Follow the money is always a good idea.

Posse comatatis , call him whatever you want but using armed forces against American citizens for non violent violations is not only wrong it's against the law. Since this guy is a Mormon rancher he's a dead man, if he were an atheist hippie the feds would not give a poop. This is the same administration that raised hell about targeting US citizens in Yemen that we're conspiring to launch terrorist attacks against the US of A.

Absolute BS in my opinion.

Since he has neglected to pay his grazing fees, he has no legal recourse.

Now that he has accepted help from armed militias, they stand a much better chance of ending up dead.
Dead and stupid... they kind of go together.....

At this point, I have seen no compelling evidence that BLM has done anything worse than being a little heavy handed with a db who has flaunted his unwillingness to play by the rules.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

I found this equally interesting...Ignore the source, but read the story.

» BLM Action in Nevada is Unconstitutional, Here’s Why Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

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1987 560SL
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I can certainly understand and sympathize with the argument, but I see it as more of an excuse rather than a reason.

If he was so incensed with the federal government stewarding the land and charging grazing fees, why did the family pay them for so long?
Nevada became a state in 1864.... that's 150 years ago. It seems like they might have found the time to lodge a complaint before now....

My understanding is that the family was fine and dandy with the arrangement until BLM modified the grazing permit to accommodate the desert tortoises which live in that area. That was when Bundy quit paying. That was when he should have pursued his argument regarding the 'Enclave Clause'.... Not after 20 years of continuing to operate a commercial herd on public lands without making a single payment. That is theft of public money in my book.
Had he wished to give his constitutional argument some validity, he would have paid the grazing fees to the State of Nevada....

Unless something else comes out, I can't see him as anything but an opportunistic scofflaw who has been abusing the public trust for decades.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

While that is a fascinating viewpoint, whether an action is constitutional or not is not for him to decide. IIRC, there is a group that decides that. You get a ticket you don't believe you deserve, take it to court. That is the venue for such decisions. Your personal interpretation of the law notwithstanding, it isn't your call.

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03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

This after 20 years? I'm not sure I know how it would be "heavy handed". Had this been 2 weeks after his first missed payment, I'd agree it was.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Not a big fan of BLM by any means, but is it not within their purview to change the land use from grazing to oil exploration?

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

You're talking about quite a bit of land. Until oil is definitively found, exploration operations can coexist with grazing. What's technically legal doesn't make it morally right. If it's about oil, I hope it does turn into a media circus.

Morally right??? WTF do morals have to do with grazing?

BLM oversees the land.
Guy has not paid his grazing fees, yet continues to graze there.
Seems pretty simple to me, regardless of whatever nefarious purpose the .gov has in mind for that area.

Personally, I think the guy is a douche for grazing on public land without a permit and without paying the grazing fees.
He's lucky he hasn't been tossed in the hoosegow already.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Do you know the history of the fees? Were they suddenly raised to exorbitant levels, perhaps? Do the fees vary by area, or are they all as cheap as El Chivito says.

For all we know, he has a right to be livid here.

Oil and cattle go together quite easily. Look at King Ranch for an excellent example in Texas. There are lots of others.

‘Expect To See A Band Of Soldiers’: Militia Members Arrive At Nevada Ranch « CBS Las Vegas

The imagery of the self-reliant cattle rancher running up against the image of a cheapskate scofflaw.

Could he be both?

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow