New Hampshire House passes bill that would prevent its National Guard from fighting in undeclared wars

The New Hampshire House recently passed a bill that would prevent the federal government from sending that state’s National Guard soldiers into undeclared wars.

‘Undeclared,’ meaning it is Congress’ constitutional obligation to declare war – as found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 – before American soldiers can be on active combat duty.

But Congress hasn’t officially declared a war since since World War II, despite our military presence and involvement in dozens of countries.

The federal government has come to rely heavily on the National Guard for U.S. intervention abroad, with an estimated 45% of Guardsman or Guardswomen being used as troops since the Global War on Terror was launched in 2001. The legislation would prevent that.

Called ‘Defend the Guard’ this long term effort was spearheaded by the organization ‘Bring Our Troops Home’ that was created by veterans and civilians to prevent American troops being used in what they call “forever wars.”

There were cheers on Thursday when it passed.

For the bill to become law, it would need to be approved by the New Hampshire Senate and signed by the governor.

This is the third time a Defend the Guard bill has come up for a floor vote. In March 2023, it passed the Arizona Senate 16-13, with unanimous Republican support and unanimous Democratic opposition, but in the House the speaker refused to assign it to a committee.

That same month a Defend the Guard bill failed in the Montana House 60-40, but it did win a majority of the Republican caucus.

The Granite State passing it in the House is considered some of the greatest success the legislation has had to date.

Sgt. Dan McKnight is the founder and chairman of Bring Our Troops Home, who served a collective thirteen years in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, U.S. Army, and Idaho National Guard. He was also deployed for an eighteen-month combat tour in Afghanistan from 2005-2007.

McKnight told BASEDPolitics, “Defend the Guard has been gaining momentum across the country following our historic victory in the Arizona Senate last legislative session. The work of grassroots activists across the country, and veterans joining their voices together, has created another opportunity for this common sense legislation to pass one of the largest legislative bodies in the western world.” 

This was a genuine grassroots effort.

Or as the New Hampshire State Director for Bring Our Troops Home, Derek Proulx, told BASED, “There were no big money donors or astroturf operations here; only people who deeply cared about correcting the irresponsibility of the past and protecting their neighbors who protect them.” 

“People who were so motivated by that idea that they took time off work to show up at the State House, send emails, make phone calls,” Proulx added.  

On Saturday, even the hosts of Fox & Friends were cheering New Hampshire and seemingly endorsing the idea.

New Hampshire State Rep. Michael Grainger, who voted for the bill, said in an emailed statement, “Defend the Guard is an important stepping stone to the end of the endless war state.” 

“If Congress is too afraid to declare war, why should we expect our young men to fight it?” he added.

Good question. Now let’s see if New Hampshire and other states continue to try to force an answer with this crafty legislative idea.

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