NLBS 3.03 - Wyoming Is Off Limits for Photos, Drawings, Images, Data Collection, and More

A recently-passed law in Wyoming makes it illegal to do things like take photos, make sketches, write about how it, or even comment on it when on public lands. That's right, it's now illegal to collect data of any type while on public land - state or federal - while in Wyoming. This all came about to prevent concerned citizens from capturing data related to the negative impact of livestock grazing on public lands. The powerful political lobby of ranchers was able to get a new law passed, virtually unanimously, that prevents anyone from doing anything that captures data of any type.




Supporting Links - in the order used in the show

Data Trespass Law
legiscan.com...

Wyoming State Legislature vote on the law
legiscan.com...

Western Watersheds Project
www.westernwatersheds.org...

Western Watersheds Project - Urgent Memo
www.westernwatersheds.org...

Landlocked: Measuring Public Land-Access (PDF)
westernpriorities.org...

Bureau of Land Management: Wyoming Public Land Guide (PDF)
www.blm.gov...

Lawsuit against Jonathan Ratner
s3.amazonaws.com...

EPA Section 303
www.hcn.org...

Western Watersheds Project Lawsuit
docs.nrdc.org...

Center for Biological Diversity: Grazing
www.biologicaldiversity.org...

a reply to: theNLBS

I say, if they're making you pay taxes for "Public Land" and conservation etc. they should let you AT LEAST make a sketch or photograph the damn land. What the hell is this, doesn't sound like America

isnt looking at something and remembering it data collection?
can this mean you have to close eyes and ears in wyoming?

This type of thing really annoys me. What could somebody possibly gain by not allowing any type of scientific or non scientific study in public places? It seems like they want to hide something.

a reply to: theNLBS

Doesn't Tricky Dick Cheney live in Wyoming?

What? This is truly BS! Any good video out there of people breaking this new law? Live stream?

a reply to: HighDesertPatriot

Yeah but he's not into shooting with cameras anyway...

a reply to: theNLBS

Surely you are mistaken .

The State is controlled by these lovely republicans who would rather die than let their government be overtaken by communism.

No way the GOP would ever let this happen, look how they freaked over obamacare which is not nearly as communist.

a reply to: theNLBS

These laws fit nicely with the TPP. If it affects or threatens the corporate bottom line it is illegal activity.

originally posted by: antar
What? This is truly BS! Any good video out there of people breaking this new law? Live stream?

Then you'd have two people breaking the law. Breaking the law, breaking the law. _|m|

Hope those ETs obey our laws and stop engaging in trespassing and cattle mutilations

All kidding aside, this seems like the first step in other restrictions such as not being able to film politicians or other authority figures such as police officers. This is a very slippery slope, it is crucial to take a stand right now in the early days before momentum of a lack of freedom gains further traction.

So what are they going to be building out there that they don't want us to know about?

a reply to: theNLBS

Hey Joe,

Great video!

Got a question for you: does this bill extend into the national parks? Will it effect tourism and folks coming to take photos of "public land" to show their grandkids? Or is this just related to a certain class of "publicly held" land?

Thanks!

- AB

a reply to: interupt42

When civil freedoms are at risk, it extends further than a partisan issue. We as a nation and further as global citizens have to take a stand. Divided, we will be conquered, it is crucial that we take a united stand; Republican, Democrat, Independent, it doesn't matter. This is a human issue, we are all human and deserve to not have our rights infringed upon.

a reply to: AboveBoard

Senator Hicks in an interview said it hasn't and won't be extended to Federal Parks in the capacity. However he's the guy responsible for the vaugness

When this bill went to conference committee for reconciliation Senator Larry Hicks of Baggs made this bad bill worse striking the word “private” and making the law refer to “open lands” with no qualification. This subtle move changed the stated intent of an unneeded trespassing law and further whittled away at Wyoming’s outdoor lovers access to public lands. source

(ii) "Open land" means land outside the exterior boundaries of any incorporated city, town, subdivision

a reply to: theNLBS

So does this apply to the NSA or government spy drones?

originally posted by: Pistoche
a reply to: interupt42

When civil freedoms are at risk, it extends further than a partisan issue. We as a nation and further as global citizens have to take a stand. Divided, we will be conquered, it is crucial that we take a united stand; Republican, Democrat, Independent, it doesn't matter. This is a human issue, we are all human and deserve to not have our rights infringed upon.

Without a doubt but the problem is from what I have observed their is little to no difference between the DNC or the GOP endorsed candidates. I only picked on the republican this time because it was a blatant disregard for republican ideals by republicans themselves.

In reality if you only look at the actions of both party you will observe the same thing from a GOP or DNC sponsored candidate:
1. Bigger gov't
2. Bigger debt
3. Less privacy
4. More taxes,
5. More corporate friendly laws.

Well that's dumb. I go up there all the time and am typically in favor of how their government runs things in comparison to Colorado. For instance they use funds from public land and minerals to fund education and thus have a way better funded education system.

However this law is just rediculous. If I go up to Wyoming for a visit I would love to take pictures of the landscape. Private or Public.

originally posted by: theNLBS
a reply to: AboveBoard

Senator Hicks in an interview said it hasn't and won't be extended to Federal Parks in the capacity. However he's the guy responsible for the vaugness

When this bill went to conference committee for reconciliation Senator Larry Hicks of Baggs made this bad bill worse striking the word “private” and making the law refer to “open lands” with no qualification. This subtle move changed the stated intent of an unneeded trespassing law and further whittled away at Wyoming’s outdoor lovers access to public lands. source

(ii) "Open land" means land outside the exterior boundaries of any incorporated city, town, subdivision

So basically, it COULD apply to National Parks if someone caught ranchers doing something wrong and took pictures of it??

They would be absolutely mad to make the Parks part of this bill, but who knows, the bill itself is treading dangerously into darkness.

Thanks so much for the reply!

- AB

Wonder if the usual crowd always talking about big gubment flops and how they are passing all these laws to restrict our freedoms will be in here...