Staff Reports
Let’s dive into how President Joe Biden’s move to create the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona is causing quite the stir among ranchers like Chris Heaton. This rancher isn’t too pleased about Biden putting the brakes on mining and other land use on nearly 1 million acres. He definitely wants this monument to hit the road and fast!
‘I Would Love To See The Monument Go Away’: Rancher Suing Biden Over Arizona Land Grab Sounds Off https://t.co/UZEGNt7iAS
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 20, 2024
Heaton, speaking with the DCNF, made it crystal clear that he thinks this monument is a total legal mess, and he’s not afraid to say it. He believes Biden overstepped his authority with a mere flick of a pen. Now, Heaton finds himself facing potential criminal repercussions for simply managing his own ranch. How absurd is that? It’s like being punished for maintaining your own garden!
Not only is Heaton feeling the heat, but he’s also worried about the impact this monument will have on his family’s longstanding ranch in northern Arizona. With roots that trace back to the late 1800s, Heaton’s family has worked hard to keep the Y-Cross Ranch running smoothly with a sizeable herd of cattle. But now, thanks to Biden’s declaration, he fears that the relationship with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) might take a nosedive.
And let’s not forget the lack of consultation with ranchers in the area before the monument was set in stone. Heaton emphasized that they were left in the dark, with no heads-up about what was coming. It’s like being invited to a party after it’s already over – not cool!
The Pacific Legal Foundation is not backing down, pointing fingers at the Antiquities Act of 1906 and calling for some serious reform. They argue that presidents shouldn’t have free rein to designate vast landscapes without proper procedures and public input. It’s like giving someone the keys to your house without even asking if they like cats or dogs!
In the end, this clash between ranchers like Chris Heaton and the Biden administration shows that the battle over land use and monument designations is far from over. It’s a showdown between property rights and conservation efforts, and only time will tell how this tug-of-war plays out. But one thing’s for sure, from a conservative viewpoint, this monument debacle is like a wild horse that needs to be reined in before it tramples over the rights of hardworking Americans.
