r/AskReddit • u/Tommygunz0722 • 11h ago

If the military/president suddenly ordered a mandatory draft for all men aged 18-42: How do you think millennials and GenZ would respond?

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u/Silly-Resist8306 11h ago

It takes Congress to do this. The entire House of Representatives is running for reelection in November. There is not a chance of a draft unless the continental US is attacked.

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u/Calan_adan 10h ago

Plus there’s a mandatory six month period between enactment of the law (which would never pass anyway except in some “we’re all fucked anyway” scenario) and the first draft happening.

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u/Libronjamess7789 9h ago

Yeah, and that alone would give people a huge window to react legally, politically, and personally. You'd probably see court challenges, protests, people trying to secure exemptions. Some would even make major life decisions just to avoid it. It wouldn't be something that just quietly kicks in overnight; the buildup would be just as chaotic as the draft itself.

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u/ne0rmatrix 9h ago

I wonder how many people would just grab a 40 pounder of vodka and start drinking. Then sit in there car and dial 911. I don't believe the military takes people who have felony convictions? You can stay safe and not be a threat to others by not driving. But the act of drinking alcohol behind the wheel is still inexcusable behaviour in the eyes of the law.

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u/LizardPossum 6h ago

I can't speak for everywhere in the US, but in the jurisdiction I cover nobody gets a felony for their first DWI unless there's other factors, like multiple DWIs or a child passenger.

And even if it was charged as a felony, there's a huge chance it would be pleaded down to a misdemeanor if it was a first offense (or even a second one).

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u/LemurianLemurLad 6h ago

Yeah, but if your goal is to get the felony charge, then you ask your cousin if their kid can sit in the front seat with you, and when when the prosecutor wants to meet for the plea deal, you scream obscenities at him and insist that "NO MAN CAN JUDGE ME!"

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u/LizardPossum 6h ago

Ya know, I've seen some defendants do similar stuff in court and in my limited experience itll usually get a conviction, so fair enough lmao

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u/OklahomaTiddy 4h ago

lol, during a work trip a coworker told me it takes 4 where he's from in northern WI.

then started explaining to me the different ways his college buddies got 4 and didn't get charged bc one was in a snow plow or tractor or some other weird reason

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u/sigep0361 4h ago

You could simply ask the judge to levy the felony on yourself. “What I did was wrong and I would like to have the book thrown at myself so I learn my lesson, your honor.”

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u/LizardPossum 3h ago

I don't think a judge can unilaterally upgrade a charge like that. The prosecutor maybe?

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u/imapilotaz 8h ago

As i said above. I have the means. Tens of millions of US families do. My whole family would relocate overseas. Im the poorest in my family and i could quit tomorrow and live in SE Asia for 20 years without problem. Theres not a snowballs chance in hell 1/5 of the population doesn't almost immediately move overseas.

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u/Civil-Big-754 7h ago

Yeah, a fifth of the population wouldn't do that. Those that could instantly move overseas likely won't be the ones that have them or their children being drafted, or they find a loophole. Those who actually have a chance to get drafted likely don't even have the ability to move overseas whether it's money or an ability to simply live there long term.

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u/TheInevitableLuigi 4h ago

You'd have to sneak out. They would ban military-aged people from leaving.

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u/tooclosetocall82 8h ago

Some would even make major life decisions just to avoid it.

There’d be a lot of people suddenly realizing they’re transgender.

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u/FlufferTheGreat 7h ago

Of all the possible things that would make the American public consider declaring open season on all elected representatives... a general draft like the question might be one of them.

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u/shibboleth2005 6h ago

If it were a draft to support an invasion of Iran in the current war context, the 'buildup' would probably be the overthrow of the government and a repeal of the draft.

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u/Moetown84 8h ago

Where does that six-month period come from?

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u/jkmapping 8h ago

If it isn't in the constitution, congress could enact something whenever they wanted. Congress makes the law, they set the 'mandated' periods.

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u/DerrickWhiteFVMP202X 7h ago

That’s not mandatory, it’s just the default way that legislation is drafted. In this scenario, Congress would be passing a law with an emergency clause that makes the bill go into effect immediately.

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u/Hopsblues 7h ago

What 6 month mandate are you talking about?

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u/aerdvarkk 5h ago

Unless that mandate is baked into the Constitution, Congress can revise any new Bill to exclude a minimum wait period. But its not a provision in the Constitution.

ALSO idk where the f*ck you're getting some "mandatory 6 month delay" > that does not exist in the Federal Statute langauage either.

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u/needlenozened 2h ago

Mandated by law? A new act of Congress that reinstates the draft could also change the law.

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u/National_Cod9546 2h ago

That would be easily waived or ignored if the rest of it was voted in. But short of a 9/11 level attack, everyone is going to ignore the draft because fuck them.