Tucker Carlson: Here’s Why Conservatives Shouldn’t Support Bundy Ranchers

Tucker Carlson on Ranch Dispute: 'The Bundys Don't Have a Legal Case' (RealClearPolitics)

TUCKER CARLSON: It was moving in an ugly direction and I think the Feds exacerbated it by showing up with snarling dogs and drawn weapons.That's appropriate when you are dealing with a drug cartel, not an elderly rancher. On the other hand, the Bundys don't have a legal case that I can see to be totally honest about it.

And this is public land, this is not land that they owned. And if you are going to use public land for profit, you have to pay for it. And they haven't. And so the bottom line is this is something I think conservatives ought to remember, if you want a ranch without any impediment at all, you have to buy your own ranch. That is the essence, that is the core principle behind private property which undergirds conservatism.

I have a lot of sympathy for the Bundys. I think they were completely mistreated by the federal government. But I still think it's important to point out that this land does not belong to them and that's not a minor distinction, it's the essence of private property. Sorry.