Does the military draft in the US in the 1960's considered constitutional?
March 2nd, 2010 by eranio
This concern the Vietnam war in the 1960′s wereby the average age of combat soldiers being send to Vietnam is 19 y/o, which is too young to handle guns and keeping themselves alive in times of war don’t you think? The controversial case of former Cassius Clay or Mohammed Ali who refuse to serve the US Armed Forces because of religious belief. Nobody opposes(Senators or Congressman) the military draft during those times in the US? Is it constitutional?
Posted in military guns
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:22 pm
The military draft has been a legal/constitutional part the US government since the 1800′s. The first widespread use of it was during the American Civil War, or as it is known down here The War of Union Aggression. It has been used ever since though the numbers of draftees have varied based partly on the economics and, in the case of Viet Nam, popularity of the war. As for nineteen being too young to handle weapons, I would say no, the stress side of it is harder I think. I was an 18 year old in Viet Nam but I was a volunteer not drafted also had been shooting and around firearms most of my life, the Volunteer state earned that name and is proud of it. The Viet Nam war use of draftees, thus younger age, was caused by many reasons-the unpopularity of the war, the baby boomers were of age and it is a large segment of the population, expansion of the military from peace time to war numbers, and the economy was fairly good so people had jobs. In the 1930′s the economy was in depression and older people joined the military to feed the family, they were the core of the military for WW2 which was to a large extent fueled early by volunteers but later large numbers were drafted. Mohammed Ali’s case of Conscientous Objector status was "unusual" since since the Moslem religion is not pacifists and he made his living fighting. CO status is not for people who don’t believe in the current conflict but people who do not believe in war/violence at all. I do not think it was controverial at all; his was a political not a religous/personal belief so the status did not apply.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Yes the draft is constitutional.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I’m not a liberal, but ulitmiately, people should volunteer to fight and sacrifice for causes they believe in.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:22 pm
It is constitutional, and it is necessary. Many combatants in our armed forces today, are still in their teens.
I don’t believe you are qualified to judge whether a teen is too young or not qualified to handle guns, or two e able to develop the art of self preservation, in combat. Obviously, you have never been there, or have never seen our youth in combat, because if you had, you wouldn’t make such outrageous comments.
It is the decision of Congress whether to initiate the draft. It could or would deem it necessary, and with Constitutional powers, if the need arises to do so.
You failed to make a point or ask a question regarding the case of Cassius Clay. His defense was based on religious conviction. It was a weak case because he had only been a Muslim for a short time, and we all know how peace loving the Muslims have become. The US did a poor job of prosecuting Clay, or he would have sat out the war in Leavenworth.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Democrat Sen Chuck Rangel put up a bill to re-instate the draft 2 years ago, then voted against it. The draft is constitutional, but the volunteer arm forces is the best way to accomplish our goals. I do not see the draft being reinstated in the near future.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:22 pm
The draft was and is constitutional. Anybody who was drafted could refuse service on religous grounds (providing they had the proof to support it). The averge age of new soldiers going into combat for the first time is still about 19. Most people enlist in the service right out of high school. will we see the draft again? Unlikely. However, I do think that the US should consider a mandatory period of service (two years mayber) right out of high school for all high school graduates. These people could be used in stateside support positions, filling in for the active duty personel deployed. They could also be used in community service projects or enviromental projects. Israel has a similar program. The US could establish some sort of scholorship or tuition reduction program as a bonus for students serving their two years and provide vocatinal/job training for people not interested in college.