The groups in the Alliance have geared up for this fight, and some pretty famous people are coming on board in support of preserving our wild horses.

Key Points:

The horses currently under attack are the horses of Nevada's Virginia Range. This herd is under the jurisdiction of the Nevada Department of Agriculture. (These are not BLM horses, although the Department is pressuring BLM to remove horses from BLM lands also.)

The Director has openly lied to the Interim Finance Committee and to the public to justify his actions. He has lied about the numbers of the horses, about the carrying capacity of the range, that the range has been stripped of all forage and that the herd is starving to death.

Historically the region's wild horse groups have worked under agreements with the state Department of Agriculture in order to protect the horses and keep the horses in balance with the range. They have contributed tens of thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars - saving the taxpayers considerable expense. Now the new Director wants to pay patronage to his Sagebrush Rebel rancher buddies, dispense with these cost savings, and remove the horses.

THE ALLIANCE'S TOP THREE ISSUES

1. Truth in Government - Our state agencies have to be truthful with Nevada citizens and lawmakers.

2. Permanent Horse Protections - The Virginia Range horses have to be protected from anyone's arbitrary actions or patronage to special interests. These truly are Nevada's horses that are to be preserved for Nevadans. (Webmaster's note: If any reader from outside the area is unsure as to how the majority of Nevadans feel about their horses, go find a Nevada commememorative quarter.)

3. Public education - The public needs to learn more about the history of the Virginia Range herd, about the range, about the relationship of horses to the range, and the numerous incidents of mismanagement of the horses since the Department of Agriculture forced control of the horses away from the counties and wild horse organizations.

   UPCOMING ALLIANCE ACTIONS

   1. Lacy J. Dalton and Willis Lamm will be appearing on the Cory Farley show on KBZZ, a contemporary talk radio station that serves the Reno-Sparks region. The show will air from 10:00 until noon on Tuesday, April 22nd. KBZZ transmits on 1270 AM. Dalton and Lamm will answer listeners' questions about the Virginia Range horse issue. Listeners can call in on 775-823-1920.

   2. A protest is scheduled at the Nevada State Legislature building on Carson St. on Wednesday, April 23rd. Anyone wishing to stand up for Nevada's wild horses is welcome to join the Advocates. Bring a broom or mop as the theme is "Clean up the Department of Agriculture." We've been told that toilet plungers would also be considered appropriate. Anyone joining in is expected to respect other citizens and not obstruct sidewalks or interfere with traffic in any way!
   

   WHAT YOU CAN DO!

   Follow the daily report published in the KBR Wild Horse and Burro News to understand what's really happening and keep up on the latest developments. Knowing what is really going on will help you recognize the lies and "bureauspeak."

   Call Governor Gibbons' office and express your opinion, either as a Nevada Resident or a potential Nevada tourist. (Tourism is big business in Nevada.) His number is 775-684-5670.

   Get a lesson in verbal slight of hand and deception. Call the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Ask what's going on and push for details if what you're told doesn't seem to make sense. Their number is 775-688-1180.

   Phone calls do work. The Governor and the Department of Agriculture are starting to feel the public pressure and are starting to backtrack on their statements, but they haven't yet given up on trying to strip the range of wild horses. If you have an opinion in this issue, expressing that opinion is the American way.

   

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