An open letter to legislators

Editor's note: the following is a letter sent to legislators by Winnemucca resident Joe Ratliff concerning the Bundy Bill, AB408.

Dear Assemblyman Hansen and Sen. Gustavson:

I am a retired scientist, outdoor enthusiast and Winnemucca resident who is strongly opposed to AB408.

Nevada's extensive public lands our one of our greatest treasures and they provide ready access to some of our nation's finest hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.

If the state acquires these millions of acres, they will not be able to properly manage them because the state has neither the manpower and finances. nor the equivalent of the comprehensive federal laws and regulations which currently protect them.

The state will simply sell many of these natural wonders, resulting in our citizens being stopped or restricted from using them. Furthermore, by selling permits, many other areas will also be closed to public access and subjected to severe degradation since the state's weaker, or lack of, adequate environmental laws will not be able to protect them.

And last but not least, Clive Bundy is a racist bigot and criminal who has broken a number of laws and he should be fined and put in prison. I consider it a personal insult that your legislature has named a bill after him!

I would appreciate your notifying me ASAP that you received this communication.

Joe Ratliff

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