The important letter below was sent to listed parties of the BLM by a wild horse & burro advocate:
April 8, 2014
Joan Guilfoyle, Division Chief BLM Division of Wild Horses and Burros jguilfoy@blm.gov
Juan Palma, Utah State Director, BLM jpalma@blm.gov
Jenna Whitlock, Utah Associate State Director, BLM jwhitloc@blm.gov
Todd Christensen, Color Country Utah District Manager BLM utccmail@blm.gov
Salvatore R. Lauro Director, Office of Law Enforcement and Security BLM SLauro@blm.gov
BLM Utah State Office utsomail@blm.gov
Re: Threats to Capture Wild Horses in Utah in Violation to Federal Law
Dear Sirs/Madams:
Please stop this conspiracy to commit any illegal activity on public land before it goes any further. The American people own the public lands and resources in the West and they are supposed to be administered and protected on our behalf by the national government under laws and regulations. These are not “federal lands.” They are public lands. They never belonged to any state, county, individual, private or corporate entity. The land and the resources and the animals belong to the citizens of the United States.
The current threats by the Iron County Commissioners et al are apparently being made in response to BLM’s request to remove or reduce the privately owned domestic livestock that have, in the past, been permitted to graze on public land. Removal or reduction of domestic livestock which provides financial gain for any private or corporate owned institution must be activated in favor of protecting the land and the wildlife and wild horses and wild burros and their habitat that belong to the American people. As a matter of fact, by law the BLM can and should close appropriate areas of public lands to grazing use by all domestic livestock, if necessary, to provide habitat for wild horses or burros; to implement herd management actions; or to protect wild horses or burros from disease, harassment, or injury. 43 C.F.R. § 4710.5. It is the law.
Per the 1971 Congressional Wild Horse and Burro Act, the land is to be devoted PRINCIPALLY although not exclusively to the wild horses and wild burros’ welfare in keeping with the multiple-use management concept of public lands. Definition of “principally”: First, highest, foremost in importance, rank, worth or degree, chief, mainly, largely, chiefly, especially, particularly, mostly, primarily, above all, predominantly, in the main, for the most part, first and foremost. Wild horses and burros are legally DESIGNATED on the Herd Management Area(HMA) and livestock are only PERMITTED. Definition of the word “designated” is to “set aside for” or “assign” or “authorize”. Definition of “permit” is to “allow” or “let” or “tolerate”. The HMA and HA lands and resources are set aside for, and assigned and authorized for, the use of wild horses and burros whereas the livestock is only allowed and tolerated and let to use the public range resources. While commercial livestock grazing is permitted on public lands, it is not a requirement under the agency’s multiple use mandate as outlined in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). Indeed, public land grazing clearly is a privilege not a right, while the BLM is mandated by law to protect wild horses and burros.
It appears from recent news reports that BLM is cowering to the conspirators that have stated they intend to break the federal law. These Utah ranchers and the Iron County Commission are threatening to break a federal law and their threat alone is a conspiracy against the citizens of the United States of America. Will BLM cower to these people and allow them to bully the American people and the government of the United States? If they do, then all participating members of BLM are equally guilty as accessories to the conspiracy.
A criminal conspiracy exists when two or more people agree to commit an unlawful act, and then take some action toward its completion. The action taken need not itself be a crime, but it must indicate that those involved in the conspiracy knew of the plan and intended to break the law. All collaborators involved and showing intent to break the law can be charged with conspiracy to commit the crime, regardless of whether the crime itself is actually attempted or completed.
An accessory to conspiracy must generally have knowledge that a crime is being, or will be committed. A person with such knowledge may become an accessory by helping or encouraging the criminal in some way, or simply by failing to report the crime to proper authority. If BLM law enforcement can’t stop the Utah ranchers and County Commissioners from committing crimes that they have publically announced they will carry out, then it is BLM’s legal duty to report those crimes to the proper authority that is capable of stopping the crime against the American people. If they don’t … then they are clearly accessories to the crimes.
It has not evaded my notice that BLM is not threatening these ranchers with arrest by Federal Marshalls. I now demand that armed Federal Marshalls be posted at the boundaries of the wild horse HMAs with orders to use force to protect the wild horses. If this action is not taken, charges will be filed with the Inspector General and articles will be filed with the BLM Office of Hearings and Appeals. As employees of the United States Government were you not sworn to protect the rights of the citizens of the United States?
