the local/state police departments and the plethora of armed Federal Agencies are a much, much greater threat to your liberty than the US Army
It is good to know that US Constitution provides for an Army for only two years at a time via funding specifications and appropriations. Anytime congress wanted to dissolve the Army, it could by simply refusing to fund it past another budget cycle. It would die from no funding.
Of course, enlistment contracts and commissions would not expire when funds ran out, as there is no provision in any such agreement for remuneration or benefits, simply service until expiration date ( which can be extended involuntarily) or release based on needs of the Army.
Effectively, unless the states desired to fund the ARNG, it too would dry up and die for lack of funds.
The Naval services, on the other hand are not under the same constitutional restrictions, although all funding is rolled up in one Nat Defense Authorization ( NDA).
The standing army we need to be concerned about is the local, state and federal agencies that police us. I find it interesting that only the elected sheriff is noted or mentioned int eh constitution- and that is because during that era (of the founding) there was no formalized police force- the elected magistrate or local elected government would commission people to execute warrants and arrests based on presentments or indictments- we only use police powers today to do any of that- the prosecutor and police decide who is to be subject to arrest and warrant, the people can only file complaints to them, not directly to a judge or magistrate. how convenient- a monopoly on justice.
We can that a guy named Peale, in Britain, for the evolution of the modern police force and power. It spread like a communicable disease to the rest of the western world. I say we the people ought to possess that power n and of ourselves, directly to the local justice and courts. Frivolous accusations would quickly be rebutted and judges/courts would hold liars and incompetent accusers liable, and we would live at peace, everyone looking out for not only their own interests, but those of their neighbors. We more likely would be less inclined to shoot each other too.
With the ongoing militancy and militarization of Federal, state, county, local, and special district law enforcement they now constitute a standing army within our own borders.
I ardently believe that SWAT teams and largely militarized police departments that employ military tactics, that use military equipment and weapons, and that all too often act outside Constitutional restraints are in violation of Posse Comitatus and should be disbanded.
These rogue organizations are an immediate threat to civil liberties.
Agree 100%. Washington had a big army at his disposal and could have taken over as a dictator but that never happened. From then to now I don’t recall the army ever being a danger to the Republic. The FBI and CIA on the other hand...