM website which BLM has since taken down. One document is titled, “Cattle Trespass Impacts” and it states that Bundy’s cattle negatively “impacts” solar development and would prevent the construction of utility-scale solar power generation facilities” on “public lands.”

    They are talking about a very lucrative “investment” of $5 billion by Chines communists who will set up an enclave – a Chinese communist enclave – on U.S. land in Nevada.

  • Kodi April 14, 2014 at 11:00 pm

    Excllent article. I was appalled that people took their children to this so called protest. And for the commenters who say these women and children chose to engage in civil disobedience, I say wt…? What 5 year old understands the complicated political mess this whole thing turned out to be? I seriously doubt the children chose to be there. Brainwashed by anti-government goons or dragged by crazy parents who are willing to put thier children at risk of being shot, perhaps. But the kids didn’t chose. Completely negligent in my opinion.
    Ed. ellipsis.

    • Thoroughbred1021 April 15, 2014 at 10:44 am

      Kodi, since you were not in attendance in Nevada, you really cannot speak as to who was actually there. The media showed only the snippets of what they wanted to show you to further vilify the situation and attendees. As a person who actually attended the event on the front line in Nevada this weekend (armed only with first aid supplies– just in case) … let me tell you this. There were very FEW children present, and I was glad for that, as this was not the place for children. I saw a small contingent of teenagers as well. And yes, many teenagers DO see what is going on in our nation. Oftentimes I am convinced they are smarter than some of the idiots I see posting on these boards. They are the ones who will carry the charge at some point against this tyrannical government.

  • Hobbs10 April 15, 2014 at 1:07 am

    It’s obvious the author of this article does not know his facts but thinks he has a way with words.

  • JSD April 15, 2014 at 6:26 am

    The level of paranoia expressed in some of these comments is frightening. An enormously large government like ours has become bogged down with paperwork, redundant and overlapping bureaus and general inefficiency. The lists of ‘proofs of tyranny’ are really lists of goof ups by a government that has become too large to operate as originally planned. To claim that ‘they’ are out to enslave all citizens is just lazy thinking. All of you people shouting to “take on the Feds” should first be working on an alternative plan that makes citizens’ lives better instead of stomping your feet and whining about your rights being trampled while not proposing any solutions. Unfortunately, this was no ‘victory’ for any side.

  • Thoroughbred1021 April 15, 2014 at 8:05 am

    So here is the question…..if Mr. Bundy (or someone else) came forward and paid the fees owed in their entirety, would the BLM and the Feds leave him alone? I think we all know the answer to that.

    • Chris f. April 15, 2014 at 4:50 pm

      Seeing as he is the last rancher in Clark county, my home county, and they (blm) has driven all the others out, I would venture to say no the Fed would not have left him alone.

      • Simone April 19, 2014 at 4:17 am

        my father was a Nevada Highway Patrolman , I grew up all over Nevada and know many of the BLM officers and ranchers because I spent much of my life in small towns. I can say that I probably know 50 ranchers all over Nevada and every single one of them pays the fee when they choose to graze their cattle on public land. Ivan also tell you for a fact that the federal government is not driving ranchers off the land. The plain and simple fact here is that ONE rancher, Cliven Bundy, did not pay what he owed despite the fact that probably every other rancher in Nevada pays it even if they don’t like it, If Cliven Bundy has a problem with the fees that come with grazing cattle on public land he can graze his cattle on HIS OWN LAND and work to change the fee by voting, running for public office, or any of 1000 other things “normal” people do in America when they want to change something.

  • Freedom April 15, 2014 at 8:40 am

    Bundy Ranch – What You’re Not Being Told: http://youtu.be/HFiosLqjoQQ

    • Chris April 15, 2014 at 4:18 pm

      That has already been debunked as complete b.s.

