General Discussion

The Velveteen Ocelot

(131,525 posts)

20. The military is not involved.

Fri Apr 19, 2013, 04:36 PM

Apr 2013

There is a law called the Posse Comitatus Act that expressly prohibits federal military forces from participating in domestic law enforcement. A state's National Guard can get involved but only if invited to do so by that state's governor. What we are seeing is military-style equipment that is owned and operated by state and local law enforcement. It is fair to have some concern over the militarization of domestic police in general, but the only military personnel that could be legally involved in this operation would be the Massachusetts National Guard at the request of the governor.

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Is anyone else bothered by the military involvement in the manhunt? [View all] Earth_First Apr 2013 OP

no Skittles Apr 2013 #1

No. n/t zappaman Apr 2013 #2

No. n/t Still Sensible Apr 2013 #3

Maybe you'd prefer this? randome Apr 2013 #4

Right, because that is exactly what I am suggesting... Earth_First Apr 2013 #8

not enough SWAT to handle the manhunt. n/t actslikeacarrot Apr 2013 #40

they can guard intersections to free up actual police. Marrah_G Apr 2013 #73

We should be invading Czechoslovakia by now. JaneyVee Apr 2013 #5

No. nt Bobbie Jo Apr 2013 #6

no JI7 Apr 2013 #7

I bent my Wookie. WilliamPitt Apr 2013 #9

William, I know that you are a man of reason... Earth_First Apr 2013 #15

I just made a personal decision WilliamPitt Apr 2013 #23

No, not offended in the least Earth_First Apr 2013 #35

You choo choo choose me? WilliamPitt Apr 2013 #47

I'd like to ask a serious question about that Orrex Apr 2013 #52

Food. WilliamPitt Apr 2013 #56

Damn Orrex Apr 2013 #79

Will: I have friends and relatives in Boston Hekate Apr 2013 #54

My cat's name is Mittens. name not needed Apr 2013 #41

No n/t OhioChick Apr 2013 #10

National guard, called by the Governor nadinbrzezinski Apr 2013 #11

Yep! ^^^^^^^^ nt DonViejo Apr 2013 #30

I thought it was the Guard? This kind of thing is why they exist. gcomeau Apr 2013 #12

exactly ohnoyoudidnt Apr 2013 #53

No. Poll_Blind Apr 2013 #13

No ProudToBeBlueInRhody Apr 2013 #14

Right... Earth_First Apr 2013 #18

Are you more bothered that he hasn't been caught yet? ProudToBeBlueInRhody Apr 2013 #37

I'm not going to get involved in your setup... n/t Earth_First Apr 2013 #46

No. (n/t) WorseBeforeBetter Apr 2013 #16

The National Guard was intended for this type of situation. Dawson Leery Apr 2013 #17

Not a bit. nt cry baby Apr 2013 #19

The military is not involved. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2013 #20

Okay, I'm looking for that information right now actually... Earth_First Apr 2013 #26

If the NG is involved it would have to be at the Governor's request. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2013 #31

Yes, as of last night nadinbrzezinski Apr 2013 #34

Yes. premium Apr 2013 #42

yes Kali Apr 2013 #21

No. Lots of area to check, lots of houses to search etc. The more boots the better. nt jmg257 Apr 2013 #22

This is a very safe area - we probably have relatively few cops, and MannyGoldstein Apr 2013 #24

Not at all. nt MOTRDemocrat Apr 2013 #25

National Guard is OK in this situation for crowd control; public order, etc Let LE handle the byeya Apr 2013 #27

No. Hekate Apr 2013 #28

Yes. earthside Apr 2013 #29

Probably. DU is not immune to idiocy. 11 Bravo Apr 2013 #32

Hey, thanks for the slam... Earth_First Apr 2013 #39

No jpak Apr 2013 #33

It's not the military, it's the NG. I'm sure the folks in Boston are glad they are there. n/t Tx4obama Apr 2013 #36

I thought they were soldiers too Generic Other Apr 2013 #38

I saw that photograph, and I'm fairly certain those were in fact State Police... Earth_First Apr 2013 #43

Militarized Police maybe, or National Guard, but not active duty US Military. cherokeeprogressive Apr 2013 #44

I would ask the people in Massachusetts how they are feeling ... etherealtruth Apr 2013 #45

That's a valid point... Earth_First Apr 2013 #49

Its hard to know .... etherealtruth Apr 2013 #57

I have no concerns. nt bluestate10 Apr 2013 #75

Yes. Arctic Dave Apr 2013 #48

The piles of money available to police to become more militarized dixiegrrrrl Apr 2013 #60

In Boston the Army Nat guard was doing things like guarding intersections Marrah_G Apr 2013 #76

Were they armed? Arctic Dave Apr 2013 #81

The army guys doing the guarding were Marrah_G Apr 2013 #83

Nope. But I have a former military friend who doesn't like it. kestrel91316 Apr 2013 #50

National Guard troops. I don't suppose you'd complain if they were used SlimJimmy Apr 2013 #51

Well there could be more going on then we know. Rex Apr 2013 #55

No. I welcome their help. Same as in storms like Sandy.They are the mililtia refered in the 2nd. graham4anything Apr 2013 #58

In a situation such as a natural disaster, I welcome their help as well... Earth_First Apr 2013 #59

No, plus the military has the best EOD techs Crabby Appleton Apr 2013 #61

Better that the National Guard is available and mobilized HERE for such duty than mnhtnbb Apr 2013 #62

It's normal to have the Nat'l Guard out in emergencies Yo_Mama Apr 2013 #63

NO. nt Raine Apr 2013 #64

Were you bothered by the National Guard coming out ... Travelman Apr 2013 #65

From what I heard, Recovered Repug Apr 2013 #66

I haven't heard exactly sarisataka Apr 2013 #67

Things like blocking off streets Marrah_G Apr 2013 #71

That is reasonable sarisataka Apr 2013 #74

These guys live here :) Marrah_G Apr 2013 #78

My last duty assignment sarisataka Apr 2013 #82

I'm fortunate in that mine has never had to go over seas (knock on wood) Marrah_G Apr 2013 #84

They could call out the Minutemen FarCenter Apr 2013 #68

I wish I could post a picture Marrah_G Apr 2013 #80

No. nt frogmarch Apr 2013 #69

It was the National guard. That is why we have them.... Marrah_G Apr 2013 #70

The National Guard is under state control until federalized. Governor Patrick is controlling bluestate10 Apr 2013 #72

This was still a terrorist attack, yeah? justiceischeap Apr 2013 #77

No. n/t BeeBee Apr 2013 #85