This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
My response Joseph DuPont's letter ("Bundy's a Hero," April 17) is this: you're wrong.
Cliven Bundy is a criminal – a person who thinks that the rule of law does not apply to him. There are over 180 other ranchers who pay a grazing fee for the right to use federal land, while Mr. Bundy has not paid his for almost 20 years.
As of now, he owes the federal government about $300,000.
If that's not bad enough, what's with the armed insurrection? That is not patriotic. It is subversive. And by using women as human shields, it is also an act of outright cowardice (its amazing how his right-wing supporters turn a blind eye to that).
One other thing - we are a nation governed by the rule of law and if Mr. Bundy refuses to abide by them, then he should face the same consequences as everyone else. Those who believe otherwise have no right to wave the patriotic banner.
Cliven Bundy is definitely no hero.
John Costa
Salt Lake City