'COME AND TAKE IT' Texas AG blasts BLM scheming to seize state land, threatens fight

A major land war between the Bureau of Land Management and the state of Texas is brewing as Texas lawmakers push back against the feds plan to seize 90,000 acres of land along the Texas/Oklahoma border.

AUSTIN, TEXAS (Catholic Online) - The Bureau of Land Management has indicated it plans to seize 90,000 acres of land along the Texas/Oklahoma border, prompting the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott to question the legality of such action.

"I am about ready to go to the Red River and raise a 'Come and Take it Flag' to tell the feds to stay out of Texas," he told Breitbart Texas.

Fight corruption! The Bible provides the best form of moral education.

Indeed, the "Come and Take it Movement" is gaining steam as American ire over federal overreach grows.

The movement draws upon the legend of Leonidas, the King of Sparta whose brave band of 300 Spartan citizen-soldiers stood against the invading Persian Army of possibly hundreds of thousands at the Battle of Thermopylae. (In reality, the Spartans were joined by much larger forces sent by allies, and the Persian Army may not have been hundreds of thousands strong, but the battle delayed their advance for three days, buying critical time for the Greeks.)

Before the battle, Leonidas was warned by the Persian King Xerxes to hand over his weapons, or else, to which Leonidas replied in laconic fashion, "Μολὼν λαβέ" meaning, "Come take/Come and take them."

The taunt has echoed throughout history and become a rallying cry for those worried that the feds will seize private firearms and other property belonging to law-abiding American citizens. It now commonly emblazoned on flags and bumper stickers.

Back to now, AG Abbott has put the Obama administration in plain light. "This is the latest line of attack by the Obama Administration where it seems like they have a complete disregard for the rule of law in this country ...And now they've crossed the line quite literally by coming into the State of Texas and trying to claim Texas land as federal land. And, as the Attorney General of Texas I am not going to allow this," he told Breitbart.

The BLM attempt to grab Texas land has its roots in geology and the legal demarcation of the Red River, which forms the traditional boundary between Texas and Oklahoma. The BLM now claims that legal decisions from the past designate stretches of land on the Texas side of the river as public. That land is presently worked by ranchers who believe the land is private.

Adding to the suspicion is the contention of area locals that the BLM is being secretive instead of forthright and there is no clarity on what their intentions are. Tommy Henderson, a Texas Rancher involved in a 1986 court case that is being used as a precedent to claim yet more land told Fox News, ""They won't talk to us or be straight with us as to what their plans are," .So I have continued to pay for this land or the federal government would seize everything else I had."

Enjoy our Confirmation Class? Pay it Foward

Henderson last 140 acres in the 1986 case and now he fears he may lose the rest of his property.

The BLM is well funded and apparently well-equipped with heavy weapons, much like a paramilitary organization. This was clearly on display in Nevada where BLM officials attempted to seize cattle raised by Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy. In that case, it has been established that Bundy has outstanding debts to the government, yet the manner in which he was literally attacked and the overall approach of the Obama administration to rural farmers and ranchers has millions of Americans ready to defend at the slightest provocation.

Abbott says he is ready to file a lawsuit against the BLM, should they actually attempt to seize the land and he has added his office is examining how the BLM is managing other lands in Texas.

For now, the issue is of concern to rural residents and conservatives, but it should be of interest to all. Allowing the government to succeed here could have far-reaching consequences in other segments of society eventually touching the lives of all Americans.

The federal government is not a trusted ally of the people, and it has demonstrated that the current administration has too many issues with credibility and corruption to be permitted free reign over the affairs of the people.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'