Categories: Horse News
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Awesome letter!! Will share. Many, Many thanks, unknown advocate.
LikeLike
It is amazing that we have to restate and confirm the law to the government. Not everyone knows that any civil servant takes an oath to model the highest ethical and moral decisions. It could be this expectation has been ignored given the last few decades of strife. Good letter too, I love its rational tone, unlike the pitchfork and torch atmosphere out on the Bundy ranch.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Pass the SAFE Act!.
LikeLike
The key here is that this rancher has willfully and knowingly trespassed on public land for at least 20 years. He is the criminal at this point. He has violated the law, and the BLM at the very minimum the BLM should charge him back fees for grazing at the rate that other ranchers were expected to pay, a rate that has varied over the past 20 years. If and when his cattle are returned to him, he should have paid full restitution and a fine for violating the federal law.
It is a crime to threaten, including an attempt to intimidate a federal employee.
I find the degree of outrage this rancher feels free to express and his attempt to rally public officials around his illegal activities, and their willingness to support his illegal activities very informative and may help to explain the origin of some of the questionable decisions made in the past.
Apparently this rancher and these groups of elected officials do not respect our laws. This character trait is a prerequisite of those who are willing to take extradinary measures to circumvent the laws that they do not like and do not intend to follow. It is possible that this is not the first time that this rancher has been engaged in other activities that have also benefitted him and allowed him to increase his personal wealth at the expense of the people of the United States. Let us hope that cooler heads will prevail, and a sense of the gravitas of this situation will set in.
LikeLike
Please explain to me where in the constitution does it say the federal government has the authority to control or regulate the public lands of any state.
LikeLike
The fed’s authority to control and regulate public lands in any state come from…. Let’s see – Article II, Sec. 2 of Constitution provides for cabinet level agencies. The Land Ordinance of 1785, created the Public Land Survey System while the Treasury Department had already overseen the survey of the “Northwest Territory” including what is now Ohio. Land Ordinance was placed into the Department of the Interior when formed in 1849; merged with the United States Grazing Service (established in 1934) then became the Bureau of Land Management on July 16, 1946. If you’re referring to Clive living in his “sovereign” state, please note that in Nevada’s Constitution, Article I, Section 2 states: “Purpose of government; paramount allegiance to United States.” http://www.leg.state.nv.us/const/nvconst.html
This was passed decades before Clive’s ancestors arrived in Nevada. He’s quite a bit off his rocker but should pay his fees like all other ranchers and stop being a welfare grandaddy cowboy.
LikeLike
Awesome letter unknown advocate , Thank You !!!! Thank You !!!!
LikeLike
We have a new director of the BLM as of yesterday:
the U.S. Senate confirmed Neil Kornze as the director of the Interior Department Bureau of Land Management on April 8, 2014.
LikeLike
Neil Kornze was born and raised in Elko County, Nevada. I read that this northeastern part of Nevada has more mining in it than any place in America. His father, Larry D. Kornze, was the General Manager of Exploration and U.S. Exploration Manager for Barrick Gold Corporation from 1987 to 2001. Neil Kornze has a degree in international relations so his primary interest appears to be selling out OUR public resources to private/corporate interests, including foreign interests. It’s not surprising that Kornze was sworn in as the director since he fits right in with the hawking and destruction and embezzlement of our public resources by those that are supposed to be protecting the rights and property of the citizens of the United States. This confirmation sounds like another big rusty nail in the coffin of our public lands.
LikeLike
Gold in Iron County?
“Gold Springs is divided between eastern Lincoln County, Nevada and Western IRON COUNTY, Utah”
Gold Springs Project Has BIG Potential
http://www.uncommonwisdomdaily.com/a-gold-explorer-from-toronto-12986
The Gold Springs Project is a 60/40 joint-venture project High Desert Gold shares with Pilot Gold. High Desert Gold spent $1 million in exploration expenditures and paid $160,000 to Pilot Gold Inc. to get its 60% share. High Desert Gold is the manager of the project.
