&gt; The issue is whether federal land should be used for conservation versus grazing.<p>Correct, that&#x27;s the issue and the proposed solution is <i>abolishing</i> federal land control, transferring rights to state control, and therefore preventing federal intervention in grazing.<p>&gt;&gt; &#x27;But the stockmen’s ambition went further: they wanted the federal government to transfer control of all federal land, including the national parks, to the states.&#x27;<p>The state legislators would still be free to enforce their own laws in that respect - technically they could themselves limit externalities or even enhance conservation. The parties involved (ie, ranchers) believe that they would be better served at the state level, a belief which was also held by many of those who were behind the constitution - whom they spare no time trumpeting.