Several weeks ago, Governor Patrick Morrisey sent a few hundred members of the West Virginia National Guard to patrol Washington, D.C., at the request of President Donald Trump.

I strongly oppose the governor’s action, as policing is not a proper role for soldiers, and those soldiers are needed here in the Mountain State.

The military (in which I once was) is trained to fight against our country’s foes. Other than those trained as military police, soldiers are not trained for law enforcement. The framers of the U.S. Constitution feared the military could be turned on the public, were it available to the government for nonmilitary activities. Vermont Governor Phil Scott (Republican) turned down flat President Trump’s request to send National Guard soldiers to D.C. Through a spokesperson, the governor said he “does not view the enforcement of domestic law, as a proper use of the National Guard.”

Soldiers are trained for all kinds of emergencies. Guardspeople respond to fires, floods, train wrecks and other disasters. In the Northern Panhandle and north central parts of our state, recent floods have devastated some towns. The Guard has been doing yeoman work there, in part because President Trump has been slow to get federal assistance to folks in those areas. The Guard is still needed there, and any Guard members who were sent to D.C. could surely be added to those already working on salvage efforts. What if another disaster is imminent?

I marvel that Morrisey is so eager to please a president that was so slow to help our state in her hour of need.

Much of West Virginia lacks healthy drinking water and adequate sewerage. The Guard is quite effective at laying pipes and getting water and sewer systems functioning. There are myriad ways in which the West Virginia National Guard could help our people here in West Virginia, should the governor wish to use it. Is he not aware or does he not care about the problems in our state that the Guard can help address?

Many members of the Guard serve part time, and have regular jobs that pay more than their Guard compensation. They should not be activated and removed from those jobs and their families, to help a politician posture.

I shall not here express an opinion regarding the propriety of President Trump’s takeover of Washington D.C., as I hope to keep this column on state and local issues. But I do have a suggestion for those engaging in debate regarding this, whatever their views.

The president is clearly on safe legal ground, as to the nation’s capital. Unlike the 50 states, the District of Columbia is legally subservient to the federal government. Should the president wish to have National Guard soldiers occupying D.C. for more than 30 days, he would have to get the approval of the U.S. Congress, which most observers think would be a piece of cake.

However, things would be very different legally, should the president decide to act similarly regarding any other city in our country.

John Doyle is a 26-year former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. He can be reached at rjohndoyle@comcast.net.