NV congressman calls on state, local officials to rid his district of Bundy 'armed separatists'

Responding to complaints from his constituents, the congressman representing the district where the Cliven Bundy ranch is located, has called upon state and local officials to get rid of the militia members who have taken up residence on the ranch, calling them "armed separatists," according to the Reno Gazette Journal.

Speaking to the Clark County Democratic Convention in Las Vegas on Saturday, Rep. Steven Horsford (D) said he was appealing for help from officials after being approached by residents wanting to know about his plans to get rid militia members who have set up encampments in the Bunkerville area.

"I am calling on (Gov.) Brian Sandoval, Sen. Dean Heller, the (Clark County) sheriff (Doug Gillespie) and any other elected official in Nevada to do their part to get rid of these armed separatists," Horsford told the convention delegates.

Bundy, who claims he doesn't recognize the U.S. federal government, has been grazing his cattle illegally on federal lands for years. The Bureau of Land Management rounded some of his cattle, creating a cause célèbre for the anti-government militia movement who arrived in droves anticipating a confrontation.

Since the BLM stood down from enforcing the law fearing violence, militia members have lingered, reportedly setting up armed checkpoints on public roads and separating into competing encampments.

According to Horsford, a fifth-grade girl told him that Bundy has a "sense of entitlement" and should pay the same grazing fees  other ranchers who use public land pay, with another person  telling him that Bundy is a "welfare rancher" living off taxpayer subsidies.

Gov. Sandoval recently stated that citizens have a right to feel safe in their homes. When asked if  Sheriff Gillespie had plans to move the militia members out of the area, Sandoval replied, "No, and even if he had said that, I wouldn't share that with you, because certainly that's a conversation between the two of us."