They'll be back after the attention dies down.
So, questions:
1. Has Bundy presented a reasonable case to be grandfathered in for the BLM land use because he was there first?
No because it doesn't matter if the BLM didn't get to the property until yesterday. They are the managers, not the owners, and the owners have owned the land for 16 years before Nevada was a state. The Nevada state constitution also had a line put in it allowing the Federal government to retain ownership of unappropriated lands in exchange for statehood. The deal was made because Nevada wanted statehood, but didn't meet the minimum requirements to become a state.
2. Why would Bundy work a deal with Clark County for use of the land, when it's not county property? What happened in 1993 that suddenly blew that deal?
He paid the BLM up until 93 when he decided to stop paying because he didn't like how the BLM was managing the land. He tried to pay Clark County afterwords and they refused his payment because they weren't the managers or owners.
3. On what grounds is Bundy claiming he's not subject to federal law? Because he was there first?
His family didn't get there until the 1880s 40+/- years after the government had received the land from Mexico.
4. Is the 3 million dollar figure they've spent to confiscate his herd correct, or was it pulled from someone's butt? If it is correct, is this in the public interest to spend money to recover less money?
Hard telling, but they need to take the 3 million from his estate.
" That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands . . ."
I don't want to see this guy lose his livelihood, but he brought this on himself by making stupid choices. He was in the wrong and I won't throw my hat in his corner. If they were trying to throw him off of his property I would whole heartedly support him. He has no claim to the property other than he used it illegally to make a profit for 21 years.
There is is enough stupid to go around on this one. He made poor decisions and the BLM responded poorly. Wait for the post mid term election gun control laws to flow.
http://lands.nv.gov/forms/chapter1.pdf