Join us at the capitol in Helena at noon on January 30
Hi Robert,
Our public lands are under attack.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a rule change that would make it easier for Congress to not just sell off our public lands, but to give them away. Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke, our likely next secretary of Interior, voted for the measure.
This comes a few days after Montana state Senator Jennifer Fielder submitted two joint resolution drafts in the legislature, one calling for a study of transfering national public lands to the state and the other calling for outright transfer – the first step in selling off our public lands.
With the changes brought on by the 2016 election, the threat of losing our public lands and our outdoor way of life is perhaps now greater than it’s ever been.
We need to fight back.
That's why we're holding a Rally for Public Lands on Monday, January 30 at noon under the State Capitol Rotunda in Helena.
This is your chance to let our elected officials know that our outdoor way of life defines who we are as Montanans, and we will always fight back against any attempts to seize the public lands that enable us to lead that life.
Join us in sending the message to our state and federal elected officials: public lands belong in public hands.
Speakers at the rally will include Governor Steve Bullock, mountaineering legend Conrad Anker, fly fishing guide and TV host Hilary Hutcheson, and K.C. Walsh, CEO of Simms fishing company.
Please let us know if you can come and if you need a ride.
Also, be sure to sign and forward around a petition in support of public lands at mtgreatoutdoors.org.
See you at the rally on January 30!
- Kayje Booker, MWA state policy director
Federal land sales is an economic issue and once we lose them, we will never get them back.
Have you ever noticed that the NRA leaders do not really represent the common working man who depends on public lands to hunt and fish?
Oh, I am an NRA Life Member who thinks the gun show loophole should be closed.
I understand what previous courts have ruled regarding state license fees but if this stays with the Feds, as I think it should, anyone using federal land for recreation purposes should be charged the same, resident or not of the state that land lays within.
On other threads it is frequently mentioned that hunting is becoming a rich man's activity, yet there seems to be little support for allowing non-resident hunters fair access to federal land. To me, it is one or the other. JMHO which I know many disagree with.
OTT2's Link
Call your Representative and tell them how you feel about this BS.
You need to watch this video series and fully understand the negative impact that transferring land to the state would be a HUGE mistake. Randy Newberg is SPOT ON with his assessment. (copy and paste the below address, as the site won't let me insert)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvFqQuubnyI
There has been a net loss of over 153,000,000 acres under that program of State management.
Additionally, access to those lands is not guaranteed for "public access" that we are used to in our National Forest or BLM lands. Some states allow public access and others treat these lands as private where you will be trespassing if you access without permission.
Turning over our National Forest and BLM to state management would become a nightmare.
Same thing hunters are going to do, take up knitting...
There seems to be a larger impact on the land transfer than just losing hunting opportunity. It will hit your pocket book as well.
Everybody hates socalism until it saves them money or makes life easier, then suddenly things are different.
While every story has two sides (three or four if you listen to my hunting tales) please look at what is happening in your state... http://sportsmensaccess.org
If you want to lose access to public land, give it to the states, it really is that simple. Similar to the example Blakes posted, in Utah the State Trust Lands that are public are in the process of being closed so they can lease the property out and create additional revenue.
Access that is taken for granted to state lands in Utah, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, etc, etc can be taken away at the drop of a hat (change of politics). Or sold off to private interests like what has happened to the majority of the original lands granted to the states for management by the federal government.
At least my state votes against the transfer. That's about the only thing good politically about it though.
