Cliven Bundy’s fight for state’s rights began in 1993 with his refusal to buy a permit from the Bureau of Land Management to graze his cattle on a piece of private property in Nevada. He and his family, who’d been living on that land since 1877, currently owes over $1 million in taxes since not obtaining this permit. They have yet to pay.

Bundy is making a scene out of his unpaid debts and will not leave the land, even though it has been closed off by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help preserve an endangered desert tortoise since 1989.

This cattle-rancher does not recognize the federal government’s power to claim land, if he sees it fit for grazing his roughly 900 cattle. He’s even willing to let it escalate to a standoff between those supporting him and the Bureau of Land Management. Does Mr. Bundy really think he can win this? He’s merely enjoying the shine of stardom before his fines catch up and he loses his ranch.

Conflict between cattle ranchers and the Bureau has been on the edge for some time now, but before Bundy made a scene, a confrontation of any kind had never occurred.
In fact it probably never would have, because most cattle ranchers have a little more going on in their heads than him. Just last month his own cousin was quoted in the Washington Post talking of him as if he’s gone loose. “He’s (Bundy) just in a world of his own. I don’t think he’s working on all four cylinders.”

Desperately, Bundy is taking a stand for misguided Americans fighting for state’s rights as they have been since the colonial age. Eventually all he will get is jail time, as well as those who chose to support his cause much longer.

“It’s not about the cows,” says supporter and Bundy’s cousin in USA Today, “It’s about the freedom to make our own choices close to home.”

What does that even mean I must ask?

Uneducated and eager to create a dispute, those in support of him are only making themselves look like stereotypical, freedom loving, common sense-lacking rednecks.

The Bureau has since backed down from the confrontation, because it had serious concerns for public safety, but I find it easy to believe it will not put up with something like this for long. As of now, preventing a shootout appears to be the best thing to do.

Bundy thinks he is a martyr for local rights, his supporters comparing his cause to fighting the British in the revolutionary war. He does not accept federal fees, and believes he can shove them off forever.

Bundy is not keeping his grazing land forever. Just until the federal government feels inclined enough to step in and put a cattle rancher on time out.