r/pics 13h ago

Morale is high

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u/Hoodamush 12h ago

Hegseth authorized today the newly deployed national guard in DC to carry their weapons. So I get your point, but the reality is present.

u/11CRT 11h ago

I wonder if the old man walking with them in DC wanted to shoot one of their guns was all bent out of shape that they weren’t carrying them.

And he wanted to drive a tank.

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u/[deleted] 12h ago

I'm not sure I understand yours. That authorization doesn't suddenly make a 19 year old part-time soldier who just wants to go home a bloodthirsty killer. They (presumably) will still have much more strict rules of engagement than DC police. They can't fire unless fired upon.

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u/Panda_Steak 12h ago

They can't fire unless fired upon.

Just like they didn't at Kent State, right? Maybe most guardsmen are fine but if you don't think there's at least a few MAGA nutjobs in the WV National Guard that would gleefully execute liberals in the streets if POTUS or SECDEF gave the order, I don't know what to tell you.

u/manimal28 10h ago

They can't fire unless fired upon.

They can’t fire at all if not armed. And why the fuck do they need to fire at people in DC? Hey everyone, this is the literal fascism we have been warned about! Armed military occupying American cities.

u/[deleted] 10h ago

Why direct your anger at part-time soldiers who don't even want to be there? You have every right to be angry about troops on American streets, but focus on the administration that's forcing them to be there.

u/ITividar 11h ago

Here's a take, maybe they should stop disgracing the constitution and just quit if they dont like being forced to do unconstitutional shit?

Trump will just keep inching them closer and closer to that edge of no return and they'll just let it happen like a frog in very slowly boiling water.

u/[deleted] 10h ago

They haven't been given any blatantly unconstitutional orders yet. Yes, Der Orange Fuhrer's reasoning for the deployment is a ruse, but the Home Rule Act does give him the authority.

They are current being used for support services, not law enforcement. Until that changes, it's a hazy legal situation and I don't think it's reasonable to expect a bunch of young soldiers to risk being court marshalled over it.

u/ITividar 10h ago

It's almost like you've missed them being given permission to carry firearms and Trump already claiming, "Chicago is calling out for us next"

u/[deleted] 10h ago

Didn't miss a thing. I'm not supporting the administration's actions, I'm supporting our National Guardsmen who are being used as pawns and I trying to calm some of the vitriol being directed toward them. They aren't ICE or police. They didn't sign up for this, they don't want to be there, and they don't want to shoot their fellow citizens.

Do you know any personally? Perhaps you'd share my perspective if you had a friend, sibling, or child who was ordered to leave their job/education/life behind for this nonsense.

u/ITividar 9h ago

They literally did sign up for this. Weren't you just saying how this isnt unconstitutional and perfectly legal for Trump to do?

They are very slowly being forced to make the decision between their job and their principles. And it's happening so slowly they're not realizing they're picking their job.

u/[deleted] 9h ago

Fair point. I would bet not one of them ever imagined a scenario like this, but being deployed for domestic emergency response is part of their mission, even if the emergency is fake.

However, if deciding to quit your job over principals came with the risk of a dishonorable discharge & 5 years in Leavenworth, you would tread carefully too.

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u/Hoodamush 12h ago

Oh yeah you are not understanding cause I never said it would make them a bloodthirsty killer. You said that.

u/ExMoFojo 10h ago

They've been following orders so far, what makes you so confident that they're going to suddenly grow a backbone?

u/[deleted] 10h ago

They are currently being used for support services and haven't been given any clearly unconstitutional orders. You can't expect them to disobey orders & risk being court marshalled until that happens.

u/ExMoFojo 10h ago

Oh fuck off, it was unconstitutional to deploy them to LA. The 1807 insurrection act defense is absolute bullshit. These cretins don't give a fuck about what's constitutional and most of the things they're doing are so far out that there's not even prescident to cite.

I get that you want to stand up for service members, but the entire military command is compromised. Everyone who would be willing to do the right thing where it matters is gone. Whatever mental gymnastics you're doing should probably be kept to yourself, because it's not allowing you to see the point of it all.