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FACT BRIEF

Did US citizens form a militia against the government in Clark County?

By Austin Tannenbaum
View this fact brief on The Nevada Independent
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YES

Clark County resident Cliven Bundy, who owns a cattle ranch in Bunkerville, led an armed confrontation against the Bureau of Land Management in 2014.

Bundy, who argues that his right to the land predates the federal government’s, refused to pay more than $1 million in grazing fees and fines racked up since 1992. As a result, the bureau began rounding up Bundy’s cattle.

After publicly declaring a “range war,” hundreds of sympathizers came to Bundy’s defense. An standoff ensued, with BLM agents ultimately backing down.

The Center for Strategic and International affairs describes militias as groups of pro-gun, anti-government individuals that assemble in preparation for a perceived “existential violent threat.” In 2021, there were 488 active anti-government groups, including 92 militias, according to The Intelligence Project.

A federal judge dismissed all charges against Bundy in January 2018 after a bag of shredded documents undermined the government’s case.

See a full discussion of this at The Nevada Independent
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Southern Poverty Law Center War in the West: The Bundy Ranch Standoff and the American Radical Right
Center for Strategic and International Studies Examining Extremism: The Militia Movement
Southern Poverty Law Center Antigovernment Movement
PBS Bundys Walk Free After Judge Dismisses Their Case
Boise State Public Radio Why won't Biden touch the Bundys?
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The Nevada Independent
The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.