My son is in the Guard and I know there are many soldiers who would love to be on active duty without leaving home. These soldiers could be federalized and used to supplement homeland defense. They might even free up regular active duty soldiers and airmen for other assignments. My experience in the reserve leads me to believe that the same is true in that instance. With the reserves, we could also use sailors and marines. I think it's a great idea which I readily support.

the gaurd and reserve are part time . a full time service should be born. with the possibility of short term help from the reserve and gaurd.

Not only must we have Homeland Defense as a permanent mission of the Guard and Reserves AND the Coast Guard, but the "Defense Department" should go back to being titled the "War Department" if our services are going to continue being expected to risk their lives all over the world! I'd like to see the FBI, FAA and ATF part of Homeland Defense permanently too.

With respect, there have been a number of real shooting wars on american soil prior to and following the 1860s. One can name the Indian Wars out west and military actions which involved tribal peoples all across the nation. Long before our War of Rebellion we experienced the Whiskey Rebellion which much changed our democracy. Several times in the 20th century we suffered when military action was called forth to challenge labor disputes, and even freedom of assembly and speech protesting foreign undeclared war. The Civil Rights movement experienced numerous armed conflicts between citizens and military forces. The attack upon Pearl Harbor was seen by government as a direct attack upon the sovereignty of the United States itself, as have been other armed skirmishes on protectorates of the american government in other decades. During WW II it is often forgotten that about 400 of our ships were sunk in sight of american shores by Nazi U-boats. So, indeed these and other examples would suggest a serious need to prudently rethink, reconfigure and reform our domestic defense plan and forces which has long been neglected.