Tax dollars are paying for their food and shelter so why not let them work for it .
2007-12-15 23:01:06 · 13 answers · asked by darbygirl 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Actually, many countries used to do this. They would offer criminals the option of going to jail or going to war. The recently released movie Atonement broaches this subject.
Conranger1: I never said I was talking about post-WWII and I don't know why you would assume this. I'm also not "citing" Atonement, I'm just giving it as a relatable example. It's very well known that this was done. It wasn't a "go to war or you'll go to jail" kind of choice exactly, but convicted criminals would be given the choice of getting probation with a condition that they had to join the army, or serving out their sentences in full.
2007-12-15 23:14:09 · answer #1 · answered by Somebody else 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most people serving time do so because they crapped on the Rules of Law Order and acceptable behaviour, they caused pain misery and suffering to their fellow citizens without a care in the world, so remember criminals look out for themselves.
Soldiers in the military look out for the team!
And what's the point in trying to force anti-social scumbags serve in the military.
And how do you propose to control them once they have access to weapons??
How can you make sure they don't use the weapons against their own side?
You really put very little effort into thinking your idea thru.
For eatcacti2: perhaps you would care to list the countries who did that and when, I can state for a fact that it has never been done post WW2 in the U.K. Republic of Ireland, Mainland Europe, Scandinavia, or any of the post communist block countries.
And citing a movie as an example is not real proof of anything!
2007-12-16 08:37:37 · answer #2 · answered by conranger1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Becuase criminals are criminals no matter where you send them or how you dress them up & even if you train them to death & back, they will still be criminals & on top of that your going to have criminals are soldiers. Our best bet with criminals is to just put them all on a big boat with their feet shackled to it then get it out into international waters & sink it. I have no mercy or heart for criminals, no matter what it they did. Its not hard to go through life & not break the law. Im 22 & have lived in crappy places were I didnt eat for days sometimes & other times I didnt even have a place to stay warm. I lived out in the city streets & at times i acually had a roof over my head. I had no high school education & I had no were to go. Never once did I break the law because I messed up my life. I lived like that from 18 till I was 21. Now I have my GED & have just got done with my first semester of college. Not once did I ever have to resort to criminal acts, I dealt with what I gave myself. Theirs always a better way to do things, yeah it might be harder but when you go through stuff like that & work your way to living in a decent house & got stuff back in place you cant tell me you have to resort to breaking the law. I grew up in a great house hold with a great family but when my stupid as messed it up after I thought I could make it on my own I didnt ask anyone for anything. So anyone who resorts to crime is a piece of you know what & I dont want anyone like that joining the military.
2007-12-16 08:41:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This war? Some articles this spring noted enlistment in army and navy had double the waiver for criminal record enlistment compared to 5 years before-about 4% compared to 1.5-2%. Criminal records were more than simple drug, drunken records as juvenile, some were adult felonies but with records possible to be purged. Also noted was discharge for unrevealed previous felonies about 1/2% included some gang members with otherwise good training records. Previous wars had some lesser felonies recruited- draft era 65-72 had some people inducted with disclosed felony records- know one who filled out 2 pages criminal record and still inducted. Security check finally caught up 6 months later that the records disclosure was true not as induction officer comment 'attempt to evade service' By that time he had proved himself to battalion Sergeant as a driver/mechanic and was given waiver of criminal record to continue service- got out with general discharge with mostly honorable service after a minor civil authority disability (conviction while on leave for transporting 400 lbs maryjane in bales- 2 years tennesee prison) after release from civil commitment was told to report to base for hearing on disharge, previous service record examined and vehicle status of battalion checked - sergeants said need wrenchs that checked oil before driving off, captain noted he was good at brake jobs so he did almost a year active duty in motor pool, fulfilled military obligation even if not timely manner. Note also some countries with conscription will take prisoners and use them in special services- classic case was Soviet mine clearing companies with military police gaurds. General prison population may come up with how many possible reasonable recruits? if offered pardon? Maybe car thieves, minor dope runners? How about basic weapons offenses and poachers that know how to shoot? Give a choice to congress of letting some felons volunteer or bring back draft of politicians relatives maybe could get some decent recruits.
2007-12-16 07:37:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why...?
1. To fight for freedom or for what's right, you have to value freedom or what's right.
2. Soldiers who are forced to fight against their will are not as effective as Soldiers who volunteer.
3. Hardened Criminals are sering time for their crimes; their lives still have value.
Warm regards,
Douglas
Post Script: How old are you...?
2007-12-16 07:11:45 · answer #5 · answered by prancinglion 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Would YOU trust a murderer, gang banger, drug dealer, robber, child molester, wife beater in YOUR fox hole. Would you be willing to depend on THEM for YOUR life?
Why aren't YOU in the military? It can't always be someone else's kid, hoss.
Before you even ask, both my son and I did our time. I did mine in Viet Nam, my son did his in the first Gulf War and is disabled now.
2007-12-16 15:12:05 · answer #6 · answered by AmericanPatriot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you need to follow orders and trust your fellow soldier and criminals aren't quite the type to be all that trustworthy.
2007-12-16 07:21:35 · answer #7 · answered by Bob D 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It's a volunteer army.
Listing all the reasons is is just an incredibly stupid idea would take all day.
Why would an educated person even ask this question?
2007-12-16 07:09:43 · answer #8 · answered by Jeff F 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, like they will really fight the war for you. LOL.
They will take the opportunity to escape, kill and rape.
2007-12-16 07:23:21 · answer #9 · answered by Magma H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would round them all up and tell them to take over Russia. If they win they're free.
2007-12-16 07:17:14 · answer #10 · answered by anonymousryu 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