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April 15, 2014

Federal Agents Cede to Anti-Gov't Nevada Rancher After Armed Standoff 
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A Nevada rancher is declaring victory after hundreds of armed supporters
backed his standoff with the federal government. The Bureau of Land
Management began seizing Cliven Bundy's cattle this month over his
failure to pay more than $1 million in owed costs. Bundy's cattle had
grazed on federally controlled land for years, requiring him to pay
government fees. But Bundy had refused to comply, saying he does not
recognize the federal government's existence. Local politicians and
hundreds of people from right-wing, anti-government, and pro-gun groups
flocked to Bundy's side last week. Many were armed. Over the weekend,
they shut down Interstate 15, leading to a standoff that ended with the
government backing down and releasing the seized cattle. A local police
official said the Bureau of Land Management wanted to avoid violence and
public harm.

Officer: "We had a lot of fears of individuals being shot, individuals
being trampled, individuals being run over on the highway. So, it took a
lot of resources, a lot of resources for the taxpayers associated with
this."

On Monday, Bundy urged state sheriffs nationwide to join his cause and
"take away the guns from the United States bureaucrats." The South
Poverty Law Center, which tracks right-wing extremists, has warned the
standoff could encourage other anti-government groups to stage similar
actions.

 

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