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“CONDEMNING BOMB ATTACK ON FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEE IN NEVADA” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S11797 on Aug. 7, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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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