Millionaire cattle business grazing free on Public Land, drapes itself in Gadsen Flag and turns out owner's extended Momo clan and all interested Ruby Ridge groups when Federal land managers move to evict cattle:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/nevada-cattle- ... d=23302610
Facts:
Cliven Bundy (& his heirs and assigns) holds title to ~22 acres of land
Cliven Bundy grazes his cows for his own profit on Public Land, and does not pay grazing fees. The US taxpayer feeds Cliven Bundy's cows. Cliven Bundy then sells the cows and pockets the $$.
Cliven Bundy feels his family's historic agreement with the other Mormon settlers, as he interprets it, supersedes the Property Clause of the US Constitution as well as any statehood Enabling Acts.
Cliven Bundy feels that even though his family could have easily and cheaply obtained title to vast acreages before they were withdrawn from Entry under various homestead, ranching, and mining Acts, he has a right to have the US taxpayer support his way of life by virtue of some right of preemption (aka "First Refusal") granted under his family's historic for-profit agreement with other ranchers in the area. The courts have rejected these arguments.
The US Bureau of Land Management serves as agents for the owner of the land and graze in question, all US Citizens. The BLM are, in effect, landlords moving to evict a squatter who has committed the tort of trespass against the citizens of the US, for his company's profit.
Nevada was admitted to the Union in 1864, so the "Federalness"" of the lands in question predates 1870.