Threat to Federal Lands in Wyoming

highplainsdrifter

Very Active Member
May 4, 2011
703
128
Wyoming
I have posted some of this information in the "Wyoming" section, but since Wyoming's federal lands belong to all Americans it is worth posting here as well.

Seven misguided members of the Wyoming Legislature are proposing an amendment to the Wyoming Constitution that would pave the way for transferring federal lands to the State. The Select Federal Resource Management Committee will meet in Riverton on November 9th to decide whether to sponsor the amendment to the constitution. Here is a link to the draft bill:

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/interimCommittee/2016/17LSO-0179-0.7.pdf

Supposedly, the amendment calls for a prohibition on selling transferred lands in an attempt to appease the concerns of recreationists. That is a smokescreen! Your's truly, has a quest column in the Casper paper explaining why the proposed constitutional amendment is a bad idea:

http://trib.com/opinion/columns/degroot-why-a-public-lands-amendment-is-a-bad-idea/article_35f48566-5f2b-5383-8904-cef13523abfd.html

Today there was a public lands rally in Casper. Hundreds turned out. Here is a video of part of the event:
https://www.facebook.com/keepitpublicwyo/videos/218453338585664/

There is a lot of food for thought here...hope it doesn't make you throw up!

To keep abreast of developments, please visit our facebook page entitled "Wyoming Sportsmen for Federal Lands" at: https://www.facebook.com/WyomingSportsmenForFederalLands/?ref=aymt_homepage_pane

I've said it before and I'll say it again...NOBODY is going to take our federal lands from us without one hell of a fight! We could use your help. Please email the members of the Select Committee and tell them to keep their #@!*& hands off your federal lands!

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LegislatorSummary/CommitteeMembers.aspx?strCommitteeID=SFR
 

300magman

Member
Oct 23, 2016
55
0
Alberta, Canada
Obviously I don't have a stake in this issue, but completely understand the issue your fighting and just wanted to say tip of the hat to you for fighting the good fight. Whether its this issue or any of the others that threaten public access to land across North America we need more people like you.
 

go_deep

Veteran member
Nov 30, 2014
2,650
1,984
Wyoming
Obviously I don't have a stake in this issue, but completely understand the issue your fighting and just wanted to say tip of the hat to you for fighting the good fight. Whether its this issue or any of the others that threaten public access to land across North America we need more people like you.
You do have a stake in this, just like every American, its our land!
 

300magman

Member
Oct 23, 2016
55
0
Alberta, Canada
Hahahaha! Yup, truly don't have a stake in this. But we are losing access to federal lands up here at an ever increasing rate it seems, and I have been actively involved in fighting against several of these closures (one of which contained my elk hunting area for the last 20 years and was closed this fall permanently to all hunting and fishing activities). So u do understand the importance of this and the people who push back against it.
 

highplainsdrifter

Very Active Member
May 4, 2011
703
128
Wyoming
I took your advice and emailed a senator. Here is the timely response he wrote. Please analyze this and share your thoughts.
Senator Bebout is one of the main sponsors of the proposed constitutional amendment (and has promoted other attempts at transfer). So, it is not surprising he says he will vote for it. I guess he hasn't gotten quite enough emails yet. Here are the best reasons I can give why a constitutional amendment is a bad idea. I wrote this guest column which appeared in the Casper paper on Friday. By the way, thanks for sending the committee your comments!

http://trib.com/opinion/columns/degroot-why-a-public-lands-amendment-is-a-bad-idea/article_35f48566-5f2b-5383-8904-cef13523abfd.html
 

go_deep

Veteran member
Nov 30, 2014
2,650
1,984
Wyoming
I replied back and asked it'd he even read my email, or just copy, paste, and clicks away. This was his response.

*I do read all the emails that I receive.* Many are identical and my response is the same to all.* I am not making excuses, but I have no legislative staff to do my emails.