Star-Tribune Editorial Board

The U.S. Forest Service shouldn't consider banning the Rainbow Family from public lands in the wake of a confrontation with the group last week in Wyoming.

But the agency should require the Rainbows to follow all of its requirements to use the land, just as it would for any other group seeking permission.

Reaction to the incident near Big Sandy was vociferous on both sides. In our view, the Forest Service and the Rainbow Family both made some mistakes that should have been avoided.

Unlike some other Rainbow gatherings, the latest one on the Bridger-Teton National Forest seemed to get off to a reasonably good start. After the initial talks, the Forest Service offered the group four possible camping sites it could use without requiring a permit. There appeared to be a new level of cooperation between both parties.

But the group doesn't have any official leaders who can make a commitment, and the Rainbow Family showed up at Big Sandy, which wasn't on the approved list. By the time the Forest Service realized the problem, the Rainbows had already started the process of setting up camp for several thousand people, and the majority didn't want to move.

Complicating the matter was the fact that the Boy Scouts had already obtained permission from the Forest Service to begin a project that would overlap the Rainbow gathering. With the Forest Service's help, the Boy Scouts ultimately relocated.

The Rainbow Family event was relatively peaceful until last Thursday, when Forest Service officers arrested someone for drug possession near the camp's children's village. Several people objected to how the suspect was treated, resulting in a clash that saw officers pelting the crowd with pepper balls.

John Twiss, head of the Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations in Washington, D.C., was part of the response team. He said his officers showed restraint during the encounter. Witnesses, however, have claimed the officers pointed guns at women and children.

Now, Twiss said the agency must consider banning the group from Forest Service lands.

Denying people access to public lands is not the proper response. It makes no sense to punish an entire group for the actions of a few, who may not even be members of the Rainbow Family.

But if the group wants to use Forest Service land again, it should follow the process. The agency needs to insist that the Rainbows obtain a permit. There shouldn't be any exceptions simply because it's an amorphous group that lacks any organization. Someone in the Rainbow Family needs to step up and make a commitment that the group will abide by the rules. It's ridiculous for the members to think they can have 7,000 people go wherever they please without causing major problems.

Laws should be obeyed, but many Rainbows routinely break drug laws at their gatherings. They shouldn't be surprised that law enforcement present to keep order will make arrests. One way to ensure that children will be protected is for the Rainbow Family to self-police and allow no drugs near the kids' village.

We suspect many Wyoming residents would be more sympathetic to the group and its desire to visit the state if illegal drugs were not part of its "culture."

After last week's incident, we doubt that the Rainbow Family will return to Wyoming anytime soon. But no matter where they gather in the future, they should be guaranteed access to Forest Service lands as long as they agree to follow Forest Service rules.