Bundys head to Carson City

Two busloads of supporters of AB408 concerning provisions governing the acquisition and use of certain public land were expected in Carson City today for a noon rally at the Nevada Capitol before a scheduled 1:30 p.m. hearing by the Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining.

Ammon Bundy said his father, outspoken Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy, rented one of the buses that left Las Vegas early Monday loaded with AB408 proponents. The other bus was traveling to Carson City from Arizona.

Ammon, who also was driving to Carson City Monday, spoke to the Desert Valley Times from the road via cell phone.

“I don’t know how many people are on the buses or how many are going to be at the rally but we’re hoping there are more than 100,” Ammon said.

Although the younger Bundy is not a resident of Nevada, Cliven Bundy told the Desert Valley Times his son has worked extensively with AB408 sponsor Assemblywoman Michele Fiore amending the bill until it represents the Bundy family’s attitude toward the federal government.

“We feel like we’ve got a good bill that represents ‘we the people,’” Cliven Bundy said of AB408. “This bill is promoting the U.S. Constitution; the state sovereignty and law, and county government. We feel like we’re in tune with ‘we the people.’”

The Legislative Counsel says Section 3 of AB408, which was sponsored by GOP Assemblywoman Michele Fiore, “prohibits the federal government from owning or administrating any land or resources in the state that it has no acquired with the consent of the Nevada Legislature and upon which it has not erected forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards or other needful buildings.”

The bill prohibits the federal government from owning any Nevada water rights; requires the state land registration of grazing, logging, mineral development or any other beneficial use rights on public lands “including land to which the federal government claims ownership or ships. The registrar must award such rights to the first person who puts the land to those beneficial uses, and hold an auction to sell permits to use. County commissioners can impose a tax on the unit sold through the beneficial use of public lands.”

Ammon said the rally was “organized by Michele Fiore” and will have speakers including Fiore, Assemblywoman Shelton and “possibly (Clark County commissioner) Tom Collins; we invited him but I don’t know if he’s going to be there.”

Ammon said speakers at the hearing include Washington state Legislator Matt Shea and Rick Dalton, Constitutional Sheriff’s and Peace Officers Association executive vice president and legislative liaison.

Follow Mike on Twitter, @mdonahuedvt

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