Reply #4: There are some folks in Eastern Montana who are developing theories

[havocmom]

And they are NOT happy with bushco. They feel pretty certain there is a move afoot to remove ranchers from huge tracts of land and go for the Buffalo Commons think. It will likely result in a rich man's playground for guys like Dead Eye Dick Cheney who seem to like their hunts conveniently canned.

Some folks were mighty puzzled at a meeting in Malta the other day when a bunch of Forest Service uniforms and BLM guys all had those sidearms. That is something NEVER before seen here abouts.

Now, ranch wives going out on their ATVs to feed sheep are all packing serious heat. Sure, there are wolves, lions and the occasional black bear, but ask the ladies and they will tell ya 'We are a little worried about the two legged critters we are seeing about carrying guns where they didn't used to.' The wives I just spoke with the other day are NOT of the Loonies in the Boonies school of thought either. They are very optimistic ( I think OVERLY optimistic) and co-operative folks.

We were wondering if Forrest Service & BLM chaps with side arms had undergone any psych tests like police officers have to before they are allowed out with badge and gun. To our knowledge, the answer has been NO. IF their are now private contractors in US department uniforms, we be is some serious deep shit.

And the locals don't much like the idea of just selling off the land for a one time tithe to the federal coffers. They know that land was to be held in trust for future generations. They take that seriously. They are land stewards around here and it is important. They know the BLM would trade parcels and that only made sense from a land management point of view. But to just flat out SELL off public lands? Not a popular notion. There are LTTE in MT papers about the issue. Folks are hopping mad.

You and I aren't alone. But we need to get this out there more in the public dialog so it is not just taken up by voices in the wilderness where no one is listening beyond the next state.

This is the outright destruction of EVERY AMERICAN'S LANDS! And there will be some well connected developers making a bundle on the whole thing while rural schools get a token, one time payment.