The debate about the ownership of Montana's public land is not new. This debate has gained unprecedented importance, seeing the imminent land crisis in various forms destroying much of this land. While some people believe that the public land of Montana should be under the federal government's authority, others suggest that only Montanans have rights over their land, so the public land should be transferred to the state government.

Those who believe in the federal ownership of the land suggest that under the Montana state government, the destruction of the land is imminent. The Montana State government will not be capable of tackling the land crisis, which is pervasive in wildfires, soil deterioration, polluted surfaces, groundwater, and forest crisis. They further believe that the state government cannot financially control the land.

Those who believe in the state ownership of the land state that nobody can take care of the Montana land better than the people of Montana. They further believe that the federal government is too busy to pay attention to the issues that are destroying the land. Similarly, they think that different interest groups are lobbying on the land, agitating the land crisis in Montana.

The question for debate is, should Montana public land be transferred from federal ownership to state ownership?