Veterans group praises Missouri’s ‘Defend the Guard’ legislation

BOISE, Idaho – Bring Our Troops Home, a national organization of veterans of the Global War on Terror, today praised Representative Brian Seitz (R-Branson) for introducing legislation to prohibit Missouri’s National Guard units from being deployed into active combat or combat support duties unless Congress has formally adopted a declaration of war as required by Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.

 

“As veterans, we strongly support the United States taking strong military action when necessary to defend the lives and liberties of the  American people,” said Sgt. Dan McKnight, who founded Bring Our Troops Home in 2019. “We thank Representative Seitz for acting to ensure that when Missouri’s men and women in uniform are involved, it’s done the right way, as laid out by our founding document.”

 

Sgt. Dan McKnight served for 13 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and Idaho National Guard, including an eighteen month combat deployment to Afghanistan from 2005 to 2007.

 

“H.B. 2098 simply says that before ordering Missouri’s National Guard to do their job in a foreign combat zone overseas, Congress, from the comfort of home, should accept responsibility and do their job first,” McKnight continued. “Courageous National Guard personnel shouldn’t be required to put their boots on the ground until members of Congress have the courage to put their names on the dotted line with a formal declaration of war. And the Missouri legislature has a duty to their constituents to prevent their sons and daughters from participating and dying in a war not sanctioned by the U.S. Constitution.”

 

You can read the draft of H.B. 2098 here.

 

In November 2021, Rep. Seitz spoke with Branson Tri-Lakes News about his upcoming legislative agenda, placing “Defend the Guard” as his first priority. “They don’t need to be guarding ammo dumps in Kuwait in an undeclared conflict,” Seitz told the news outlet. “They’re the Missouri National Guard and they would be under the purview of the Governor. We need to look at the 10th Amendment and realize there are state’s rights which trump the federal government.”

 

You can read the relevant portion of the article here.

 

Nothing in Rep. Seitz’s legislation would prevent Missouri’s governor from mobilizing the National Guard to respond to a natural disaster, sending Guardsmen to other states to provide assistance, or deploying overseas for training missions. 

 

McKnight urged Missouri residents to call their state legislators in support of the “Defend the Guard Act,” versions of which are expected to be introduced in over forty states in 2022.

“Public opposition to our endless wars in the Middle East and elsewhere is growing stronger. Poll after poll demonstrates that majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and veterans think our nation is better served by keeping our military safe at home, not fighting unconstitutional wars of choice,” concluded McKnight. “We hope Missourians will join Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans in urging their governor and legislators to support Representative Seitz’s bill, and urge their members of Congress and President Biden to support bringing all of our troops home.”

To schedule an interview with Sgt. Dan McKnight or other “Defend the Guard” spokesmen, contact Communications Director Hunter DeRensis at hderensis@outlook.com. For more information on “Defend the Guard” legislation, visit DefendTheGuard.US.