As US widens presence in foreign wars, new law registers all 18-26 yr olds for draft

Vietnam War was last time all of America’s youth were automatically registered

A nation does not plan a big draft unless it is preparing for a big war.  Two days ago, Congress passed legislation which mandates automatic Selective Service registration for a potential call-up of millions of young Americans, ages 18-26.

If you are a parent or grandparent, your loved ones could be directly affected.

Currently, all 18 yr old males must register with Selective Service for a potential draft.  In the past few years, such registration was uneventful.  Today, however, with the drumbeat of war sounding louder, it is worth asking the question WHY our nation is turning to automatic registration for the draft for the first time since the Vietnam war.

There are serious Constitutional issues with automatic registration for Selective Service leading to conscription, including violation of 4th Amendment privacy rights and 5th Amendment due process rights.

This goes against the spirit of individual liberty which the Founders of our country established.

Thomas Jefferson on conscription: "Our people . . . had learnt to consider it as the last of all oppressions."

If our country was under attack, I have no doubt that most Americans would rise to the occasion and participate in our nation’s defense, voluntarily.   

Our homeland is not under attack, but current US policy spends hundreds of billions of dollars globally to finance wars.  War fatigue and casualty rates have caused war-torn countries, including US allies, to resort to conscription, involuntary military service.   They need more people to fight their battles.

We must not send our young men into battle for any purpose other than to defend the United States of America, our country and no other.

Also, the US Senate has before it a proposal to extend Selective Service registration to all young women between the ages of 18-26.  When you add it all up, a stunning 32 million young Americans could be forced into the draft registration system.

Now is the time for you to be heard.  Please join with me in signing the petition to Congress to say NO to automatic registration and NO to sending our young men and women into battle on foreign soil.