  • DLR April 15, 2014 at 9:10 am

    Ok. I will try to clear all the misconception about all of this. Mr. Bundy didnt really break a law. He broke a BLM code which is indeed enforced just like a law. But there is a difference, nothing in the original constitution prevents Bundy from owning and herding cattle where he did.
    Other examples of times codes were broken were when people smuggled slaves to free states. In the statist view this was a crime, all those who helped free a slave which is a piece of property stole property from another person which today lands you a 3rd degree felony and up to 5 years in prison. They broke they law helping free a human being, send them to jail right. because all laws are just and equal. Alcohol prohibition, and the civil rights movement both had people breaking “laws”. Good thing people were informed of and understood jury nullification. Had Cliven Bundy appeared in front of a jury of his peers, nullification is probably what would have happened. but federal courts dont have peers.
    Really the simple fact is that a moderate number of 2 million has been claimed to be spent on the operation at the Bundy ranch, to collect a million dollar debt, that really should have only been a 2-300k debt. So dont even dare talk about tax payer money. talk about 2.3 billion dollars being given to the Ukraine soon, how many of cliven bundys fines would it take just to complete the US foreign aid in a year?
    Normally when you sue someone you dont get to go to their house and steal it for the money they owe you.. you wait until they sell the house or something expensive they own, then you get what they owe off the top due to the lien. Do you not understand how this has always worked? Can you give me an example of a time they take everything you have and sell it for the money you owe?
    You guys act like a million dollars is even important in current days. 1 daysbefore 9/10/2001 Rumsfeld said the treasury department lost 2.3 trillion dollars. no one got in trouble for that. and you talk like a million matters. We fought for our independence as a republican minority, while the democratic majority didnt want it to happen. So the majority of Americans have always just been ignorant and wrong. thats just history.

  • DLR April 15, 2014 at 9:27 am

    “Cliven Bundy came forth after Gillespie, spoke and betrayed the terms of the stand-down announcing a series of demands that included but are not limited to the disarming of federal agents, and the removal of gates to national parks.” in order to betray terms you must first agree to them.. is it your opinion he betrayed terms? because its definitely not fact. Did he first agree to terms? He did not. So you openly lied in your article. To push your agenda right? which is go shoot protesters with the blm or what. here are the terms of the shut up.. you never talk agian. you betray that you are basically a coward. You never agreed to never talk again in the first place, but i expect you to hold up to it all the same.

  • DLR April 15, 2014 at 9:57 am

    while Cliven Bundy shamelessly put innocent life in harms way for his own agenda

    Cliven Bundy came forth after Gillespie, spoke and betrayed the terms of the stand-down announcing a series of demands

    The militia took their stand surrounded by women and children also in protest and demanded that the cattle be released.

    Despite that, there was nothing peaceful about it.

    Instead, he appealed to the nature of mob rule and incited potential violence – even when peace had been brokered.

    but ultimately appeared to be the disgruntled and disenfranchised fanatical fringe element looking not for a cause to fight for, but a fight to support and glorify their cause.

    At the standoff in the wash, the true colors of these people was shown when they used for strategical advantage, the presence of women and children while threatening an armed response to the law.

    All these statements show why this is an opinion article, because they have no truth in fact. It is more close to alternative fiction. I commend you and think you have great skill in satire. Keep spinning the news sir, i prefer my news to be fictitious and full of emotion instead of unbiased and truthful.

    • Simone April 19, 2014 at 4:26 am

      What is your IQ? One? Two of the Key elements of an opinion article are bias and emotion. That is why it’s called a “Opinion”. If you really prefer that your news be neither of those things then the opinion page is not a good place for you.

      • DLR April 20, 2014 at 12:29 pm

        Indeed, I just like all the people who agree with this article as if it is full of truth and actual fact. am an idiot and should not be here, but i like all the people who think this article is spot on truth, am here.. and its ironic his next news article is about bias and spinning news and its once again in the opinion pages. I will leave with a quote from Dallas Hyland “This is to say that taken at face value, the evening news has about as much reliabilty for the discernment of truth as a reality television show.” or this opinion article.

  • allison April 15, 2014 at 11:15 am

    Bundy is a welfare parasite sucking on the teat of the American taxpayer. I own that BLM land just as much as Mr Bundy does, and I want him and his cattle OFF.

    • Chris f. April 15, 2014 at 4:48 pm

      What is your relation with Mr. Cliven Bundy to know his financial status so well? Very judgemental. I also own the land and feed my family the beef from mister Bundy’s cattle. Is my family being fed an issue for you too?

