🚀 go-pugleaf

Thus Spake mshinn@osf1.gmu.edu (Michael T Shinn):

%: Funny, I thought that was what happened to the last violent insurrection.  
%: Seem
%: to recall something about the US Army expanding to it's largest size up until
%: that time (primarily by Federalizing militia regiments) and hunting down a 
%: pack
%: of insurgents known as the Army of Northern Virginia.  I could swear they
%: mentioned it in history class somewhere. . . And of course my batallion was
%: one
%: of the huntees.
%
%Yep, except that my friend was a declared War.  Still doesn't change the

Nope-wasn't a war.  Have to have two countries to hold a war.  Was an
insurrection.  Check the papers of the time.

%fact that the Army doesn't the legal authority to go hunting down American
%Citizens.  Hate to rain on your parade, but you'd need a clearly defined
%state of war to do that again, and in the Case of the Civil War you had a
%defined and declared WAR.  American Citizens have a constitutional right
%to safe in homes from the Army.  The Army does *not* have power to police,
%and that includes hunting down American citizens.    

Unless and until some idiot tries armed insurrection, kicks around the local and
state cops, and the Governor tells us to restore order.  

%: And the annual civil disturbance training is mandated for a reason.  And the
%: reason I got told was that when civil authorities loose control of an area, 
%: they call for National Guard backup.  Are you going to suggest that's not 
%: what would happen in case of armed rebellion?
%
%Not at all, but whos to say the armed rebellion wouldn't be against a
%tyrannical federal government?  Its not like history isn't full of such 
%things happening.  But if you recall your CD training you don't have
%police powers - you defer to the LOCAL authorities.  Only in extreme cases
%of martial law do you have the latitude to not defer, and even then you
%are constatly operating under the constraint of: These are AMERICAN
%CITIZENS NOT THE ENEMY.  

Right-after we take them down, we hand the off to the local cops to arrest.
We're still the ones moving in with riot batons, and selected marksmen behind to
take down anyone waving a firearm.

%I have no doubts where the US Military will take sides, if the Oath we all
%took is any indicator, we should be standing with the constitution FIRST.
%So if that armed insurrection were to overthrow a government which was
%trashing the constitution, I hope it would be lead by the defenders of
%that piece of paper.  

First you have to demonstrate that the Federal Government is violating the
Constitution.  Second you have to demonstrate that you have a prayer of winning.


John M. Atkinson
jatkinso@gmu.edu
"A nation which despises its soldiers will all too soon 
have a despicable army
                 --Jerry Pournelle