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The Jefferson Exchange

Inside Cliven Bundy's Opposition To Federal Land Ownership

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Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ

It's not just that some Americans disagree with how the federal government manages federal lands. It's that some people do not believe the government even has the power to own land, outside of military reservations and some other facilities with specific purposes.

Count the Bundy family of Bunkerville, Nevada among that group. Cliven Bundy gained fame by refusing to pay for grazing his cattle on federal lands, then holding federal agents off with a collection of armed supporters.

Sons Ammon and Ryan followed that with the takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. The roots of the Bundy approach, in Mormonism, cowboy mythology and more, are explored in Betsy Gaines Quammen's book "American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God & Public Lands in the West."

The author visits with an overview.

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily news program focused on issues, people and events across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Angela Decker is the program's senior producer, Charlie Zimmermann is the assistant producer, and Geoffrey Riley hosts the show.