"But, he claimed, when the territory became a state, the government turned that land over to the sovereignty of the state of Nevada, and thus the federal government lacks the power to control it today."
Bundy's claim looses it validity when you examine the Nevada state constitution and realize that their state constitution specifically releases any rights to the land and recognizes the US Government as retaining ownership over the land.
From the Nevada State Constitution: Third. That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within said territory, and that the same shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States ; and that lands belonging to citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be taxed higher than the land belonging to the residents thereof; and that no taxes shall be imposed by said state on lands or property therein belonging to, or which may hereafter be purchased by, the United States, unless otherwise provided by the congress of the United States.
Bundy’s claim looses it validity when you examine the Nevada state constitution and realize that their state constitution specifically releases any rights to the land and recognizes the US Government as retaining ownership over the land.
See my 114! No State East of the Rockies has more than 5% of their public lands in Federal Control. The twelve western States have anywhere from fifty percent to 90% in Federal hands. How would you like to run a State Government when most of your resources are tied up in Federal Control and unusable, non-taxable, and useless. Not only that but your citizens are paying the Fed to maintain them such as the maintenance is.