3 ms·

No, that's just really what these "ranch" owners are like. I've been shot at on legally-accessed public land, escorted off legally accessed public land by priva

No, that's just really what these "ranch" owners are like. I've been shot at on legally-accessed public land, escorted off legally accessed public land by private security, and had public roads blocked off all by overzealous asshat "ranchers" who think they own the public land. I'm going to be honest, it takes a great deal of restraint to be shot at (not seriously aimed at, just warning shots across the bow, but still terrifying) and not shoot back. I put ranchers in quotes because these people roll in from Texas or California (or they're mega corps like Farmland Reserve LLC or the Gates Foundation), purchase a ranch or farmland, lay almost everyone off, shut down basically all active ranching (I believe this might be part of Gates's anti-global warming schtick), and then do nothing with the land beyond sell private elk hunts. And of course they don't want me shooting animals on the neighbouring public land, so they hotly contest those with signs, fences, gates, private security, etc. The fine for blocking a public road in Montana is laughably small. Something like $50/day, which isn't even pennies for these people.

throwaway2037 3y ago
The fine for blocking a public road in Montana is laughably small. Something like $50/day, which isn't even pennies for these people. Hat tip! I never knew about the strategy to deter access to public lands. I did a bit of Googling and found: Fines for failing to remove the encroachment would rise from $10 per day to $100-$500 per day. Ref: https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/environment/lawmakers-hear-bill-to-increase-fines-for-illegally-blocking-roads/article_9a32d308-82f5-5620-abdf-07a4339b44bb.html https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/environment/lawma... Then following the link from the article, you can see the actual bill in Montana Legislature: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/HB0486.htm https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/HB0486.htm Finally: "Current Bill Progress: Became Law" here: http://laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0203W$BSRV.ActionQuery?P_SESS=20231&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=&P_BILL_NO=&P_BILL_DFT_NO=LC1956&P_CHPT_NO=&Z_ACTION=Find&P_SBJT_SBJ_CD=&P_ENTY_ID_SEQ= http://laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0203W$BSRV.ActionQuery?P_SE... I'm very impressed so much information is available online from the legislature! More details about what exactly defines "blocking": https://www.plwa.org/closing-a-rural-road https://www.plwa.org/closing-a-rural-road
- COGlory 3y ago
  Looks like they raised it this session - glad to see that.

throwaway2037 3y ago

The fine for blocking a public road in Montana is laughably small. Something like $50/day, which isn't even pennies for these people. Hat tip! I never knew about the strategy to deter access to public lands. I did a bit of Googling and found: Fines for failing to remove the encroachment would rise from $10 per day to $100-$500 per day. Ref: https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/environment/lawmakers-hear-bill-to-increase-fines-for-illegally-blocking-roads/article_9a32d308-82f5-5620-abdf-07a4339b44bb.html https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/environment/lawma... Then following the link from the article, you can see the actual bill in Montana Legislature: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/HB0486.htm https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/HB0486.htm Finally: "Current Bill Progress: Became Law" here: http://laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0203W$BSRV.ActionQuery?P_SESS=20231&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=&P_BILL_NO=&P_BILL_DFT_NO=LC1956&P_CHPT_NO=&Z_ACTION=Find&P_SBJT_SBJ_CD=&P_ENTY_ID_SEQ= http://laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0203W$BSRV.ActionQuery?P_SE... I'm very impressed so much information is available online from the legislature! More details about what exactly defines "blocking": https://www.plwa.org/closing-a-rural-road https://www.plwa.org/closing-a-rural-road

COGlory 3y ago
Looks like they raised it this session - glad to see that.