What do you think of using felons in a military draft instead of prison?

Question

I hear this was used in the older days. They would be given an option. I mean you could arm them with ball bats. use them as border patrol(under armed supervision) , send them to Iraq etc. Why let them do nasty things and watch cable in the pen?

This sounds far fetched but in small increments could work.

Answer 1

  In many cases the "felon" is something that occurs after the military service, in my case I got into trouble after my serving in the Marine Corps, not because of it simply I was older and made bad decisions, paid for those decision and once again joined society as a tax paying citzen..

  So, no, I don't believe that using convicted felon's is a good idea..

Answer 2

On a case by case situation, it would work.

I know someone who was given the choice of state prison or the Marine Corps, he chose the Marines. He is now a productive member of society.

Answer 3

They used to get young men but not felony folks, mostly kids getting misdemeanors .  To train, combat train felons is insane.

Answer 4

I've never been arrested because I wanted to join the British Army. I don't want to see my job as a punishment. You have to trust EVERY person in you're company and I wouldn't be able to trust a felon that's only there for a punishment. I wouldn't want to give them a gun nor would I want to trust them with my life or the life of my Friend's. No I don't think they should have the privilege of joining the Military, we are the best, and it's a privilege not a punishment to serve in the Military. Whichever Military it may be.

Answer 5

hello

i dont think i'd trust a criminal with a gun !

far better idea to use them in road gangs ... let them build roads and perform community service ... that way they do something for the society they wronged ... and kids get to see that crime doesnt pay?

Answer 6

Absolutely NOT.  If I were a soldier in the field, I would NOT want a felon to cover my back.  I would like to hear from some actual soldiers in the field now, or Vets for that matter, on this.

Answer 7

Who would be left to campaign for Obama then?

I think this idea would be an absolute insult to every man and woman serving our country or who has every served our country. I wouldn't want to serve with them.

So what you are saying is our military can be replaced with convicts and felons.

Any politician who endorses or passes this legistlation should have to serve right beside these convicts and felons instead of putting them in his/her cabinet.

Answer 8

I for one, think it is a great idea.   Let them go to Iraq and fight.  If they want to run away, where they gonna' go?  Work off some pent up energy.

Answer 9

guess it could work, it would depend on the sentence they were serving and what they were serving that sentence for though really.

obviously someone who is serving 5 months for burglary is a lot less likely to want to go to iraq than someone who is serving life. but then you have to think, if you give a murderer a gun and a license to shoot anyone he feels like then it might get a bit messy out there (not that it isn't already messy).

i think it is a good idea but it would have to be very tightly governed and the prisoners would have to had to prove themselves worthy of a second chance.

Answer 10

Do you really want to give a fellon an assult rifle and military training? not on my dime, bad, very bad idea.

Answer 11

I would rather see them picking up trash on the highway. It's an insult to our men and women in uniform to lump these people in with them. Plenty of work for them (felons) in the USA!

Answer 12

Oh yeah, that's smart.... train all of the criminals how to utilize military tatics.

Answer 13

So are you a military veteran? The men and women in today's military deserve more respect. I served my country proudly and am educated. I have no felony record (or any record for that matter.)

I think there are plenty of American men and women who will volunteer to do their duty and serve with pride and valor.

That question is a disgrace to their service.

Answer 14

What a terrible idea. On so many levels , this is a bad idea.

Jim b. Toronto.

Answer 15

I think this should be a case-by-case decision.  Some felons, especially first timers, may very well benefit from military service..  Others would be more dangerous to our troops to allow them the option.

I would favor allowing it for some.

Answer 16

They would make great Airborne Shock Troops.  Just have them jump without parachutes and imagine the shock on the enemies' faces when they hit the ground and splattered allover the place!

Jails are for criminals and the military is for patriots.

Did you just watch the "Dirty Dozen" for the first time this week?

--------------------------------------...  

Answer 17

no, it wouldn't workout

not a bad idea but felons could go rouge and kill our troops. but i  could see them choosing to go to war if it meant they get a shorter prison sentence.  

Answer 18

these felons cannot take order.

they will not look out for the greater good. every man for himself would be their motto.