[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 131 (Monday, August 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S11797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      CONDEMNING BOMB ATTACK ON FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEE IN NEVADA

 Mr. BRYAN. Mr. President, several days ago a bomb exploded at 
the home of Guy Pence, a U.S. Forest Service ranger who lives and works 
in Carson City, NV. Fortunately, no one was injured, although Mr. 
Pence's wife and three children were in the house at the time of the 
explosion. My colleagues might recall that the Forest Service's Carson 
City office, where Mr. Pence works, was also bombed several months ago. 
Needless to say, the recent incidents of violent, terrorist activity 
directed at Federal employees and Federal land management agencies in 
the State of Nevada and elsewhere represent a disturbing trend that 
will undoubtedly result in the loss of life if the perpetrators are not 
apprehended.
  Mr. President, I want to make it clear at the outset that I do not 
claim or represent to know who or whom is behind these bombings; no one 
has been arrested or claimed responsibility to date. What I can tell 
you, though, is that by every indication, the person or persons 
responsible for these acts are riding a wave of anti-Federal Government 
sentiment. Clearly, the controversy over the role of two Federal law 
enforcement agencies, the ATF and FBI, in both the Randy Weaver 
incident and the Waco tragedy, has heightened public cynicism toward 
the Federal Government--the rise of militia groups in many States is 
evidence of this. Perhaps more relevant to the bombings in Nevada, 
however, is the rise of the county supremacy movement. People 
associated with this movement are upset with what they view as the 
Federal Government's overly intrusive role in grazing, mining, and 
other activities on public lands. They would like to see 
responsibilities for managing these lands delegated to local 
governmental entities.
  Mr. President, it is apparent that the incendiary rhetoric espoused 
by some of those in the county supremacy movement has created an 
atmosphere that promotes extremism. What began as a legitimate 
philosophical difference of opinion over the management of Federal land 
has been transformed into a call to battle for many. Last March the 
Justice Department was forced to life a lawsuit against Nye County, 
primarily in response to physical threats made against Forest Service 
employees by county officials. While the lawsuit may settle the legal 
issue of who has jurisdiction over public lands, I am skeptical that 
the fringe elements of the county supremacy movement will abide by the 
rule of law.
  I would hope that the Members of this body, particularly my 
colleagues from the West, would recognize that unless efforts are made 
to tone down the rhetoric on public land issues, it is only a matter of 
time before someone, most likely a Federal employee in Nevada, is 
seriously injured or even killed.


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