On Calling In the National Guard on Wisconsinites: Why It Is Wrong, and Potentially Illegal

[Zephie]

Posting on behalf of my husband, Jaren, who has too low a post count.

Using the Military for Civilian Law Enforcement duties is illegal, so why do they allow the national guard to enforce civilian matters? a unit funded through federal funds and falling under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) within the Department of Defense (DOD) should under no circumstances assist civilian authorities outside of natural disaster prevention and recovery.

The DOD, by law, is restricted from civilian law enforcement off of DOD property - namely military bases. this is why i have issues with the military acting on US Soil of any sort, be it reserves, active or national guard assisting civilian authorities in law enforcement duties (the Kent State massacre of may 4th, 1970 comes to mind). The military is far to willing to use violence or at the very worst lethal force to stop a riot or protest, this is wrong and should not be allowed to happen at any time.

I am a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, which acts under the Department of Homeland Security. As a precursor the USCG is a military organization that falls under the ucmj that does not fall under the DOD. The DHS has civilian law enforcement authority and so does the department of the treasury which the uscg fell under before the formation of the DHS, this was done so that the USCG could enforce customs and boating safety laws amongst other things, but their jurisdiction only falls on things in relation to the water, no land based issues can come under their purview for the most part. In the end, however, the National Guard and the Coast Guard are exactly what the name implies: Guards. We are here to protect the people, not oppress them, which is exactly what is being proposed in Wisconsin.

It is a misuse of tax payer money to use their own hard earned dollars punish tax payers for not wanting their rights taken away and it is a misuse of the National Guard to herd civilians like cattle. The Governor of Wisconsin is asking these men and women to lash out against their friends, family, and neighbors for selfish political gain, and it is wrong, immoral, and potentially illegal under United States law.

[Tx4obama]

1. They said on the news earlier that the National Guard would be called in to

guard the prisons if the prison guards walk out.

[PeaceNikki]

2. In addition, a touchy subject here in WI. See the "Bay View Massacre"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_View_Massacre

The Bay View Massacre (sometimes also referred to as the Bay View Tragedy) was the culmination of events that began on Saturday May 1, 1886 when 7,000 building-trades workers joined with 5,000 Polish laborers who had organized at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to strike against their employers, demanding an eight-hour work day.

By Monday, these numbers had increased to over 14,000 workers that gathered at the Milwaukee Iron Company rolling mill in Bay View. They were met by 250 National Guardsmen under order from Republican Governor Jeremiah M. Rusk to "shoot to kill" any strikers who attempted to enter. Workers camped in the nearby fields and the Kosciuszko Militia arrived by May 4. Early the next day the crowd, which by this time contained children, approached the mill and were fired upon. Seven people died as a result, including a thirteen-year-old boy.<1> Several more were injured during the protest.

Since 1986, members of the Bay View Historical Society, the Wisconsin Labor History Society, and other community groups have held a commemorative event to honor the memories of those killed during the incident. The event is held at the State Historical Marker site at the intersection of Superior Street and Russell Avenue, within view of the former rolling mill location.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I got the feeling tehy won't

here is the reason. Who is the rank and file of the guard? Where are they? How many will report for duty?

That said the guard has been called before in state emergencies, see CANG for the Rodney King Riots, for example.

[HereSince1628]

4. Walker has been running away from what he said for one week.

He was the numbskull that failed to put parameters on what he was thinking.

He left it open to interpretation and the interpretation was a repeat of the North Chicago Rolling Mill Massacre.

[Historic NY]

5. The county sheriff should step in....he is the highest law enforcement authority....

its quite common here in NY when there are strikes & pickets for the most part they keep the peace w/o taking sides.

[DearAbby]

6. Jumping the shark?

Why would they go to such an attempt to stop a UNION? BECAUSE IT WORKS.

[rzemanfl]

7. Back before Kent State I was in a crowd of students (maybe

a thousand or two) approaching Bascom Hill (on the U.W. campus in Madison) from the back side during the annual Spring anti-war riots. Blocking our way were 2 truckloads of National Guardsmen. They fired tear gas and just at that instant a really strong wind started blowing, keeping the tear gas at knee level and sending it back where it came from. The students, having no sense at all, CHARGED! Some wise National Guard officer put the guys with the bayonets back on the trucks and got the hell out of there. I have no idea what would have happened if a a bunch of students got pushed up against a line of guys with bayonets on their rifles, I doubt it would have been pretty. That wind and the fact that the Molotov cocktail that flew over my head on another night didn't hit any wires or branches on its way to the building it set on fire is why I am sitting here at my advanced age pretty much in one piece.

Having National Guardsmen around to tell you what you can and can't do has a tendency to really piss people off.

[benddem]

8. besides

using National guardsmen in jobs for which they are untrained is not only stupid it is dangerous. We saw what happened in Abu Ghraib.
I liked the sign that one women carried. "You want National Guardsmen to give Chemo to your ill child?"

[Jaren]

9. This is even going a step further.

Throwing these people into a mix of ideals that they may believe in, with minimal training and high amounts of stress is just asking for trouble.