National Guard to be used as local cops??

[Dengineer]

What does everyone think about this?

2 Chicago state reps: Bring in the National Guard - Chicago Breaking News

Two state representatives called on Gov. Pat Quinn Sunday to deploy the Illinois National Guard to safeguard Chicago's streets.

Chicago Democrats John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford said they want Quinn, Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis to allow guardsmen to patrol streets and help quell violence. Weis said he did not support the idea because the military and police operate under different rules.

[beth119]

Mmm... thats a tough one.

In our countries history.... we've seen the NG used... sometimes for good, other times it didn't turn out quite so good...

WHat struck me was this

"So far this year, 113 people have been killed across Chicago, the same number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined in the same period, Fritchey said.
"As we speak, National Guard members are working side-by-side with our troops to fight a war halfway around the world," Fritchey said. "The unfortunate reality is that we have another war that is just as deadly taking place right in our backyard."

It kind of made me go "Good point..."..... BUT....

I don't like the IDEA of it. Armed soldiers walking the streets? That isan't exactly who we are. I have 100% respect for the national guard, but I am not sure this is their place, kwim?
We have one state now that has become a "stop and show me your papers" kind of place... based on appearance... and now another that wants military patroling the streets.... I am not comfortable with where this is going... and what it is reminiscent of...

So, I don't know...

[$Saving!]

I don't agree with using the NG for police work in our country. Special situations for limited time, yes, such as after national disasters (NOLA comes to mind).

I think that the city of Chicago is looking for a cheap way out of managing their horrific crime instead of funding the necessary level of local police to do the job.

NYC had a bad reputation for years until the Mayors clamped down and gave police the authority and laws to back them up and they didn't have to call in the NG to get that job done.

[beth119]

Another reason I don't particularly like it...

Chicago is still a hot spot for international tourism. Having the NG patroling could turn some off from that...

Could be bad for the economy....

[kval07]

I read this last night and wasn't too keen on the idea.

I don't like the IDEA of it. Armed soldiers walking the streets? That isan't exactly who we are.

I read this on, I think, CNN last night. The article I read said the NG would NOT be armed. The theory was that just having them present would deter people. Well that didn't make a lick of sense to me. If someone's really determined to start capping people, an unarmed military person is not going to stop them. People who do stuff like that are not threatened by "authority" figures.

[lestelle]

I read this last night and wasn't too keen on the idea.



I read this on, I think, CNN last night. The article I read said the NG would NOT be armed. The theory was that just having them present would deter people. Well that didn't make a lick of sense to me. If someone's really determined to start capping people, an unarmed military person is not going to stop them. People who do stuff like that are not threatened by "authority" figures.

They tried using an unarmed national guard down on the Mexican border to help "deter" people from entering illegally. That really didn't work. I don't think it would work in Chicago either. I also remember back then people and politicians against it were stating that the military can't be used as a police force.

Having them unarmed is really just making them a well uniformed neighborhood watch.

And if I'm not mistaken, someone (either Gov of Ill or Congress) would have to declare Martial Law for them to be used in this capacity.

Like $Saving! said, NYC had a really bad problem but they handled it. I remember when I was a kid NYC was a dangerous place--we never went there. Then it started to be cleaned up. I went to culinary school in NYC and was not afraid in the subways (didn't like them cause they were hot and smelled), but not afraid.

All said and done, I think this would be a horrible precedent. At what point (level of violence, other things that cities don't like happening) would other localities declare their need for help.

[VivaciousJewelz]

If people aren't deterred by the police being around, they won't be deterred by unarmed military.

[cybilx10]

Living so close to Chicago and going into the city as often as I do, I have no problem with it. I also live a few citys away from Gary Indiana and we have had the NG and over 300 state cops patrol that area. The violence there is so horrific I will suport them to see if it will help. A little girl was caught in the crossfire of a gang related incident and lost her eye. Went right through her eye socket and out the back of her head. Its just rediculous to see how many people have no morals or conscience.

[derketchup]

I don't agree with this at all. Soldiers are not trained to be police officers, and to invite them to patrol the area will bring all sorts of problems unique to the military (but often unknown to civilians).

[Dengineer]

Any way I consider it--it seems like a bad idea. If they aren't going to be armed, why bother? And if they are going to be armed, nothing good ever comes when a country uses it's military against it's own people.