Who Owns The West?

◼ Western lawmakers gather in Utah to talk federal land takeover: ‘It’s time’ » Lawmakers from 9 states gather in Utah, discuss ways to take control of federal lands.

It’s time for Western states to take control of federal lands within their borders, lawmakers and county commissioners from Western states said at Utah’s Capitol on Friday.

More than 50 political leaders from nine states convened for the first time to talk about their joint goal: wresting control of oil-, timber -and mineral-rich lands away from the feds.

The summit was in the works before this month’s tense standoff between Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and the Bureau of Land Management over cattle grazing, Lockhart said.

"What’s happened in Nevada is really just a symptom of a much larger problem," Lockhart said.

Fielder, who described herself as "just a person who lives in the woods," said federal land management is hamstrung by bad policies, politicized science and severe federal budget cuts.

"Those of us who live in the rural areas know how to take care of lands," Fielder said, who lives in the northwestern Montana town of Thompson Falls.

"We have to start managing these lands. It’s the right thing to do for our people, for our environment, for our economy and for our freedoms," Fielder said.

◼ “Domestic Terrorists” Patriots Celebrate At Bundy Ranch - CBS Las Vegas

“Talk about terrorists, it seemed like those people who were holding those high-powered weapons against we the people of the state of Nevada and our visiting neighbors—they had to be the terrorists… It wasn’t the people that’s terrorists, it had to be the United States government, the BLM that had to be the terrorists.”

◼ HOST, GUEST FIREWORKS ON MSNBC - The Right Scoop

This Clip Of Chris Hayes Vs. Bundy Supporter Assemblywoman Michele Fiore Is Awesome

◼ GOP Senator urges hearing on Cattle Battle - The Hill

Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) on Friday called for a Senate hearing into the dispute between Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over cattle grazing.

Heller described as "patriots" the people who came armed to Bundy’s ranch after the BLM began to seize his cattle for refusing to pay grazing fees and fines that now total more than $1 million.

◼ The United States of SWAT? Military-style units from govt agencies wreaking havoc on non-violent citizens - John Fund/National Review
◼ POLL: 37% Fear Feds; 17% 'Unsure' - Rasmussen