Just how does the above comment made by a Facebook member go against their standards?  The comment that Facebook censored is a quote from Joseph Goebbels.  It is a reminder of what should never be tolerated in a free country.  In regards to America's wild horses and burros, federal agencies such as the Forest Service and BLM should not be allowed to spread lies as truth in order to decimate America's wild horse and burro herds.  Joseph Goebbels was a propaganda machine for Hitler.  He was an evil human being who by his quote believed truth was bad for the State because he knew that if the citizenry of the State knew the truth they would fight for their freedom and lives. Why does bringing historical evils to light violate Facebook standards?  

Joseph GoebbelsFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Goebbels, who aspired to be an author, obtained a Doctor of Philology degree from the University of Heidelberg in 1921. He joined the Nazi Party in 1924, and worked with Gregor Strasser in their northern branch. He was appointed Gauleiter (district leader) for Berlin in 1926, where he began to take an interest in the use of propaganda to promote the party and its programme. After the Nazis' seizure of power in 1933, Goebbels's Propaganda Ministry quickly gained and exerted control over the news media, arts, and information in Germany. He was particularly adept at using the relatively new media of radio and film for propaganda purposes. Topics for party propaganda included antisemitism, attacks on the Christian churches, and (after the start of the Second World War) attempting to shape morale.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goebbels

The importance of NEPA and why government agencies want to weaken or do away with it. NEPA gives "we the people" a voice in what happens to our public lands. Apparently "we the people" get in the way of business between our federal agencies and special interest groups.
The Forest Service had intended to remove the Heber herd in 2005. A Temporary Restraining Order prevented them from doing so. A Federal Court Case followed with the following four counts against the Forest Service:
COUNT ONE:
(VIOLATION OF WILD HORSES AND BURROS ACT OF 1971)
COUNT TWO:
(VIOLATION OF NEPA)
COUNT THREE:
(VIOLATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT)
COUNT FOUR:
(DECLARATORY RELIEF)

​Scaring The Hell Out of You: The Fear-Then-Relief Procedure

What it is: Arguably the most evil manipulative technique is what psychologists call the "fear-then-relief technique." The technique preys on a person's emotions. Here, the manipulator causes someone a great deal of stress or anxiety and then abruptly relieves that stress. After this sudden mood swing, the person is disarmed, less likely to make mindful or rational decisions, and more likely to respond positively to various requests.  https://lifehacker.com/5953183/three-of-the-most-evil-ways-to-manipulate-people-into-doing-what-you-want

The Fear:  Wild horse herd populations double every four years, therefore they will destroy the ecosystem leaving nothing for other wildlife, or public lands cattle and sheep grazing.  In the end  the horses will also starve to death. 
 
The Relief:  The Forest Service or BLM will call for massive wild horse "gathers" and removals to protect the land, wildlife, public lands cattle and sheep, and the horses themselves.  

The people working for these government agencies often feign caring about the welfare of the horses.  Yet behind closed doors they talk of permanent sterilization, euthanasia of healthy horses, sale without limitation, and slaughter.  All of this while having no proof that wild horse herds double in size every four years and that they are causing damage to our public lands.
​  
In August of 2005 the USDA Forest Service posted a NEWS RELEASE which stated: “The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in the next month will be removing some of the approximately 300 horses that are currently grazing a portion of the Rodeo/Chediski burned area near Heber.”  

In September of 2005 several animal advocacy organizations and citizens commenced Civil Action against the Forest Service alleging violations of the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.  Their action prevented all captures and removals of horses.  The Plaintiffs won their case and in March of 2007 a Federal Court order issued the following ruling:

“The Forest Service agrees to refrain from any gathering or removing of horses within the Heber Wild Horse Territory as well as, on the Black Mesa and Lakeside Ranger Districts (which are considered the Sitgreaves National Forest) until the Forest Service completes, with public involvement, an analysis and appropriate environmental document pursuant to NEPA and develops a written Heber Wild Horse Territory Management Strategy.  The Forest Service will involve the public, including the Plaintiffs, in scoping for this analysis.”

At this time the Forest Service is in the process of completing a management plan for the Heber Wild Horse Territory.  There have been no authorized captures or removals of any horses in the Sitgreaves National Forest since before 2005 when the Forest Service stated in their news release that there were approximately 300 horses in a portion of the Rodeo/Chediski burned area near Heber.   

The Forest Service contracted for a horse-specific survey in February of 2015.  At that time, 20 horses were estimated to be in the Heber Wild Horse Territory.  Outside the Heber Wild Horse Territory (across the Sitgreaves National Forest) 201 horses were observed.  The estimated population outside the Heber Wild Horse Territory based on Simultaneous Double-Count methodology was 236.  That is a total of 256 horses.  

