Saturday November 7, 2009, 11:31 pm
(2) ban the killing of healthy wild horses and burros.

Oh, and a 3rd thing: The ROAM Act does further limit the BLM's authority by requiring, instead of merely authorizing, the agency "to protect and manage wild free-roaming horses and burros as components of the public lands" and "designate and maintain specific ranges on public lands as sanctuaries for their protection and preservation". So keep that.

Okay, one more good thing: The bill would also restore acreage for wild horses and burros to 1971 levels. The BLM has zeroed out or removed wild horses and burros permanently from nearly 20 million acres originally designated for their use.

And, it is good that ROAM would not allow helicopters or "any other airborne devices" for corraling and removing wild horses and burros. Anyone who thinks it is okay or appropriate to use helicopters to run down and terrify these animals, decimate their herds and leave them traumatized, injured and suffering, should not be involved in managing, handling or caring for these animals. What's worse is that BLM employs criminals to do this, people convicted of illegally running down wild horses and burros with helicopters, stealing them from public lands and selling them for slaughter.

ROAM should propose to do nothing else until there has been a full public Congressional hearing or investigation into BLM's management of America's wild horses and burros, including Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar's most recent proposal. There should be a moratorium in the meantime on any wild horse and burro roundups and removals.

ROAM was originally about stopping the slaughter

Basically, the bill does save wild horses and burros from commercial sale and slaughter as originally intended under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 ("WFRHBA").

The protections of the WFRHBA were gutted in 2004 for many thousands of horses, leaving them at risk of sale and slaughter. That Act, 16 U.S.C. §1331, et seq., declares, "It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands."

Sunday November 8, 2009, 6:35 am
Thanks for the story Simone. Some good news in it, some bad. *******For those interested, there's a petition to help the horses at:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/113/Help-save-the-American-mustang

Sunday November 8, 2009, 2:08 pm
This sure hits the good and the bad with ROAM. While we are a proponent of ROAM, I agree that there are major issues that need changing or "tweeking." Our FULL support goes to a moratorium and full investigation. First and Foremost, BLM has to stop adding insult to injury and the policies, plans and politics in place now HAVE TO be investigated and certainly changed. A solid base of stewardship needs to be determined and I believe the 1971 Act is where we need to RESTART in composing a current and viable plan that will have the horses,burros and ecology of the Public Lands ranges welfare as it's sole intent. The last paragraph "What You Can Do" is exactly what we all have to get on board with. We have to have ONE Direct Plan of action that advocates can get behind and support and then build the protection. Our Nation was built on the backs and with the blood of OUR Wild Horses and Burros ancestors, we certainly owe them no less than a safe home and protection for their sake and ours. Please EVERYONE write AND call ALL the powers that be in Washington to save our wildlife, legacy and heritage for the American People and the United States.

Thanks Laura for writing a concise and informative article. This really gives folks a good look at what needs to be addressed and changed in our quest to make sure OUR Wild Horses and Burros are protected in perpetuity.

Thanks to Simone for getting this out. It's so VERY, VERY IMPORTANT right now.