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Tag: Rancher

  • Cliven Bundy Cuts Ties With The Republican Party

    Southeastern Nevada cattle rancher Cliven Bundy has officially left the Republican Party. Along with his wife, Carol, Bundy appeared at an event in Las Vegas on Friday to register with the Independent American Party. Bundy, who was a featured speaker at the said affair, was honored by the Party for his “courage” in defending for the sovereignty of the state.

    Bundy is best known for his involvement in a long-standing conflict with the United States Bureau of Land Management over his refusal to renew his cattle grazing permit in Bunkerville, Nevada. The ongoing dispute, which started in 1993, was sparked by Bundy’s protests against modifications in the grazing rules in USBLM-administered lands. In 1998, the Nevada District Court banned Bundy from grazing his cattle on the Bunkerville Allotment.

    The peak of the dispute happened in April when hundreds of armed individuals headed over to Bundy’s property to express their support for the cattle rancher. More than 140,000 hectares of public land were previously closed by the federal government in order to “capture, impound, and remove” all trespassing cattle. After negotiations among Bundy, Sheriff Doug Gillespie, and USBLM director Neil Kornze, the situation was managed and the seized cattle were released.

    Apart from the grazing dispute, Bundy was also implicated in a racist controversy, in which he suggested that black people “would be better off as slaves” rather than recipients to government subsidies. This remark caused Bundy to be condemned by the media as well as some fellow Republicans, who distanced and disassociated themselves from the rancher.

    Cliven Bundy’s racist rant

    During the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, President Barack Obama condemned Bundy’s racist comments.

    The Independent American Party is currently the third-largest political party in the state of Nevada. According to a tally released by the Nevada Secretary of State, the Party has more than 70,000 members, although the number of “non-partisan” voters could be much higher.

    Cliven Bundy joins Independent American Party

    Image via YouTube

  • Nevada Cattle Rancher Gets Support From Politicians; Feds Seize His Cattle

    A “range war” between the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and a rancher has reached fever pitch as the BLM surrounded Cliven Bundy’s Clark County ranch with four-wheel drive cars, armed officers, and helicopters.

    The war is over 600,000 acres of land near the border of Utah called Gold Butte, controlled by the BLM and used as a habitat for the protected desert tortoise. Ranchers who allow their cattle to graze there have to pay fees, which Bundy stopped paying since 1993.

    According to Bundy, he has rights to the land since his Mormon ancestors have worked there since the 1880’s. He further stated that there is no federal authority on the land, which belongs to Nevada.

    Just last week, the BLM also seized grazing cattle “in violation of a law” meant to protect the tortoise. Kirsten Cannon, spokeswoman for the BLM said that it was a last resort, blaming Bundy for forcing a range war.

    Bundy’s son, Ammon Bundy, claims that BLM’s actions have resulted in the death of many of their cattle.

    Christie Vanover, spokeswoman for the National Park Service, said that they have to account for citizens’ safety in the face of threats that could harm them.

    Cannon also stated that Bundy has been trespassing for more than 20 years, and that he owes $1.1 million to the federal government for grazing fees. Local authorities also arrested Bundy’s son Dave last Sunday. According to Dave’s aunt, her nephew was arrested for simply taking pictures of what the government officials were doing. He was released the next day.

    Bundy has help from two top leaders. Both Sen. Dean Heller and Gov. Brian Sandoval have come to his rescue, saying that the BLM’s actions were heavy-handed. According to Heller, the BLM is handling the situation poorly.

    Sandoval agreed, saying that there exists an atmosphere of intimidation and that they should change their approach.

    Bundy claims that the situation is bigger than his cattle, and that this is an issue of freedom, liberty and constitutional rights.

    He further said that he’s willing to pay grazing fees, as long as it is to Clark County, not the BLM.

    Image via YouTube