On June 15, 2022, Senator Hawley and other like-minded senators drafted a letter to the Committee on Armed Services. The letter was in opposition to forcing women to register for the draft. Congress is once again considering a proposal to force women to register for the military draft. It had been on the defense bill last year, before citizen complaints dropped it. Now they are trying to revive it.
Who Is Against It?
Our Senator Hawley is outspoken in his opposition to this idea. Last year, he spoke against it; now he is again. Representative Roy from Texas is opposed. Senator Hawley helped draft a letter to the chairman of the committee on Armed Services. The first sentence tells of his opposition. He then enumerates why,
Many… were shocked when they learned of these efforts to send American women to war against their will [1].
Other signers of this letter include Senator Cotton, Senator Rubio, Senator Cruz, and Senator Marshall, MD. You can read the letter yourself here.
Supporters Of Women Being Drafted
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted for this addition. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said,
To say only men are needed in that moment of a national emergency is outrageous and obscene [2].
Senator Gillibrand has no daughters. She also said that there has not bee a military draft since the Vietnam War, June 30, 1973.
What Happens If You Do Not register For The Draft?
By law, almost every male between the ages of 18-25 who are U.S. citizens must register for selective service withing 30 days of turning 18. If you do not register for selective service, you will not be eligible for state based student aid in many states or a federal job [3]. You may be prosecuted and fined.
Although the fight is strong and crosses party lines, most people do not want a woman on the battle field who does not want to be there. You can contact Senator Blunt and let him know how you feel by going here. On his website Blunt has listed several phone numbers where he may be reached. You can also contact Senator Hawley here. If you wish to call Hawley’s office, the bottom of the form has several phone numbers listed.
Notes:
- ^https://www.hawley.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/Hawley,%20Colleagues%20to%20Chairman%20Reed.pdf (go back ↩)
- ^https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/06/27/requirement-women-register-draft-back-table-annual-defense-bill.html (go back ↩)
- ^https://www.usa.gov/selective-service#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20required%20to,of%20up%20to%20five%20years. (go back ↩)
