Entitled ranchers flout federal law

By Susan Fong, Las Vegas

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 | 2 a.m.

Why is it that some selfish, delusional ranchers feel they are free to commit crimes? And why do menacing, outside militia groups, who recklessly canonize known criminals, invade and threaten the peace and order in small communities in an attempt to force their hate-filled beliefs upon others?

Additionally disturbing are the blind, unquestioning followers of these criminal ranchers and vigilante militia. These are the disciples of the malevolent Church of Hatred for All Government. They have elevated criminals into saints and regard invasive, law-breaking armed militia as saviors. How twisted is this?

Pardon me, but arson is a felony. And it should be. Arson is a deliberate and vicious act of destruction. New evidence shows repeat offenders committed additional crimes — poaching and concealment of a crime by arson.

The self-appointed vigilante militia seizes a national wildlife refuge and burns federal lands because members feel their precious ranchers are exempt from laws and punishment for repeated crimes. It does not register in the militia’s obsessed and vengeful mind that a national wildlife refuge and federal lands belong to all Americans, not just to ranchers and embittered militants.

It is reprehensible that some people idolize these attention-seeking miscreants who will threaten people with violence and mayhem unless they get their way. These people are devoid of reason, self-control and remorse. They will do anything, as in advocating and committing cold-blooded murder and arson, to prove their way is the “right” and only way to deal with authority, even if that authority is sanctioned by laws.