It's already been a wild year and it's literally only the second week of January as I write this. Yet, despite the litany of insane news that's surfaced in the last two weeks, along with the death and destruction in Los Angeles, and the countless other stories that've likely aged all of us at least 10 years since December, there's a bright spot I can bring you today.
Utah's public lands lawsuit against the federal government has failed. Praise be.
The US Supreme Court told the state, along with the 14 other states that signed onto it, to kick rocks as the nation's top court declined to even hear the lawsuit in its chambers. And, honestly, I definitely didn't have that on my Bingo card, as despite public pressure and public support for public lands, the Supreme Court hasn't really sided with the public as of late.
Still, we should take the win. Because it's absolutely a win.
For those who haven't been following Utah's lawsuit against the federal government, it basically boiled down to Utah argued that the federal government didn't have the constitutional authority to manage vast tracts of land, and that the states were meant to be engaging in land management themselves. And, both through its lawsuit and its advertising campaign, argued that Utahns should manage Utah's land for all Utahns to enjoy.
Except Utah's legislature, along with the governor and attorney general, neither had the funds to manage those lands, nor wanted to manage them at all. In fact, the public campaing that showed "Utahn's" enjoying the public lands but controlled by Utah was a lie, as all those legislators wanted was to seize control of the federal public lands and sell it off to the highest bidder.
They legit stated this in their lawsuit.
Utah, along with many Western states, were all allowed to keep sections of public land to sell in order to fund school programs and the schools themselves. Most don't have any left and most spent that money toward other things that aren't schools. So now these states don't have the cash cows they once did and want to seize control over these lands, lands we all enjoy while riding dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, and more, as well as camp, fish, hunt, and hike, because they could potentially make money on.
Thankfully, the Supreme Court said GTFO of here. But this fight is likely not over, as in the last few years, public lands have come under increased attack from those who hate the idea of collective ownership of a resource. Mineral, gas, and housing developers want those lands for themselves, and groups like those who put together "Project 2025" would help fund lawsuits like Utah's to see their interests furthered. And, like Utah's lawsuit, they aren't afraid to lie to you about it.
And again, public lands are essentially the one issue where everyone agrees it's a good thing to have. It has near universal support by both Republicans and Democrats. Yet, there are greedy corporate interests, as well as the toddies who'd sell their soul for a buck, who want to ensure this beloved thing isn't a thing anymore. So though public land advocates triumphed today, we're in for a fight, because these people aren't going anywhere.
I suggest supporting groups like Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, who've been doing tons of work to protect our public lands for everyone to enjoy. To emphasize that point, the group's President and CEO Patrick Berry stated, "Today’s rejection of Utah’s attempted land grab reaffirms what we’ve long known: These lands belong to all Americans and were never Utah’s to take. Not only did this case threaten to seize 18.5 million acres of federal land from public ownership, but it set in motion the potential to dismantle America’s public lands system enjoyed by millions of hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts. If successful, Utah’s lawsuit could have endangered the very existence of federal public lands in every corner of the country, undermining access and opportunities enjoyed by millions of Americans."
He added, "While this announcement represents a significant development toward defending our public lands, waters, and wildlife, BHA remains vigilant. Utah’s underhanded stunt attracted an unfortunate show of support from 13 states and numerous elected officials, underscoring the need for continued and widespread action to protect our shared public lands. If the State of Utah tries to continue moving forward with this reckless case through other legal means, or should other public officials pursue legislative or administrative actions that undermine our public lands legacy, BHA stands ready to once again lead the fight on behalf of hunters and anglers across the country."