Pilot Gold is the brainchild of an arrangement between Newmont Mining and Fronteer Gold. Pilot Gold is a gold exploration company led by members of the former Fronteer Gold team, who discovered or advanced seven deposits since 2003, including the development-stage Long Canyon gold project in Nevada, which is now owned by NEWMONT
Gold Springs is divided between eastern Lincoln County, Nevada and
Western IRON COUNTY, Utah
GOLD SPRINGS EXPLORATION PLAN OF OPERATIONS/WATER USE?
DOI-BLM-UT-C010-2014-0038-EA Gold Springs Exploration
https://www.blm.gov/ut/enbb/index.php
Plan of Operations Cedar City Field Office 04/07/2014 04/07/2014 Plan of Operation
Received:
4/7/2014 NEPA
scoping initiated:
4/7/2014
Gold Springs Exploration
Plan of Operations
LikeLike
News reports aren’t even mentioning the horses and burros. It’s all about turtles and Bundy’s ancestoral homestead rights. So, where in the hell do these crazy ranchers get the idea to take it out on the horses??? One thing is for sure about the BLM…..they’re damned if they do, and damned if they don’t! LOL! They’ve maneuvered themselves into quite the pickle here. And Mr. Bundy has a LOT of folks convinced that he’s so special that he doesn’t have to obey any laws or pay any fees at all!! And I suspect his supporters on the ground have benefited from this somehow. But those SOBs better not TOUCH the wild horses and burros!!
LikeLike
Kristy-
There are two separate issues. 1) The wild horses in Utah that the Iron County commision has threatened to illegally remove and 2) Clive Bundy’s 20 year long livestock trespass in southern Nevada.
LikeLike
I am amused by Mr. Bundys “ancestoral”claim to the land. Because if one wants to go that route than there are probably a few Native Americans who can claim prior occupation of the lands in question for a much greater period of time. Another amusing irony is that since the horse originated in North America there were probably wild horses pre dating both Native Americans and white people.
LikeLike
Once they are done with the cattle the horses will be next. This isn’t about turtles, its about energy & corporate profit. Not to mention UN Agenda 21
LikeLike
The only time the msm mentions “turtles” is in jest. No living wildlife matters to these people.
LikeLike
Washington
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/dec/17/nevada-nominee-head-blm-takes-heat-gop/
Neil Kornze symbolized two important firsts when he came before the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee today for a confirmation hearing to be the director of the Bureau of Land Management.
If confirmed, he would be the first native-born Nevadan in decades to lead the agency that presides over about two-thirds of Silver State land.
He is also the first Nevadan to face a confirmation hearing since Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., changed the filibuster rules on nominations
LikeLike
That is extremely disturbing to know. Reid is one mealy-mouthed SOB. Part of his agenda?
LikeLike
Reblogged this on cindymendoza47.
LikeLike
Hopefully this letter will help stop more wild horses and burros being rounded up and harassed or sent to slaughter !
LikeLike
thank-you who ever wrote that letter we have needed some support like this wonderful letter i’m going to be real interested what will happen on a lighter note because of all that is happening i’m getting a whole lot of pleasure of imagining sally jewel in jail house orange and it’s just making my day , hehe
LikeLike
EXCELLENT letter.
It’s important that we all write, email, fax or call and let the agency know that WE, the taxpaying public, WANT OUR WILD HORSES AND BURROS PROTECTED.
WE are the only voices they have.
LikeLike
HOW can gold mining exploration even be considered?
Dawn of the Dead Watershed
by Richard Mills – Ahead of the herd
Published : March 02nd, 2014
http://www.24hgold.com/english/contributor.aspx?article=5252079298H11690&contributor=Richard+Mills
In March of 2009, Enoch City in IRON COUNTY, Cedar Valley Utah, contacted the Utah Geological Survey (UGS) about what they believed to be a fault running through one of their new subdivisions. It was determined by the UGS that it was a fissure caused by the groundwater level dropping as much as 114 feet since 1939 – the cause was determined to be due to pumping more groundwater than is recharged (refilled).
