Military Recruitors Take Notice!

In Humboldt County, two towns have banned the recruitment of their youth under the age of 18.  It's been in the works for quite some time, but act finally passed in both Arcata and Eureka, two towns centered in the heart of Humboldt county.

It's odd that the two towns...one ultra conservative...the other beyond ultra liberal, should be in agreement.  But when you consider it's our children, one of the most valued treasures to come out of the county, since the demise of logging and fishing, it's understandable.

Here is the main part of the act:

The Arcata Youth Protection Act

This text is an abridged version of the Arcata law passed in November 2008. Eureka passed an identical measure.

No person who is employed by or an agent of the United States government shall, within the City of Arcata, in the execution of his or her job duties, recruit, initiate contact with for the purpose of recruiting, or promote the future enlistment of any person under the age of eighteen into any branch of the United States Armed Forces.

Nothing in this Ordinance shall prevent any person from voluntarily visiting a military recruitment office or specifically initiating a request to meet with a recruiter.

Nothing in this Ordinance shall prevent individuals who are not employed by or agents of the U.S. government from encouraging people under the age of eighteen to join the military.

Any military recruiter who violates this Ordinance, as well as his or her commanding officer, shall be held responsible for said violation. Both shall be deemed guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to the penalties stated in the Arcata Municipal Code.

I can remember being called when I was in High School.  It was odd, because my parents were at work and I was home alone with my younger sister.  Here was this stranger trying to 'sell' me on the military vs heading off to college with all my friends.  I was a hard sell...I went to college, but what I thought was odd was 'how did they get my name and number?'  The scary part is they got it from my high school!  I was pretty headstrong and knew that I wanted to be a forest ranger in the rocky mountains hanging out with Smokey the Bear, but what of those kids that didn't know what they wanted to do?  I guess the military would sound like a good thing. 

Now though...more than 20 years later...it's a much more dangerous choice.  These non-war type actions in places where everyone hates Christians.  Just doesn't sound as safe as it did in the early 80's. 

I don't know about other parents, but I sure wouldn't want them calling my daughters!  My husband is doing a job all on his own of trying to get them to go to military school.  We don't need any more recruitors!!   :-)