Desert Conservation

Re “U.S. Agrees to Close Desert Areas, Beef Up Protection of Rare Species,” Jan. 19: Again the government is taking land away from the citizens by classifying it as a habitat for endangered animals. Now, we who have lived all our lives in this state--and the desert area--cannot go into that desert without the government threatening us.

The land belongs to the people and they should have the freedom to walk on it without threats. The majority of the people living in the desert or going to the desert have respect for the wildlife and growth in it. We do not need a liberal group such as the Sierra Club having the government keep us off the land.

JOHN KELLY

Yucca Valley