The army is interested in spreading out, specifically a Ft. Carson training sight in Pinon Canyon near Trinidad.

The land in dispute is in deep south eastern Colorado, but the debate is moving north...

"I'm completely against the government or army or anyone else taking land by eminent domain," said Mark Lewis of Colorado Springs.

Instead of ranchers and farmers, the audience at a meeting at Colorado College Tuesday was mostly students and other concerned citizens of Colorado Springs.

“I think it’s all part of spreading the word," said Lon Robertson, president of Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition.

Despite the change of scenery, Robertson's message is the same: he and many southern Colorado landowners won't stand for what they're calling a massive land-grab, which would expand the army's Pinon Canyon maneuvering sight by almost half a million acres.

“Typically we don’t go out and question our government, but the time has come for us to question the processes on how they’re approaching this issue,” said Robertson.

The anticipated expansion could include land on which the dinosaurs walked, as did early settlers on the Santa Fe Trail. Not to mention families like Robertson's who've lived there for generations.

They could sell, and if they don't they fear the army will take for advanced training, which supporters who attended Tuesday’s meeting can get behind.

“Certainly, it’s a tremendous sacrifice, but remember that soldier that goes out in combat. If he isn’t trained well here, he may die there, and he’s paying a bigger sacrifice,” said retired Major George Hutton.

Robertson says the problem landowners face is a lack of information.

They aren't sure exactly what land would end up a part of the expansion, so many are operating like it's already gone, and expecting a good explanation if they ultimately are asked to give it up.

“Prove to us where the advantage would be over land you currently have, over the needs you currently have with the kind of warfare you’re fighting. If you could prove it, you’d have a lot more people open,” said Robertson.