Federal Land Closures: Political Theatre at its Worst

[bearpaw]

Federal Land Closures: Political Theatre at its Worst

USSA Calls on President Obama to Take Action

(Columbus) – As Washington D.C. faces another government shutdown, hunters, anglers and trappers across the country are facing a shutdown of their own.  From Alaska to Florida, sportsmen and women are finding that the budgetary standoff in Congress is having a direct impact on their hunting or fishing season.

The federal government has issued directives to “close” accessible public lands and waters while the government is “shutdown.”  At stake are millions of acres of public land administered by agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Park Service (NPS).  For decades the public has been free to access these lands for recreational purposes—including hunting, fishing and trapping—without securing any specific form of permission or authorization.  But now, these agencies are being told to close access to their lands because of the standoff taking place over funding the federal government.

“These lands are generally accessible to the public without special entrance fees, passage through gates, or access via controlled roads or waterways,” said Nick Pinizzotto, USSA President and CEO.  “Not only are these closures unnecessary, they run contrary to law.  This is ‘political theatre’ at its very worst.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance delivered a letter to President Obama today demanding that these closures be lifted to allow American hunters and anglers to once again pursue their way of life. Click here to read the letter.

These closures are occurring on lands where federal law mandates hunting and where hunting is statutorily determined to be a “priority public use.”  Lack of an agreement on a federal budget does not terminate the effect of the law which clearly allows for hunting.

In 1995 and 1996, the federal government went through a similar situation as Congress and the White House locked horns.  The ensuing “shutdown” did not result in closure orders for accessible public lands.

“It’s a shame that these closures are being implemented as a punishment against sportsmen and women,” said Pinizzotto.  “These lands are our lands, and American sportsmen and women—and the general public—deserve better than this.”

[Dave Workman]

It's just another manifestation of the war that the current administration has declared on the citizens, though so far, I have not seen any national forest shutdowns, and people don't hunt in national parks.

Of course, we've all seen this creeping up for a long time.. Road de-commissionings, wilderness area 'buffer" zones, ad infinitum... May as well go for the whole enchilada.

This shutdown impasse would be the perfect excuse for Obama to hurt the the people he thinks voted against him. First the vets. Now the sportsmen and women, provided the NSSA is correct.

Has it occurred to anyone that the prez "negotiates" like a Chicago street hustler?   

Has it occurred to anyone that the "shut down" really hasn't bothered average Joe Blow gun people so far? NICS is up and running. I hunted on national forest land last weekend.

Maybe what we're seeing is that we the people really don't need all that government after all.  And if they do try to shut down all the forests...who is going to enforce that against an army of gun-toting hunters, eh?

[Special T]

Has it occurred to anyone that the prez "negotiates" like a Chicago street hustler?   

If it looks like a duck.....

I know people from the chicago area and NONE of them have good things to say about the politicians in that area.... "The Godfather" was based out of Chicago, some people seem to forget this. 

[huntrights]

Link to the USSA letter to Obama.

http://www.ussportsmen.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Letter-to-Obama-Land-Closures2.pdf

[CAMPMEAT]

Obumbles is pulling all of this crap to save face....which he can't, because he knows he's the worst prez ever. He hasn't done squat about anything in this country. 

[Whitpirate]

Has it occurred to anyone that the prez "negotiates" like a Chicago street hustler?   

If it looks like a duck.....

I know people from the chicago area and NONE of them have good things to say about the politicians in that area.... "The Godfather" was based out of Chicago, some people seem to forget this. 

The Godfather was in Brooklyn.   Long way from Capone's Chicago

[fireweed]

Why aren't they shutting down Forest Service and BLM land, too?  The reason is because it would be simply impossible and would create an explosion of opposition and civil disobedience.  If it was truly necessary for "safety" they would have to close ALL public lands to entry.  So, that shows clearly that shutting down entry to NPS and USFWS isn't a necessity, but grandstanding.  Trends to shut down every time the Dems and Reps squabble makes it less likely to take land from the USFS and add it to the Park Service NPS (like is proposed at Mt St Helens).

[sirmissalot]

Are there really any Federal Lands in our state that are shut down? The area I am planning on hunting this weekend is Federal ground... no idea who to call and check.

[Knocker of rocks]

Why aren't they shutting down Forest Service and BLM land, too?  The reason is because it would be simply impossible

They can shut down NPS and other lands, because those lands ostensibly require a fee, implied permission or permit to use.  There is no such mechanism on USFS lands.  Fee's are expressly prohibited on USFS land 16USC 6802(e)(2)

[Whitpirate]

Lots of Fed refuge lands are closed here...Little Pend Oreille for sure.

