[Son House]

Does Walz, know some Military Personal are in a war zone right now? And does Walz know John Patrick “Jack” Murtha, Jr (D - PA), is committed to “hamper” with the president’s ability?

[The_Victor]

“Neither this president, nor any other, should be given such unchecked control over the military for domestic law enforcement purposes.”

In the new bill, this authority would be removed from the president and returned to the hands of local authorities....

The Constitution of the US

Article II, Section 2 The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States;...

Perhaps the congressman should actually read the Constitution.

[babygene]

" And does Walz know John Patrick “Jack” Murtha, Jr (D - PA), is committed to “hamper” with the president’s ability"

In spite of that, I think it's the right move. The PA guard is not under the command of Murtha, it would be the governor...

[outofstyle]

Who pays for the guard?

[sgtbono2002]

One thing you can take to the bank.

If Patrick Leahy is for it,then it cannot be good.

[flying Elvis]

It's amazing how all these Dems became states-righters when they found out they could screw over the war effort.

[Eastbound]

I hope this thread continues for a while. I'm interested in learning how the chain of command of the state militias works and under what circumstances that chain of command changes.

Would also like to know if the militias are federalized, (called into service by the president), are the various states left without an armed militia under the exclusive control of the governors for the 'security of a free state?

[Arthalion]

I can't believe how many people here consider the federalization of a state function to be a GOOD thing. The NG has always been under the control of governors, and up until last year the President could only call them up for foreign wars, or to repel an actal invasion of the U.S. This law last year basically put them fully under the control of the President. If there's a riot in L.A., the President can call in the Nevada National Guard without consulting anybody. Political unrest in Georgia? Send in the New York National Guard. Flood in Lousisiana? Send in the Alaskan National Guard. This is what the law now permits.

The problem is that it completely ignores what the NG was actually formed for. A huge percentage (probably the majority) of NG soldiers join because they want to serve one of two roles...they want to be available to help out in local disasters, or they want to be available to help the other branches of the military when they can't get the job done. Very few have any interest in being redeployed across the country every time there's a hurricane, riot, or earthquake and the President wants to score political points by "doing something".

I was considering re-enlisting in the Guard myself last year, and this law was one of the many reasons that CURRENTLY SERVING Guardsmen warned me against doing so. The power to deploy troops to other states to help with civil or natural disasters SHOULD rest with the governors, and not the President. The NG is NOT intended to be a full time active duty branch of the military, and yet the entire reason for vesting this power with the President was to allow him (or her, if Billary gets elected) to utilize it like one. It's bad, and it's going to kill NG recruitment.

The co-author of this bill is a Republican, and the goal is a good one. I really don't care what the motivations of the 'Rat co-sponsor are, I hope this passes.