Is martial law coming to the US?

[IkeaGnome]

3 hours ago, Tristerin said:

The "Posse Comitatus Act" restricts the use of military on US soil to enforce US laws.  Disaster support and its like are different than enforcing law.

Not entirely true. It could go the route of the 1992 LA riots. Military can be and has been used on American soil for similar situations under the "Insurrection Act of 1807." 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurrection_Act

I know Wikipedia isn't the best "source", but it works when I'm too lazy to google the full PDF of the updated Insurrection Act.

It boils down to if the federal government deems the situation out of hand for local governments to regain control it can in fact step in and help take control back. (simplified of course)

[Tristerin]

16 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

How does that work when US soldiers are deployed during other riots? Like, say, the 1992 LA riots?

 

Which, unsurprisingly, was also caused by police brutality and racial disparity. They deployed the marines, and Army infantry. 
 

Granted, I have no idea if either were involved in direct violence. 
 

I think the riots are terrible - but I have no qualms ultimately about the fact that they started. 
 

Sometimes you need to send a massive brutal message for the system to adjust and for those in power to listen.
 

Bringing the murderous racist cop to justice with the murder charge is a good start. But for a lot of these people, it’s not enough. It’s not enough because it should have never happened. And it will happen again, and they know it. 
 

And you got dumbasses like the Mayor saying “if he can say he can’t breathe, then he can breathe” - you know, ignoring that you can asphyxiate someone without cutting off 100% airflow. 

 

9 minutes ago, Voluspa said:

Not entirely true. It could go the route of the 1992 LA riots. Military can be and has been used on American soil for similar situations under the "Insurrection Act of 1807." 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurrection_Act

I know Wikipedia isn't the best "source", but it works when I'm too lazy to google the full PDF of the updated Insurrection Act.

It boils down to if the federal government deems the situation out of hand for local governments to regain control it can in fact step in and help take control back. (simplified of course)

 

 

What the law allows, and what We The People tolerate from our Government are two completely differing situations.  Our Government breaks the law daily, lawsuits happen, things change (or monies paid out).  I can only tell you that, its against the law for them to use the military to enforce our Laws.

 

Since Donald Trump gets to define "Insurrection" isn't that a pretty shitty Act?  Its a broad, and undefinable (read it) Act that gives our Government the ability to SKIRT the law at a whim.  Pretty shitty.

[colonel_mortis]

Although the wider discussion is an important issue, it is also a contentious one and falls foul of our No Politics rules. As such, I am locking this topic now, and encourage you to continue the discussion on platforms that are able to cope with the challenges that come with political discussions.

 

The reason that we don't allow political discussions is simple - they invariably descend into flame wars and accusations, and cleaning them up and issuing warnings takes a lot of moderator time that we would rather spend on topics that are more relevant to tech.