Fight for freedom can be close, personal

After the informal information meeting held on Jan. 9, 2012, by the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI), I realized that the fight for our freedoms as everyday Americans can get very personal and close to home.

For decades in the name of conservation, private and public land has been slowly claimed by the federal government as sacrosanct irrespective of the possible impact to the local community. Oftentimes these decisions actually become harmful to the environment as well and serve to exacerbate the problem. I genuinely believe that the proposal by brought forward by USFWS to designate a critical habitat for the Selkirk Mountain caribou is nothing less than a grab by the federal government and any outcry against it will fall on deaf ears.

However that being said I will not be quiet. Hole’s in this proposal are crystal clear based on fuzzy math, shoddy and biased research, and powered by none other than another federal government regulation authority with an agenda.  

You can bet that if approved that this opens a door to a bottomless pit of regulations, potential violations and repercussions to our community and will serve to erode our already fledgling local economy.  

Many if not most of the families depend on the extra meat unprotected but regulated animals put

on our tables and freezers, including myself. Unimpeded access to hunting and fishing will be reduced to a handful of locations.  

Boundary, Bonner  and Kootenai County put your boots on.

Joseph Kenz

Bonners Ferry