There were no authorized captures and removals for that ten year span.  If wild horse herd populations doubled in size every four years you would expect that by the end of that ten year period there would be approximately 1,800 horses at the time of the 2015 survey.  But there were only 256 horses.  

The Heber Wild Horse Herd is a protected herd under the THE WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS ACT OF 1971 (PUBLIC LAW 92-195).  Forest Service was not only illegally authorizing the removals of wild horses, they were paying the ranchers to do so.  We realize it's not current but it does show the disrespect FS has for the Wild Horses and Burros Act and their willingness to break federal law in order to appease the welfare ranchers. 

§1331. Congressional findings and declaration of policy Congress finds and declares that wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands. ​

This graph was created based on statistics from the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and Arizona Game and Fish Dept.  

"Between 1912 and 1967 more than 13,500 elk were transplanted from the Park(Yellowstone Park). In February 1913, 83 elk were released in Cabin Draw near Chevelon Creek. From these transplants, the Arizona elk population has grown to nearly 35,000 animals."  Quoted from the AZGFD

The Heber Herd is predominately in hunting unit 3C of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

 
Elk
Overview: Elk can be found throughout Unit 3C in both the pine forest and pinyon/juniper woodlands.  Elevations range from 5,600 feet in Taylor to over 7,200 feet on the Mogollon Rim. Elk densities are higher south of Highway 260 than north of the highway.  Generally, the highest elk density in the unit is south of Highway 260 and west of Decker Wash, but this can change, depending on precipitation patterns.

This unit has a moderate number of antlered permits available each year, and, since the Rodeo-Chediski Fire, has had high numbers of antlerless permits.  The early season antlered tags in Unit 3C are highly coveted by hunters.   ~AZGFD 2017


Elk are big eaters. During summers, the elk eats continuously, consuming anywhere between 8.8 to 15.43 pounds a day! That’s compared to wild horses that can stay a healthy weight on very little food. When food is readily available, adult mustangs eat around 5 to 6 pounds of food each day.

The bull elk must consume huge amounts of nutrients to gather the energy and minerals needed to grow antlers and for the energy to carry them around. The antlers of an elk can reach the size of 4 feet in length and weigh 40 pounds! The females are attracted to the bulls with the largest antlers because those are the ones that are usually the strongest...survival of the fittest.

Time to stop scapegoating the wild horses.  

Is The Fix In?

This Collaboration made up of ranchers, hunters, wild horse advocates which so far remain unnamed may sound like a good idea on the surface but is it merely a facade hiding what is really going on behind the scenes?  

This young filly was one of the Heber Wild Horse Herd.  She was most likely shot and killed on either Friday April 28, or Saturday April 29, 2017.  This photo was taken on May 4, less than a week later.  Nature's scavengers were quick to find and take advantage of what some demented human or should I say monster, had needlessly done to this innocent creature.  A mentally stable human would never do something like this.  
This shooting is considered animal abuse. So what kind of mindset is behind animal abuse and killings?  From the article "Abusing Animals: Some Psychological Reasons Behind Animal Abuse" by Dr George Simon, PhD

• Serious intentional abusers actually derive satisfaction from hurting animals. From a psychological perspective, the reason is mainly about power. For the most part, animals, especially smaller or domesticated animals, can’t easily defend themselves and are vulnerable in the face of someone who can inflict great pain on them. This makes the abuser feel powerful. Some abusers feel a lack of power in other areas of their lives and try to make up for it by wielding ruthless power over the weak. Others simply enjoy the feeling of dominance so much that they’re always looking for an opportunity to exercise it. Still others have such a feeling of superiority and entitlement that they view the animal’s only purpose as being to serve their needs. Such is often the case when animals are used for fighting contests (e.g., dog fights, cock fights, etc.) as a way to make money for and gain notoriety for the owners and handlers.

Animal abuse is a serious and fairly widespread problem. It is seen across many cultures, age groups, and sexes. If you know someone who is engaged in the serious, intentional abuse of an animal, the chances are that they need psychological help. What’s more, the reason many animals continue to endure abuse is because good people don’t take action. 

https://askthepsych.com/atp/2009/06/05/psychological-reasons-behind-animal-abuse/

This grainy photo was taken back in Sept. 2005 with a Sony Mavica that used floppy disks for memory. In 2005 these very horses, along with others, were in danger of being removed by Forest Service and sent to auction for sale to the highest bidder. Although the horses did get a reprieve due to a court order in 2007, they are once again in danger of removal as the Heber Wild Horse Territory planning stage is once again getting under way.

There will be a collaborative approach which will include Forest Service, ASU, Southwest Decision Resources,  interested citizens, representatives of non-governmental organizations, academics, scientists, advocates, and participating agency representatives.   This working group is consultative with no decision authority.