Fwd: [Fwd: well researched explanation of bundy's complaints]
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/15371ba2f5fba230

"Please read this before making up your mind on whether or not the ranchers 
who were protesting are patriots or trouble makers. 

"Many people are not aware of where the conflict regarding Federal land 
stems from, or why this is such an issue in Nevada. Firstly, the 
Constitution limits land that can be owned by the Federal Government to the 
10 square mile Capital, small amounts that must be purchased from the state 
for the purpose of military installations and federal buildings, and 
territories. Once a territory becomes a state the Federal government is 
restricted by the limits of ownership within a state. The Constitution also 
guarantees that all states are to be treated equally. 

"However, the situation in Nevada is complicated because the Nevada state 
constitution forfeits their land to the Federal Government. The whole thing 
stems back to the unconstitutional Enabling Act of 1864. When you read that 
act it is blatantly clear that Nevada was forced to give up land in order 
to become a state. It's opening line is contradictory to the contents of 
the Act. It says that the purpose of the act is to allow Nevada to enter 
the union on "equal footing". And then goes on to stipulate that in order 
to enter the Union they must forfeit their land to the Federal government. 
It also doles out pittances of land for such things as schools and public 
buildings. No other state had ever had the requirement of forfeiting their 
land nor been subject to the whims of the Federal government to be able to
provide for it's people. This WAS NOT "equal footing". 

"So why would Nevada agree to allow the Federal government to continue to 
own the land after they became a state? In order to understand this, one 
must realize the influence of the Civil War in this situation. The Civil 
War was winding down and the Union was winning. Many Confederates were 
fleeing from the South to the Western Territories. These Confederate 
sympathizers were causing quite a bit of trouble. The miners were in fear 
that they would try to take over the recently discovered silver mines in 
order to finance their uprising. For this reason, the miners were desperate 
to join the Union. There had been a mining boon and the influx of miners to 
the state had created a situation where they outnumbered other residents 
substantially. Even so, the first Nevada Constitution failed to pass. It 
was not until a clause that only required the miners to pay taxes on the 
profits of their mines, and not land taxes on mines not being worked at the 
time, that a Nevada constitution was passed. This unequal tax was rejected
by the farmers and ranchers, but being outnumbered the Nevada Constitution 
was ratified. 

"The position of today's ranchers is based on the fact that the requirement 
in the Enabling Act of 1864 that Nevada forfeit their land to the Federal 
Government in order to become a state is both contradictory to the stated 
purpose of the act and unconstitutional; and that, therefore, the clause in 
the Nevada Constitution doing so is invalid. 

"In the case of Cliven Bundy, it is important to note that he has tried to 
pay his grazing fees to both the county and the state, but that his 
payments have been rejected. It is also important to note that no lien was 
ever placed on his cattle, and that because of this no auction house would 
sell his cattle for the Federal Government. As a result, they were being 
corralled in the hot sun, without adequate food and water. Normally mild 
cattle, were being herded by helicopter, If the stress caused them to 
become aggressive, they were shot. Calves were being separated from their 
mothers and dying. When Bundy insisted on the return of his abused cows, a 
domestic military force showed up and threatened the Bundys. It is 
important to note that our Constitution also prohibits the domestic use of 
military in times of peace. Another note of importance is that at no point 
did ANY protester advocate violence nor threaten to shoot at anyone unless 
in self defense if illegally fired upon. 

"So, in conclusion, those at the Bundy ranch were protesting 
unconstitutional federal land ownership, obtained under duress; unlawful 
seizure of property; the unconstitutional use of domestic military; and 
animal abuse. I'd say they were patriots!"