[Dave Workman]

‘Heavily armed’ citizens descending on federal lands
 
They will arrive with loaded rifles, shotguns and handguns, they will be wearing everything from camouflage to fluorescent orange, and as the Everett Herald reports today, nobody will be stopping the army of hunters headed afield for this weekend’s general deer season opener in Washington State.
 
http://www.examiner.com/article/heavily-armed-citizens-descending-on-federal-lands

[fastdam]

Extorsion.  He should be in prison. This country is screwed. There is no accountability for the criminals in D.C. And they know it. Martial law is coming our way.

[huntrights]

Write the President and let him know that he and his administration are clearly to blame for this mess and that what he is doing is unforgivable.  His political grandstanding at the expense of American citizens is obvious as ever.  His finger pointing goes right back at him.

If you are tired of Obama's political BS, let him know it.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

[Dave Workman]

Write the President and let him know that he and his administration are clearly to blame for this mess and that what he is doing is unforgivable.  His political grandstanding at the expense of American citizens is obvious as ever.  His finger pointing goes right back at him.

If you are tired of Obama's political BS, let him know it.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

You seem to have Barack Obama confused with someone who gives a rip what you think.

[buckfvr]

     Hes not worthy of a single key stroke.............he is president NOT becuase of middle America, but despite it.

[JJB11B]

100 years ago when men were men we would be at civil war over something like this

[buckfvr]

Dont rule it out yet....................

[bigtex]

There has been a lot of questions why NPS and USFWS lands are essentially locked down, but BLM and USFS lands are not. Here is a difference

NPS/USFWS:
-Typically gated
-Typically in one large management piece, or several pieces
-Typically well fenced

So pretty simply to enforce this. Anyone that drives past a gate, or is inside a fence violated the law

BLM/USFS:
-Some USFS roads have gates, many don't
-Not many BLM roads have gates
-Most areas BLM/USFS lands aren't fenced, and if they are its usually because of livestock issues
-A lot of BLM and USFS lands are checkerboarded and aren't simply in one management area.

So for BLM and USFS they closed the areas they could, such as boat launches, campgrounds, picnic areas, etc. SOME USFS and BLM roads have had gates shut, but not many. Think of it like this, there are probably 5-10 more gates in the Snoqualmie Ranger District of the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest then there is at Mt Rainier National Park. Shutdown the southern entrance near Ashford and all roads off of 410 and the Park is closed. How long would it take just to close one USFS district?

[bigtex]

Why aren't they shutting down Forest Service and BLM land, too?  The reason is because it would be simply impossible

They can shut down NPS and other lands, because those lands ostensibly require a fee, implied permission or permit to use.

Actually a large majority of NPS and USFWS lands don't require a fee, permit, etc

[Knocker of rocks]

By using Alaska, that becomes true.  But the majority of National Parks in the lower 48 do.

[bigtex]

By using Alaska, that becomes true.  But the majority of National Parks in the lower 48 do.

National Parks yes, but you need to remember out of the 401 NPS "units" only 59 are "National Parks." There is an actual NPS site which shows which areas charge fees for entrance, of course it is down because of the shutdown. But the majority of the 401 units actually do not charge fees for entrance.

[Knocker of rocks]

I said National Parks, I did not say "National Park Unit" or anything similar.  I am well aware of the difference, and do not need to use minutiae to be correct.  There are three National Parks in Washington, and a small unit of Klondike downtown.  Two require fee's to access the majority of the park, and all require fee's and/or permits for overnight visitation.

[bigtex]

There are three National Parks in Washington, and a small unit of Klondike downtown.

Not trying to argue. The Klondike unit in downtown is not a "national park" but rather part of the Klondike Goldrush National Historical Park, since it is not a "National Park" it is not one of the 59. Just like how the other National Historical Parks in WA are not one of the 59.

[12Gauge]

Here is my theory why this is happening.  He wants to the blame on the Republican, make it as painful as possible for the people to brain wash the low information voters for the 2014 senator and congressman election to win the senate and the house.  All this work so that he can continue his Fabian Socialist ideals. 

If he controls the house and the senate by 2014 he can then set Hillary for the Presidency in 2016.  If she wins good by Constitution by 2020. 

[huntrights]

Write the President and let him know that he and his administration are clearly to blame for this mess and that what he is doing is unforgivable.  His political grandstanding at the expense of American citizens is obvious as ever.  His finger pointing goes right back at him.

If you are tired of Obama's political BS, let him know it.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

You seem to have Barack Obama confused with someone who gives a rip what you think.

 
I know he doesn't seem to care about what we think, but it's kind of like a couple of Senators we know; we should write them anyway.  If enough people write, they might change their tune a little bit ... maybe.

[Special T]

White pirate thank you for correcting me. I was obviously wrong.