[JamesP81]

Clears up the discussion as to why ‘progressives’ want to bring back the draft.

Yep. The 2nd Amendment might the last line of defense against tyrants, but the first is a volunteer military. And as long as it's a volunteer military, it's unlikely that the military could be used against American citizens. But if they ever re-institute the draft, that could change quickly.

[Tallguy]

And as long as it's a volunteer military, it's unlikely that the military could be used against American citizens.

I'm not sure that I agree with that assessment. I would think that a force of draftees would be close to useless in a domestic insurrection. Witness the reluctance of Soviet Army units to put down local demonstrations during the final days of the Gorbachev regime. This was repeated over & over in Eastern Europe as communist governments attempted to quell public disturbances. IIRC, the Soviets were using their "Border Police" as fire brigades because they were more 'reliable'. And that stands to reason since you wouldn't put 'unreliable troops' close to the border where they would be likely to defect.

[El Gato]

Yep. The 2nd Amendment might the last line of defense against tyrants, but the first is a volunteer military. And as long as it's a volunteer military, it's unlikely that the military could be used against American citizens. But if they ever re-institute the draft, that could change quickly.

Some look at just the opposite. In the early days of the Republic, and before, the Militia was not voluntary. But it was local, and made up of a cross section of the people, including those who were not even eligible to vote.

A volunteer, professional army is, it was thought, to be more likely to be able to be used as a tool of oppression.

That said, if the draft is to be reinstated, it should be into something like the reserve or national guard. Then the regulars can recruit from that trained pool.

Works for the Swiss, the Swedes and the Israelis.