  • Chris f. April 15, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    Yes civil disobedience, very unamerican and non heroic you say? I wonder what your thoughts are on the civil disobedience played out by Rosa Parks not getting to the back of the bus. You probably would say that was a cowardly act, very non heroic, and purely unamerican to support. Authors thoughts please?

    • Sprymom April 16, 2014 at 9:43 pm

      Rosa Parks did not steal the bus. She paid her bus fare. Bundy wants a free ride and that is the difference.

  • icwydt April 15, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    I’m unclear why the BLM should be involved in this. This should be Nevada land and Bundy is squared away with the Nevada Government. The increasing amount of Federal land should be a concern for anyone who understands that we live in a Union of States.

  • Mr. Lowland April 16, 2014 at 6:11 pm

    Wha Wha Wha what we got here is failure to communicate. I’m hoping today for a better tomorrow. You maybe right or you maybe wrong. Against the wind we’ve been running against the wind. Hold on to what you’ve got. Life is just a fantasy can you live this fantasy life. I’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places. Money money money money MONEY. My country liberty land of the noble free. God bless America. Allison put you teat away. I lost my soul. Don’t take your guns to town. Born free. I had an accidental conseption. Opp there it is.Tell me how to live. What’s more American than base ball I am I am I am? Just keep singing

  • Sprymom April 16, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    That does not mean that you can go into a state or national park and build a home there because we the people own it! Bundy gives real ranchers a bad name. What he is doing is no different than stealing from those that work hard and do things the right way. And those that stand up for him are either too stupid to know right from wrong or don’t take the time to find out the whole story!

  • steve April 18, 2014 at 11:43 am

    I was wondering what people in St. George though about all this, so I found this newspaper and this really excellent opinion piece, I was impressed! Then I started to read the comments….wow it’s worse than I thought it would be. To the reasonable locals I’d say take solace in the fact that the nutjobs are always 10X more likely to post so don’t be discouraged.

  • Patrick F. Harrison April 22, 2014 at 9:06 am

    leftist and Big government, will be the downfall of our Country.

  • J-Man April 22, 2014 at 4:05 pm

    Wow, I only got about 1/2 way through this before I couldn’t read it anymore. What a bunch of lies. I assume they are lies because I hope this guy did some research before writing this piece of garbage. First and foremost Bundy didn’t command anything or anyone. Your suggestion that he was a “commander” of any force is absurd. And to suggest that the militias are criminal elements is just as absurd. THIS is the reason the second amendment was written. American patriots showed up armed, only after the Federal Government came with over 200 armed agents and snipers over a dispute dealing with some back taxes.

    If you can’t see there is something else going on here you aren’t a journalist but just a mouthpiece of the Obama administration. There are so many clues that something else is going on here. 1. The desert tortoise isn’t endangered. The preserve in Las Vegas has to kill them because of over population. And the cattle are beneficial to the tortoise (they eat the cow dung) and don’t hurt them, unlike the government which destroyed their habitat and multiple dens. 2. Why is the Senate Majority Leader injecting himself in this issue? He has no authority here. Doesn’t he have issues to deal with like the massively failed Obamacare healthcare plan that he shoved down the throats of American taxpayers? Shouldn’t the Senate Majority Leader be doing something to get Americans jobs? This whole mess stinks to high heaven but this worthless author skipped every relevant point in this story. Maybe you should be cleaning the toilets at McDonald’s and leave the writing to others.

  • JOSH DALTON April 24, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    I just saw a story on CNN. Bundy said “black people had it better has slaves.” WOW! Now I would have to say I am no longer in support of this racist. I hope the Gov. goes in kills all the cattle and arrest those wannabe cowboys! Sorry Bundys the Spanish started it all anyway. The cowboy way started in Florida with the “Crackers.” i.e this is why the racial slur still exsist. So give it up Crackers!

  • Handsome P. Silverman May 17, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    poor mr. bundy>>>>did not pay his note for 20 years >>>then tells his family & friends to point guns at Fed. agents. the worst welfare cheat in the USA. he and his “militia” will no doubt wind up in the slammer.

  • Handsome P. Silverman May 17, 2014 at 9:04 pm

    poor mr. bundy>>he just forgot to pay his Fed. note – for 20 years. then tells his family & friends to point guns at people. a true hero.

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