Like many Americans throughout the country, I have been closely monitoring the incidents that have transpired over the last few days between the BLM and the Bundy family ranch. While I am pleased to hear Director Kornze has decided to end the roundup, that does not change the fact that the BLM has handled this situation in an extremely poor manner. The BLM infringed on the rights and liberties of American citizens in the way they chose to deal with this matter, and put the safety of the general public as well as their employees at risk. If this is the type of leadership we can expect out of new BLM Director Neil Kornze, I have grave concerns. Closing public access to their land, establishing restricted First Amendment Areas, officials shoving women to the ground and shooting civilians with stun guns, and other over-reaching actions taken by this bureaucratic agency in this matter have trampled on our constitutional freedoms and have no place in this country. Bringing snipers and dogs on the scene and having planes participate in the roundup only escalated tensions in an already sensitive dispute. This is an instance that highlights a continual theme within the Obama Administration: more control of our daily lives, more control of our federal lands by any means necessary. Im hopeful that BLMs decision to embark on this roundup in the first place was not motivated by politics and the need to appease extremist environmental groups who have threatened lawsuits if these cattle are not removed, on the premise cattle are bad for the habitat of a tortoise. Public lands belong to the people and this is recognized under current law by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act which requires their multiple use. I will not stand for these type of infringements and call on the BLM to respect the basic rights of American citizens and not use totalitarian tactics like this again when trying to resolve public land disputes. Im headed to Nevada as we speak and will continue to provide updates on this situation.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 20:31:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015