An ASU club is fighting to keep Arizonans out of future drafts into the armed services.
Advocates of Liberty, a Libertarian club, recently filed a proposal with the Arizona Secretary of State. It demands the right to refuse the draft and calls for an end to involuntary military registration for all Arizona residents.
Club treasurer Craig Stritar was inspired to write and propose the amendments by the Universal National Service Act, a bill proposing involuntary military or civilian service for men and women during times of emergency. The bill is currently in the U.S. Senate awaiting action.
"I'm a veteran, and I wouldn't want to serve with anyone who doesn't want to be there," said Stritar, a microbiology and sociology senior. "It's slavery. It takes away your right to say no."
The initiative needs 181,000 signatures by June 1 to land on the November ballot, he said.
In July, a new law went into effect requiring that male Arizonans seeking a license or identification card register with the Selective Service.
Registration with the service is also required in order to receive financial aid for school and state employment.
Stritar's proposed amendments, which he said were reviewed by four lawyers before submission, address these restrictions. The proposal states that not registering with the service "shall not be cause to deny the resident any state services."
The proposal also states that, "if an Arizona resident is drafted into military service by the federal government, he/she may elect to remain a civilian without penalty."
Sgt. Valerie Tucker, an ASU Army recruiter, said there is no threat of a draft to warrant the proposal.
"There is no draft and there is no threat," Tucker said. "At this time there are enough volunteers to fill military needs."
There may not be an immediate threat, but there always is a threat of lost freedom, said Jason Auvenshine, Libertarian Party chairman.
"If someone can come and tell you what to do, then you're basically a slave," he said. "This is totally contrary to the principles this country was founded on."
Though the Libertarian Party does not officially endorse the proposal, the party does share the same philosophy the initiative is based on, Auvenshine said.
Petition drives to put the issue on the ballot began last week.
Reach the reporter at jacqueline.shoyeb@asu.edu.
