Why don't we use the military for the police force in the U.S.?

Question

It's getting closer and closer to that anyways. So why don't we just have Marines or the Army with automatic weapons on the streets. Many Americans would probably approve of this. They would be like, "It'll get all of dem criminals and dem drug dealers off of da street." Most Americans don't know their rights anyways. So why not just surrender them and have a military police force out there in big cities? They could be put on the border too. It would take care of crime. We'd have to surrender some rights, but big deal. Right?

Answer 1

well,it would look real facist.

Answer 2

Wrong, wrong and wrong.

Answer 3

Very Simple it's the Posse Comitatus Act....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comit...

Answer 4

I'm not sure about the legality of such a thing, but doing this would go against the basic objective of the US armed forces, which is to defend American territory and fight wars. George Bush aside, they are not set up or equipped for urban policing and border patrol. It would stretch them out and weaken the country's defences. Even if such a thing as you suggest did happen, the Bill of Rights would still protect anyone from abuses under this kind of system. Posse comitatus would apply as well, and it essentially makes it illegal for the US military to operate against Americans.

Answer 5

that is the first step in a dictatorship.

Answer 6

There's a law against using the US military for civil police purposes.

It's called "Posse Comitatus Act". See link below for details.