Federal Lands:

Still soon enough after the Civil War to hear the ringing of gunfire and smell the smoke, March of 1872 brought light to a novel but momentous debate on this nation’s political landscape. Ulysses S. Grant’s signature of the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act was a complete juxtaposition to the government’s historical management of federal lands.This act created the first national park and demonstrated government intent to maintain everlasting possession and management of federal lands. Up until this point in time, the federal government had demonstrated little to no interest in maintaining possession or control of its lands. Federal lands were apportioned to individuals and railroad companies alike in the name of progress. The Homestead Act of 1862 resulted in  private ownership of 270 million acres, roughly 10% of this country’s land mass. Similarly, the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 bestowed railroad tyrants with 174 million acres. The founding of Yellowstone National Park was the conception of an ever important aspect of American character and a still turbulent topic of political debate: public lands.

In authentic political fashion, the ownership and management of federal lands is a polarizing issue. The focus of discourse on the topic is centered around two opposed thought processes. Unfortunately, hunters as a group are traditionally on the wrong side of the discourse.

Historically, hunters compose a large subsection of the republican party. Democratic anti-gun and hunting agendas usher an increasing number of American hunters into republican support in a steadily worsening political climate of division and extremism. These issues overwhelm concern for public lands or conservation when hunters cast their ballots. The result is a government with resource exploitation at the forefront of docket. Hunter’s and their interests, aside from maintaining their right to hunt and own firearms, are cast to the side. The pendulum of conservation and wildlife management swings backward.

However, the weight and voices of roughly 14 million cannot be ignored or forgotten. The Republican Party can remain, values and principles intact, but what cannot continue is blind support of executive and legislative action that rolls back protection of landscapes and wildlife that we hold dearly. As said by John F. Lacey, a congressman important to Theodore Roosevelt’s work, “The immensity of man’s power to destroy imposes a responsibility to preserve.” Industrial concerns cannot outweigh the all important and unique aspect of American character that is our federal lands. Do not allow your representatives to assume your support in all their endeavors. Raise your voice. Be heard.