Fmr. National Guard General blasts Trump’s ‘blatant misuse’ of military in cities

National Guard Deployment & Crime Reduction - President Trump claimed credit for crime reduction in Memphis due to FBI involvement, suggesting National Guard presence leads to crime decrease [1] - Memphis Mayor Paul Young stated National Guard is unnecessary and requested support for existing strategies with FBI, DEA, and ATF [2][3] - The Pentagon proposed activating 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops for law enforcement in urban centers like New Orleans and Baton Rouge [4] National Guard Role & Concerns - The National Guard is recognized as an effective military reserve and disaster response team, funded federally and locally [6] - Concerns exist that deploying the National Guard for civilian law enforcement misuses their training and purpose [7] - Internal documents suggest the National Guard's presence in Washington DC was perceived as fear-mongering and created shame among troops and veterans [8] - The National Guard is primarily trained for emergencies, overseas deployments, and natural disaster relief, not local law enforcement [10][11] Legal & Ethical Considerations - Deploying the National Guard for domestic law enforcement may violate laws, potentially circumventing the Posse Comitatus Act [12][13] - Using Title 32, Section 502F for crime control is legally questionable, as it's historically meant for training or authorized support like border operations [14][15][16] - Concerns exist that militarizing local law enforcement could lead to involvement in elections and ballot box protection [18] - Misusing the National Guard diverts resources from essential training and disaster response [19] - Unclear rules of engagement for the National Guard in domestic deployments are dangerous and can lead to inappropriate decision-making [22][23] - Soldiers are trained for combat, not civilian law enforcement, lacking training in constitutional law and proper arrest procedures [24]