Iowa Gov., Kim Reynolds, has joined four other governors in penning a letter to the Department of Defense, requesting a withdrawal of vaccine mandate directives to National Guard members that are in Title 32 duty status. For decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that the National Guard is under the command and control of the governor of each state until such a time as they are called up to active-duty status under Title 10. Therefore, these governors are asking that the federal government abide by that law and allow retention of authority at the state level. This, Reynolds says, will allow them the personal choice in regard to vaccinations without penalty. “The federal government continues to overreach further into the lives of Americans and especially those serving our country and protecting our very freedoms,” Reynolds says. “These are the very men and women who have selflessly devoted their lives to protecting us and responding to major disasters and times of crisis at the drop of a hat to provide peace and comfort, and now the federal government is giving them an ultimatum to get the vaccine or be separated from serving their country. It’s unconscionable to think the government will go so far as to strip these honorable men and women of the nation’s top duties if they don’t comply. They protect the very freedoms that the federal government apparently doesn’t believe they too deserve.” Other governors signing the letter include: Mark Gordon of Wyoming, Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, Tate Reeves of Mississippi and Pete Rickett of Nebraska. According to reports, nearly 50,000 military members across all branches are refusing to get vaccinated and have not met a Dec. 2 deadline.
