Does California Link Drivers License With Selective Service

The Center on Conscience and War (website www.centeronconscience.org , shown here) is a non-profit organization that advocates for the rights of censor, opposes military conscription, and serves all careful objectors to war. Formerly known every bit the National Interreligious Service Board for Careful Objectors (NISBCO), it was formed in 1940 by an association of religious bodies including the Church of the Brethren. Its mission statement, in role: "The heart is committed to supporting all those who question participation in war, whether they are US citizens, permanent residents, documented or undocumented immigrants–or citizens in other countries." Services are provided to the public at no accuse. CCW participates in the G.I. Rights Hotline, a national referral and counseling service for military personnel. In the issue of a armed forces draft, CCW will assist in the placement of careful objectors in culling service programs. The Center is opposed to all forms of conscription.

By Lucas Kauffman

When immature American men plough 18, they are required to register with the Selective Service System (SSS) considering of federal law (fifty U.s.C. App. 451 et seq). That police force requires almost every male person citizen, as well every bit immigrant men living in the Usa, to register in the outcome of a military draft. Women are non required to register, nor are men 26 and older.

For officials, a high compliance charge per unit is of import, since that would mean that any military draft that might come upwardly would be fair. To make certain there is 100 percentage compliance, a lot of states accept created legislation that links SSS registration with the process of applying for a driver's license or state identification card.

Delaware was the first state that reached a almost 100 pct compliance charge per unit, since beginning the legislation in 2000. Seven other states besides increased compliance rates after similar commuter'due south license legislation in 2002, the Selective Service reports on its website.

Reasons for these country laws include assuring eligibility for some programs and benefits to their citizens, because men who fail to register with Selective Service are not eligible for programs and benefits that Congress, 41 states and territories, and the Commune of Columbia have linked to registration for the draft. That would include student loans and grants for college, most authorities jobs, and job preparation. Besides, immigrants who fail to register when they are at least 18 but not still 26, may be denied citizenship.

Typical state legislation instructs the Section of Public Rubber or Motor Vehicles to include a consent argument on all applications or renewals for commuter'due south permits, licenses, and identification cards, the SSS website says. The argument tells the applicant that past signing the application, he consents to his registration with the SSS. The applicant'south data is transferred to the SSS electronically through an organisation the state has with the data sharing organisation of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

A problem for nonregistrant conscientious objectors?

For those who do not want to annals for the draft or who decide to be nonregistrant conscientious objectors, this legislation could exist a trouble. According to Beak Galvin, the counseling coordinator at the Eye on Conscience and War, in that location is at to the lowest degree one option. "One option that people have is only not apply for a driver's license until they plow 26 years old," he said.

Yet, immature men who do not register for the draft may be denied financial help for higher through the federal authorities. Galvin said that the Heart on Conscience and State of war may be able to assistance provide funding, if that happens.

The Center on Conscience and War, based in Washington, D.C., was founded in the 1940s by the Historic Peace Churches–Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, and Quakers. According to Galvin, the center exists to help protect the rights of careful objectors.

"We are active in the 1000.I. Rights Hotline, which is a hotline that people tin can phone call if they desire to not be a part of the military machine anymore," said Galvin. The middle as well monitors state laws such as the automated registration into the draft, advocates for the rights of conscientious objectors, and helps immigrants and people of different religious backgrounds apply for conscientious objector status.

Since the Centre on Conscience and State of war is opposed to a military draft and conscription, it does not want the constabulary that protects the rights of careful objectors to go away, Galvin commented when asked about the necessity of a Selective Service System in light of automated draft registration in then many states. If Selective Service were done abroad with, the Centre on Conscience and War could still exist he said. "Churches do support us, especially if they take careful objectors in their congregations," said Galvin.

"I believe that as long as there is war, at that place volition exist conscientious objection. The need for our piece of work will go along."

Observe an article on "Selective Service Registration: Coercion of Conscience?" from the Center on Conscience and War at www.centeronconscience.org/co/5-draft/320-selective-service-registration-coercion-of-conscience.html .

Careful objector checklist, from the curriculum Phone call of Conscience published by the Church building of the Brethren at www.brethren.org/co .

Part of Brethren Volunteer Service in event of a typhoon

Director of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Dan McFadden offered his thoughts well-nigh the legislation that links Selective Service registration with driver'south licenses. "BVS would provide an opportunity for alternative service [in the effect of a draft], and it has done so in previous drafts," said McFadden. "At that place would most probable be more people that sign up for BVS to wait for service opportunities, if at that place was a draft."

Non many people know almost the legislation that links registration with driver's licenses, he said. "For most people, this is non a big deal. Notwithstanding for a conscientious objector, if you are not registered and yous are in higher, the government tin can block federal student loans."

If that happens, McFadden said that some Church building of the Brethren related schools, such as Manchester Academy, "will help with educatee loans, if you are non able to become loans because of not registering for the typhoon."

McFadden has heard near and kept up to date on the legislation through regular briefing calls with the Selective Service and other Anabaptist and church volunteer organizations. He thinks that the commuter'due south license legislation is a way the government is improving compliance rates, only like Selective Service wants. "It is a way to streamline the people who register," he said. "This is a way to have names of people on hand, if there ever is a draft.

"This legislation does not really matter if you are planning on registering with the Selective Service," said McFadden."You have to selectively say that you practice non desire to, past sending in materials.

"Personally, I do not really think that the Selective Service System is necessary," he added. However, he clarified that "the Selective Service draft system is 1 place where the federal regime recognizes conscientious objectors." If the current Selective Service System was dismantled, "there is no guarantee that a new selective service put dorsum into place in the future would recognize the correct to conscientious objection," McFadden said. "If they practise away with the system, conscientious objectors would not receive any recognition."

How to register equally a conscientious objector

While there is no official way to annals as a conscientious objector, men may inform the government that that they are conscientious objectors by filling out a newspaper form and writing a personal statement.

According to McFadden, conscientious objectors should send in paperwork to the Selective Service using the "mail-back"registration forms that are available at any Usa Post Office. On that form, young men may write, "I am a conscientious objector," and make several photocopies earlier mailing the grade to Selective Service. McFadden has been informed past Selective Service staff that the department keeps a copy of all of the paper registration forms they receive.

Conscientious objectors should make several copies of the grade and their personal statement, to continue for themselves, and to postal service a copy to exist kept on file past the denomination. Post to the Church building of the Brethren Full general Offices, Attn: Global Mission and Service Office, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. Some Brethren congregations may provide this service to their members past keeping a file for conscientious objectors.

Data near careful objection including a cheque list to prepare show to support a CO claim, and other helpful resources, are bachelor at www.brethren.org/CO .

States with laws linking registration to driver's licenses

Following is a listing of the 40 states, 4 territories, and the District of Columbia that have such legislation in upshot, equally of Oct. 25, 2013, co-ordinate to the SSS website: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New United mexican states, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southward Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, District of Columbia.

States and territories that have enacted just not yet implemented the legislation are Maine, Maryland, Puerto Rico.

Find out if you lot have automatically been registered for the typhoon by typing in proper noun and social security number at the Selective Service website www.sss.gov .

— Lucas Kauffman is a senior at Manchester University in North. Manchester, Ind., and a January term intern with the Church of the Brethren News Services.