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ELKO — While tension over public land disputes seems to be ratcheting up, one state senator is calling for sides to tone down the rhetoric.

Sen. Aaron Ford, D-Las Vegas, made the comments during the Legislative Committee on Public Lands held Thursday in Elko, in regard to criticisms that the Bureau of Land Management was breaking the law outlined by the Wild Horse and Burro Act, while applying a double standard to cattle.

“I think it’s unfair for people to point the finger at other folks,” he said. “It’s inflammatory to say that other folks are breaking the law by not doing certain things. People’s hands are tied … and everybody’s trying to work together.”

Ford said the effect of a confrontational approach can be tuning out rather than listening up.

“I hear a lot of inflammatory, accusatory, finger-pointing remarks,” he said. “… We might want to dial it back just a little bit and keep trying to work together to get this problem solved.”

Elko County Commission Chairman Charlie Myers, who presented to the board, said he agreed that a diplomatic approach to land issues was preferable, but added that the county hasn’t had success that way.