Johstono letter: Miller guest opinion

The recent op/ed pieces by David Adler and Robert Miller, while not diametrically opposed, are certainly indicative of the rancorous discourse over the dominion of public lands dispersed throughout the western states. I found Mr. Adler’s writing factual and focused as to the Constitution and legislative history attendant to ownership of the public lands.

Contrarily, Mr. Miller missed an opportunity to offer facts in support of his allegations as to: “The government’s ever growing overreach…” and “…a land-grabbing, out of control bunch of bureaucratic thugs…” etc.

His anecdotal reference to a “news article” he wrote chronicling the plight of an elderly couple cited into federal court suggests the couple was afforded due process. Unfortunately, Mr. Miller, a retired print and broadcast journalist, failed to provide any specific information that would facilitate independent fact checking as to the matter. Perhaps, Mr. Miller’s self-described “news article” would have more appropriately been portrayed as an opinion/editorial piece.

Finally, Mr. Miller’s vehement distain for the “…the gun-toting federal agents…” and the “…out-of-control thugs…” [Federal law enforcement agents] seems irrational in light of the plethora of photographs and videos that vividly document the events at the Bundy ranch and the Malheur NWR.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 11:48 PM with the headline "Johstono letter: Miller guest opinion."