A Presidential directive sending National Guard troops to reportedly reduce crime in major metropolitan US cities has made many people uneasy, including Central New York’s U.S. Representative John Mannion.
Since arriving at the nation’s Capitol in January, Mannion said he has seen no evidence requiring President Trump send in troop deployments to reduce a crime in the city.
“I’ve watched members of Congress, republican and democrat, walk all over that city. They don’t seem like they’re concerned about their safety,” said Mannion. “We should always emphasize public safety. We have it but, I think there’s a collective concern about the use of military in our municipalities.”
Mannion said he is strongly opposed to the use of National Guard troops in the U.S. and said their role is to defend the country.
The use of the guard in municipalities is seen by lawmakers as anoverreach of executive powers by the President. Last week, in Los Angeles, a federal judge ruled President Trump’s deployment of the guard was illegal.
