Public lands and the 1872 Mining Act
Since 1872, mining interests have been able to claim ownership of public land for the purpose of extracting minerals at little cost. It led to abuses such as the mining company that extracted $10 billion worth of gold from a stretch of Nevada desert that cost a mere $10,000. Embarrassed by that giveaway, Congress put a moratorium on the practice in 1994. Now, a bill in Congress would not only end the moratorium, but make it easier to claim land with no intention to mine.
Because the West is studded with millions of mining claims dating to the 1800s, former Interior Department officials say the measure would open the door to the widespread privatization of federal lands used by millions of people for hiking, hunting and off-road driving. Critics ranging from conservationists to hunters have denounced the mining proposal. “How are you going to protect hunting and fishing access opportunities and the diverse wildlife that exists on our public lands if it is no longer in public hands?” asked Craig Sharpe, the executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation, a hunting and fishing group.
In Colorado, one question centers on the “fourteeners.” Public access to three of the peaks about two hours from Denver was closed during the summer of 2005 by owners of mining claims who control sections of popular trails to the summits. Now, many more may be closed. Roger Flynn, a mining law professor at the University of Colorado, said, “This essentially goes back to the robber baron era. As long as you have a big enough checkbook, you can get as much of the land as you want.”
If stopping this bill in Congress fails, the best recourse would probably be to contribute to groups such as The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, in the hopes that they will buy up large blocks of land to hold in the public interest. Should that day come, it will sadly mean that public land is safer in the hands of a private organization than in the possession of the government.
David A. Lien, Colorado Springs
Clarification to letter on teacher-sex case
I wrote a letter to the editor recently (Nov. 26 Open Forum) opposing the lack of jail time for the Florida teacher who pleaded guilty to having sex with a student (statutory rape). I was particularly appalled that the attorney for the teacher used her attractiveness and vulnerability to suggest that she would be at risk in prison. I pointed out the irony of a teacher committing crimes against a child and then using a vulnerability defense to avoid prison.
Another letter-writer, Jordan Ruud (Nov. 29 Open Forum), criticized my letter, suggesting that my comments indicate a disturbing support for prison rapes.
My position is this: It is time for men and women who abuse their position of authority in the school, the church or anywhere else that our children ought to find sanctuary, to be placed in prison where they can no longer perpetuate their crimes against the most vulnerable of our society. It is time for a civilized society, a rational judicial system and people to make our children their foremost concern, not the criminals who would use that society, that judicial system and naive citizens to avoid punishment.
Roy Ellis, Castle Rock
Abortion and politics
Re: “Ritter’s position on abortion should win him votes,” Dec. 2 guest commentary.
I write as an anti-abortion Catholic to thank Elaine Berman, Robin Finegan and Chris Watney for their column supporting Bill Ritter for governor. The moderate note they sound, as pro-choice Democrats who support a pro-life Democrat, is exactly what’s needed – on all sides in the abortion debate, and from Democrats seeking a worthy and winnable gubernatorial candidate.
I urge my fellow Catholics and others opposed to abortion to work with principled pro-choice folks to find common ground that might actually reduce the number of abortions. And I urge my fellow Democrats to join Berman, Finegan and Watney in supporting Ritter as the kind of moderate who could return fundamental Democratic values to the center of state politics.
The absolutists on all sides have too long ruled the roost. One can admire their moral commitments yet still oppose the folly of their political positions.
John Kane, Denver
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