Despite a US Congressman’s claims, there are no road blocks manned by militiamen checking id’s in Bunkerville reported Advocate special correspondent Chris Miller.
Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) expressed his concerns in a letter to Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie, citing comments from his constituents in the state’s 4th congressional district, which includes Bunkerville, the site of the camp that sprung up following Bundy’s declaration of defiance against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) earlier this month.
“We must respect individual constitutional liberties, but residents of and visitors to Clark County should not be expected to live under the persistent watch of an armed militia,” Horsford wrote. “Residents have expressed their desire to see these groups leave their community.”
Horford also stated in the letter that, according to constituents, members of militia groups have also “established a presence” on both highways in the area and churches and schools.
“I urge you to investigate these reports and to work with local leaders to ensure that their concerns are addressed in a manner that allows the community [to] move forward without incident,” the letter reportedly stated.
The Las Vegas Sun reported that police were investigating Horford’s allegations. One officer was quoted as saying that Gillespie was “in contact with multiple people in elected office” regarding the issue.
“There was absolutely nothing true in that complaint,” Miller said Wednesday. “There is a guy on the family’s driveway, on their property asking strangers what do they want. but road blocks and check points? Come on.”
Advocate Special Correspondent Chris Miller from Mesquite is a self described a land sales guy in Nevada specializing in farms, ranches, water rights, range leases, for 37 years.
Miller spent the week leading up to the standoff out at the Bundy Family Ranch. He was there in that wash under the I-15 bridge.
“I can tell you they were aiming there rifles at us. They did not look like any BLM range guys I have ever worked with, and I looked them eye to eye. I work with range managers around the State on a regular basis. These guys were wearing body armor, helmets, and carrying AR rifles.” Miller wrote. “I don’t know who they were or what agency they came from, but my guess is not BLM! It was the most unsettling experience of my life.
Since then Miller Miller has visited the ranch several times.
Horsford complaint to local police could be setting the stage to turn what was a Federal vs bunny fight into a confrontation with local law enforcement and the septegenarian rancher.
So far local police including Las Vegas Metro, the clark county Sheriff’s Department and the Nevada Highway Patrol have tried to stay out of the fray and have been mostly successful.
However there are certain indications that policy my be ending.
In addition to Horsford complaint several local police gave interviews that firearms from bunny supporters were pointed at them during the first standoff with BLM agents. that could be a prosecutable offense if the identities were known.
There are also reports that police have been told of illegal fully automatic firearms were present at the ranch also a violation.
If the Clark County Sheriff or District Attorney should pursue the investigation it probably not be too difficult to find a local judge to issue a warrant for either a search or the arrest of a Bundy family member if not the patriarch himself.
Even before the road block allegations the family of Nevada Rancher Cliven Bundy and supporters were worried that allegations of racist comments made by the patriarch of the clan could be used as an excuse for a future armed raid by BLM agents.
“That is what everyone is thinking,” said Miller. “With most of the major press demonizing him most of the Bundy’s political support has evaporated. The stage could be being set for the return of the BLM.”
In a remarkable series of events last week Bundy and his supporters went from jubilation at the retreat of armed Bureau of Land Management agents to despondency when the 67 year old rancher was branded a racist following remarks posted on youtube.
Bundy himself was publicly vilified from practically every sector of political spectrum. Democrats, like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid D-Nevada were gleeful while Republicans, like Senator Dean Heller R-Nevada ran for the hills.
Overnight mainstream political support virtually vanished except for one notable exception Nevada Assemblyman John Ellison.
“Look the last person I am going to ask about race relations is a 70 year old white Mormon rancher from Bunkerville, Nevada,” Ellison said. “It was inarticulate and offensive and frankly he shouldn’t have said it. But no matter how wrong he was about race he is right about cows and ranching. For the past 20 years increases in grazing fees have squeezed dozens of family ranches out of business in Nevada. Ranching has always been a tough business but you could if you were careful make a decent living at it and support your family. Today you can’t. That is why I still support him but he really should get another guy to talk to the press.”
