DIAMOND BAR CATTLE COMPANY

For Immediate Release 03/05/04

Contact: Paragon Foundation, Inc. (505) 434-8998

Ruby Ridge In New Mexico?

Are developments in Southwestern New Mexico tumbling out of control and setting up a situation like the one at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, where three innocent citizens were gunned down by federal law enforcement officials? If one looks at the preparations of the Forest Service and the size of the force they have brought into the area, it might appear so.

This question goes to the recent announcement by the Forest Service concerning the impounding and removal of the Diamond Bar cattle. With 16 law enforcement officers, roadblocks, attack dogs, and an apparent distrust of law-abiding citizens that would rival border guards in the old Soviet Union, one wonders why the gathering of alleged trespass cattle would require such warlike tactics? With no threat of violence by the Laneys, who, in fact, have declared they will not interfere with the seizure of their cattle, the Forest Service has bulled ahead closing the only road in the area, declaring the public forest off limits to law abiding citizens and intimidating anyone who comes near or opposes their tactics. Furthermore, they have caused a jurisdictional crisis between the Forest Service on one hand and the Catron County Commission and the Catron County Sheriff on the other. And, if that’s not enough, they have precipitated legal confusion on the New Mexico Livestock Board as they have attempted to circumvent, misuse and confuse what were once called the best livestock laws in the country. All this is being done with the apparent blessing of Governor Bill Richardson and Attorney General Patricia Madrid.

Clint Wellborn, District Attorney for Catron County, at a meeting of the Catron County Commission, said, “We can’t ask the Sheriff to go out there and confront these armed federal officers.” This was stated in an open meeting in an attempt to dissuade the Sheriff from going out to assert jurisdiction in Catron County as the legal chief law enforcement authority. Presumably, DA Wellborn believes it is better for defenseless citizens to confront armed federal officers. Mr. Wellborn also states in a letter that, “If you or your department should attempt to intervene you risk the possibility of being arrested by Federal Marshals and held in contempt of court and possibly jailed”. Mr. Wellborn says this even though the federal law enforcement contingent’s operation in New Mexico and Catron County is conditional on the consent of both the Sheriff and the Chief of the State Police.

Of course, this would be comical if it weren’t tearing at the fabric of New Mexican institutions and law. The Laneys, while moving horses along old State Highway 61 from one private land holding to another were accosted by the Forest Service. The Officers tried to pull the horses over, using emergency lights and sirens and shouting through loud speakers, “This is law enforcement. Stop your horse and get off.” Of course, this only caused the horses to speed up. At this point Dale and Albert Laney had no choice but to try and control the horses. In no way could they allow them to trod upon the forest. Picture two full-blown patrol units with sirens blaring, lights blazing, attack dog inside barking frantically, loudspeaker roaring commands to “pull over them runaway horses”.

Matt Schneberger, local rancher, says, “Barney fife is alive and well in the Gila. Only in this case he don’t just have a bullet in his pocket, he’s got a large capacity auto pistol and all the back-up in the world. We’ve got terrorists coming across the Mexican border to kill Americans and here we are guarding against a small family ranch trying to protect their private property.”

The Forest Service is not only callous about their treatment of the Laneys but they are completely oblivious to the harm they cause others. Doug Osborn, wrote, “I just got back from the Cattle Guard Restaurant up at the Fowlers. There were six folks from Minnesota in there eating. They had come down here to hunt lions, but the road is closed. There go their plans (and lots of money). I wonder how the Forest Service would feel about reimbursing those folks. Lots of luck!”

Ray Fowler, another local rancher, said, “I went to get a bull and when I got back there was a roadblock up and they wouldn’t let me in. There were guys running around demanding a permit. I didn’t have one. I still don’t have a permit. They finally let me through after they took down my license plate like I was going to rob a bank or something. They tell me nobody from the outside can come in to see me.”

To justify this ridiculous circus Steve Libby of the Forest Service intimated that Kit Laney had threatened a gentleman who was delivering feed to the Forest Service. But, when he was asked about it, the man delivering the feed said he had never met Kit Laney. Then Mr. Libby said there were threats that the greens might get involved if the cattle weren’t removed quickly enough. No evidence was ever presented for this assertion.

It is a sad day when Smokey the Bear goes on the rampage. The Forest Service by its actions in the Diamond Bar Ranch controversy is either exhibiting paranoia or an inclination to intimidate. Either way, the Forest Service no longer deserves the trust of the public and the state of New Mexico. They have no business employing a small army of quasi-military, trained to a fever pitch…Barney Fifes.

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