National Guard in several states preparing for potential unrest after election

WASHINGTON — In several states, the National Guard is being put on standby to help deal with any issues that happen on Election Day and the days following -- and that includes one possibility of helping law enforcement.

Protesters have been busy across the country over the past few months fighting social justice and women’s rights.

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Law enforcement officials worry that could all come to a head in the hours and days after the Nov. 3 election. The National Guard is preparing to be deployed if there is any unrest.

Following President Donald Trump’s victory in 2016 over Hillary Clinton, protesters swarmed cities like Portland, Oregon. However, any request to use the National Guard would have to come from the governor of each state. In Pennsylvania’s case, that decision is left to Gov. Tom Wolf.

Until then, the guard has stepped up its preparations, spending $200,000 in new protective gear and increasing training to deal with protests.

Police are preparing, too, while reminding people that there is a line.

“There’s no problem with coming out to express yourself. But what we do ask is that people follow the law. First Amendment rights stop at when you start violating the criminal law,” said Sheriff Mike Reese, a police leader in northern Virginia.

The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff recently said that if there is a disputed election, it would be handled by the courts and Congress -- not the US military.

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Cox Media Group