I did, actually.
The Militia, according to the Constitution, consists of all able-bodied males between the ages of 18 and 40. The Militia consists of the PEOPLE, not Federal troops.
Of course it includes Federal Troops; or are you going to assert that they are not [part of] "the people"? Or perhaps that the Constitution does not apply to them?
The issue is a simply that of understanding sets & subsets.
The Federal military forces are highly-trained to take orders from the President. A Militia would consist of people from local areas who would be highly unlikely to follow orders to shoot their neighbors if so ordered. I would rather the Militias be mustered than Federal troops be permitted into an area.
Again, you're ignoring the simple fact that the federal troops ARE a portion of the people; furthermore, like you said they are trained/and equipped, given the Constitution's "To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States"-clause it is obvious that this can only be the case if the federal troops are those "employed in the Service of the United States".
There's a lot of talk about law enforcement being overwhelmed, National Guard, etc. These are issues for the States.
Agreed.
The Federal government needs to be invited into a State to assist.
Untrue, Art 4, Sec 4 is not optional:
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.(Of course the above is routinely ignored in the case of invasion by illegal immigrants.)
Furthermore, in art 1, sec 8: "To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;"
How much do you want to bet that an organized and armed resistance to federal overreach would "officially" qualify as Insurrections?
They should NOT just have to the right to mosey on in whenever they see fit.
They don't have the right; they have the power.
(As the Constitution delegates powers; rights are an attribute of a person. This minor point is however totally irrelevant to those who embrace a "might makes right" philosophy.)
I hope the Governors, esp. those in the South, are paying attention and are unwilling to assent to a Federal takeover. I would fight for my State of Florida if so ordered, but I would NEVER fight for Obama.
I hear what you are saying; it would be good if governors would make a stand. However, they are likely very afraid of the political ramifications if they use their powers, fearing a backlash from both the people* and the federal government.
Obama is [tangentially] one of the reasons I got out after 9 years enlisted in the Guard. I was saying how the Constitution mandated an NBC it would fall upon the Army to remove him from office should he not qualify (NBC clause); I wasn't entirely sure he wasn't an NBC then, but a sergeant basically yelled at me that I was wrong (i.e. that the oath to support & defend the Constitution was not operative.)... that combined with political promotions, which obviously I didn't qualify for.
* -- Especially conservatives: "I have a job; I have to [go to] work man!"
First, thank for your commitment to this country. I apologize if I insulted you or your service.
My meaning was more that, while yes they comprise “The People,” they take orders from a Federal entity. It is their job to do so.
Second, they are provided to protect against invasion. This article plainly discusses their use in police actions. How this is Constitutional is beyond me.
This garbage recently where they handcuffed a bunch of drivers at an intersection to search for bank robbery suspects was a test-bed, in my opinion, to see how far the police state can stretch its legs without having too much push back from people. You change the enforcers from law enforcement to military with tanks and explosives, and you’re essentially permitting the imprisonment of the People BY the People (read: the military) for any purpose north of simple shoplifting, and even that might turn out the same way.
The Federal government’s purpose should be to protect the several States from incursion on the outside or insurrection from within barring peaceful insurrection at the ballot box. You start putting armed troops at polling stations and riding around conducting “checks” of cars or homes, and we’ve officially permitted Soviet Russia right in the front door with little more than a smile, a nod, and the simple question of “Will American Idol still be on Fox?”