LikeLike
Dawn of the Dead Watershed
by Richard Mills – Ahead of the herd
Published : March 02nd, 2014
http://www.24hgold.com/english/contributor.aspx?article=5252079298H11690&contributor=Richard+Mills
In March of 2009, Enoch City in IRON COUNTY, Cedar Valley Utah, contacted the Utah Geological Survey (UGS) about what they believed to be a fault running through one of their new subdivisions. It was determined by the UGS that it was a fissure caused by the groundwater level dropping as much as 114 feet since 1939 – the cause was determined to be due to pumping more groundwater than is recharged (refilled).
LikeLike
Utah Wild Horses are NOT just numbers on a BLM website.
Utah Wild Horses are REAL
Wild Horse Behaviour in Utah
LikeLike
Wild Horses in Utah’s Southwest Desert (1 of 5)
LikeLike
Great videos that show these wild horses are famlies!
LikeLike
I ran into a neighbor who is moving to Nevada next month. He stated there are so many wild horses they are literally every where, A real Nuisance! I asked him in the dozens of times he went to Nevada to stay for months at a time on his new retirement ranch did he see the horses overrunning his property. His response….well to be honest I haven’t seen Any! In fact, come to think of it I saw plenty of cattle, many breeds, and sheep dotting the landscape. Doesn’t that speak volumns? Even before people move into Nevada they are contaminated against the horses?
LikeLike
That’s an excellent example of this propaganda technique: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”
LikeLike
grandmagregg, go to d.c. clothesline everyone and read some of the stuff on this website and see if it doesn’t match up with what is happening now . when you go to this web page look up obama agenda an have a look at that !!!!
LikeLike
I just sent this letter to my Senator and asked him to take a position on S541 (banning horse slaughter and shipping for that purpose) and S258 (which would double the term of grazing leases to 20 years).
Since it’s a midterm election year I told him I will not vote for him until I understand his position on these matters. I encourage anyone else with people running for office this year to do the same. We are preaching to the choir on this site, to be heard we have to speak up and speak out, and hold our officials accountable.
GRAZING “IMPROVEMENT ACT”
Senate: S258
http://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/s258
http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/258
House: HR 657
http://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/hr657
beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/657
THE SAFE ACT
Senate: S541
http://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/s541
http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/senate-bill/541/cosponsors
House: HR 1094
http://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/hr1094
http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1094
LikeLike
Excellent letter!
LikeLike
Sure would be great if they received hundreds of letters.
LikeLike
Bravo!!!!! I support this letter. I support wild horse and burro activists. I support wild horses and burros.
LikeLike
Hope you will write a letter also (or make some calls) – every voice counts when we speak for our wild horses and burros.
LikeLike
Dear Mr. RT. Fitch: I just wanted to let you know that I have written to: NBC News at their ‘What should we investigate’ page about the Wild horse slaughter, all horse slaughter, & Utah! I gave them your site: “Strait from the Horse’s heart” & The site for the Cloud Foundation. I have already written to the Cloud Foundation & suggested that Everyone do the same by writing on the ‘what should we investigate’ NBC page. Also, Go to: The White House contact page where you can write to President Obama directly. I like you most likely am at the end of my rope with this situation! I can not sleep because of it. The only thing I could think of was to shine a BRIGHT light of the media on this horror. This evil goes on in the cover of flying under the radar. Thank you so much for your time.
Sincerely, Stephanie Hundemer🐎🌟🐴💓
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 15:23:20 +0000
To: stephanieshundemer@hotmail.com
LikeLike
Good!
LikeLike
Just received from Hilary Wood.
. Please call the Interior Department’s hotline at 202-208-7351 to express your opposition to the Wyoming roundup and any other roundups this year.
LikeLike
Just called that no. and was told to send an Email to exsec@ios.doi.gov so that they can be tracked.
LikeLike
So they are breaking the law and no one will do anything about it! Unbelievable. BLM needs to get in there and make an accounting of where our horses are going. Those horses belong to the American people and no one should be profiting from selling them to anyone least of all a slaughterhouse like what happened in Wyoming two weeks ago.
LikeLike
Awesome letter 🙂 Answering someone above me— Nevada did have most of the wild horses free now they are in the Reno area in pens it is not right and needs to change. We do not have as many anymore on the free range because of the BLM rounding them up, it has to stop somehow someday or we won’t have anymore. Our kids can see them in history books in the future it is not right and has to stop and now! People loved coming here just to see the wild and free horses on the ranges 😦
LikeLike