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[at-l] Warning

Hey all...mutlilisters sorry

Just snatched this off rec.backcountry.
Considering the ongoing debate about defense and anything else
you might have in your pack that you wouldn't want to give to an 
officer:



Subject: 
            Going on public land? PREPARE TO BE SEARCHED. 
       Date: 
            27 Jan 1997 16:07:54 GMT 
       From: 
            ncjoe@aol.com (NCJoe)
Organization: 
            AOL http://www.aol.com 
 Newsgroups: 
            rec.backcountry


Going on public land?  PREPARE TO BE SEARCHED.

The Bureau of Land Management has recently proposed a "rule" (see
page 57615 of the Federal Register for November 7, 1996) saying:

"Section 9260.4  What are BLM law enforcement officers authorized
to do?

     BLM law enforcement officers are authorized to:

     (a) Under FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1733(c)(1)):

...

          (4) Search without warrant or process any person,
     place, or vehicle according to any Federal law or rule of
     law; and

          (5) Seize without warrant or process any piece of
     evidence as provided by Federal law..."

As we have seen, "according to any federal law or rule of law"
really means any hunch a cop has that he might score a bust if
he searches enough likely-looking people.  This brings the
big-city War on Some Drugs tactics to federal recreation areas
and to yet another group of federal law agents - and if you don't
look "right" to the nice BLM officer, he's going to be taking a
little fishing trip through your pack or car.  No warrant, no due
process needed.  "Your papers, please, comrade."

For those of you who hunt or use firearms for protection while
on BLM lands, there's even worse stuff: a poorly-worded and
arbitrary new ban on discharging firearms

   "In or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite,
    recreation site or occupied area."

No definition of "recreation site."  How do one know?

No definition of "occupied area."  If you're hunting with
friends, are you by definition in an "occupied area?"

No definition of "campsite."  If you spent the night in a
sleeping bag under your deer stand (or in your duck blind),
or come across a spot where you see that someone had built
a fire a week ago, must you go 150 yards away to shoot?

No exclusion for self-defense.  If you're attacked at your
campsite by a grizzly (or a human) and have to shoot to
save your life, will you then be arrested and prosecuted
under this new rule?



Demand that some rational thought be applied to this rulemaking!

Tell the BLM that they don't need to be in the business of making
warrantless searches of backcountry hikers and campers.  Tell them
you don't want to be prosecuted for defending your life.  Tell them
you don't want to be discouraged from hunting by being subject to
unknowing technical violation of some senseless, arbitrary, and
poorly-defined rule.

YOUR COMMENTS HAVE TO BE IN BY FEB 5th!

E-mail:

   WOComment@wo.blm.gov.
   In the subject line and body, include "Attn: AC30"
   Put your name and address in the message.

Write a letter:

     Bureau of Land Management Administrative Record
     Room 401LS, 1849 C Street, NW
     Washington, D.C.  20240
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