House committee votes to require women to register for draft

[Luiz 4,253]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Women would be required to register for the military draft under a House committee's bill that comes just months after the Defense Department lifted all gender-based restrictions on front-line combat units.

A divided Armed Services Committee backed the provision in a sweeping defense policy bill that the full House will consider next month, touching off a provocative debate about the role of women in the military. The panel also turned aside a measure backed by Democrats to punish the Citadel military college in South Carolina for flying the Confederate flag.

The United States has not had a military draft since 1973 in the Vietnam War era, but all men must register with the Selective Service Systems within 30 days of turning 18. Military leaders maintain that the all-volunteer force is working and the nation is not returning to the draft.

The 32-30 vote Wednesday night came with a twist: The proposal's author didn't back it.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a former Marine who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, does not support drafting women into combat and opposes opening infantry and special operations positions to women. Hunter, R-Calif., said he offered the measure during the committee's consideration of the policy bill to prompt a discussion about how the Pentagon's decision in December to rescind gender restrictions on military service failed to consider whether the exclusion on drafting women also should be lifted.

That's a call for Congress, not the executive branch, Hunter said. "I think we should make this decision," he said. "It's the families that we represent who are affected by this."

At times, Hunter evoked graphic images of combat in an apparent attempt to convince colleagues that drafting women would lead to them being sent directly into harm's way.

"A draft is there to put bodies on the front lines to take the hill," Hunter said. "The draft is there to get more people to rip the enemies' throats out and kill them."

But if Hunter was trying to sway people against his amendment, his plan did not work.

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said she supported Hunter's measure. "I actually think if we want equality in this country, if we want women to be treated precisely like men are treated and that they should not be discriminated against, we should be willing to support a universal conscription," she said.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/833b30d9ad6346dd94f643ca76679a02/house-committee-votes-require-women-register-draft

[SlayMeToVenus 3,290]

I know it's been since 1973, but I'm so scared. I literally would kill myself if they did a draft. I'll be 18 in August. 

[PartySick 172,509]

5 minutes ago, Luiz said:

Military leaders maintain that the all-volunteer force is working and the nation is not returning to the draft.

They better not go back to it too 'cause I'll be honest, I'd rather rot in prison than pick up a gun. Even for my country

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

This is scary!  Women should only volunteer if they want to be on the front lines.  They shouldn't be drafted, IMO.  

I know there must be a lot of women who want equality, but I'm sure there are just as many who would not want to be drafted into the military.  This is a tough subject.

[SychosSoChic 9,995]

1 minute ago, Bad Bromance said:

This is scary!  Women should only volunteer if they want to be on the front lines.  They shouldn't be drafted, IMO.  

I know there must be a lot of women who want equality, but I'm sure there are just as many who would not want to be drafted into the military.  This is a tough subject.

Equality means taking the good with the bad.

I'm just glad my country isn't in a position where we need drafting anymore

[Rebel Heart 5,142]

I hate conscription and I'm fully against it BUT I don't agree that women should be excluded when it comes to being drafted into the military 

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

22 minutes ago, SychosSoChic said:

Equality means taking the good with the bad.

I'm just glad my country isn't in a position where we need drafting anymore

Yes, I understand what equality means perfectly well, but it sucks if the women are young enough to be drafted and have young children at home.

[Morphine Prince 109,655]

The ugly side of equality? 

 

[SychosSoChic 9,995]

Just now, Bad Bromance said:

Yes, I understand what equality means perfectly well, but it sucks if the women are young enough to be drafted and have young children at home.

I fully agree it sucks, but young men were drafted and left their wives and kids at home too.

Women should be equal in all ways, even in this case.

HOWEVER, drafting/conscription is NOT something I support, I believe men and women should both have the choice of fighting for their country.

And I'm sorry if I sound pragmatic, or condescending, I'm not trying to sound unsympathetic, I'm just trying to be consistent with my stance on equality, even if I don't like it.

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

27 minutes ago, SychosSoChic said:

I fully agree it sucks, but young men were drafted and left their wives and kids at home too.

Women should be equal in all ways, even in this case.

HOWEVER, drafting/conscription is NOT something I support, I believe men and women should both have the choice of fighting for their country.

And I'm sorry if I sound pragmatic, or condescending, I'm not trying to sound unsympathetic, I'm just trying to be consistent with my stance on equality, even if I don't like it.

I fully understand what you're saying, I just don't agree with you.  I don't believe women who have young children at home should be drafted into the military for the simple fact that young children need their mothers more so than they need their fathers.  This is not always the case because there are many fathers who are just as nurturing as any mother, but this is not usually the case.