Refuse Unlawful Orders: What Does the Law Say—and Who’s Really Protecting Americans?

Refuse Unlawful Orders: What Does the Law Say—And Who’s Really Protecting Americans?

The Quote That Sparked the Discussion
“Refuse unlawful orders. Stand up for our laws.”
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)

This statement came from a viral video titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” where six Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds urged service members to reject illegal commands.

Who Was Involved?

• Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)

• Jason Crow (D-CO)

• Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)

• Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

• Seth Moulton (D-MA)

• Abigail Spanberger (D-VA)

Their unified message raised an important national conversation:
What is an unlawful order—and who decides?

Can a President Deploy Troops to U.S. Cities?
During violent unrest in cities such as Chicago and Portland, former President Trump argued he wanted to send troops to restore order. His rationale was simple:
Local leaders were failing to keep their citizens safe.

But the law sets strict limits.

Legal Reality

Posse Comitatus Act (1878)
❌ Forbids using federal military forces for routine domestic law enforcement.
Insurrection Act
Allows troop deployment only when:

• Rebellion or insurrection threatens U.S. law

• Domestic violence overwhelms state/local authorities

• Constitutional rights cannot be protected by ordinary means

What the Courts Ruled
Judges blocked Trump’s attempt, stating:

• Rising crime does not equal insurrection.

• The legal threshold was not met.

His intentions may have been focused on public safety, but intent cannot override federal law.

Why Didn’t Lawmakers Call Out All Unlawful Orders?

The six Democrats warned the military about unlawful presidential orders —
but remained silent when certain mayors told police to “stand down” during riots.

This leads to a hard question:
Is political loyalty more important than protecting human life and property?
When officials ignore their duty for the sake of party optics, the American people pay the price.

Trump’s Argument, Simplified

Trump repeatedly said his goal was to protect Americans and restore order.
Can a President enforce the law?
Yes.
Can a President bypass the law to do it?
No.

Even righteous intentions must operate within constitutional limits.

The Law in Plain Language

✅ Lawful Deployment Insurrection or rebellion threatens U.S. law

• State or local authorities cannot maintain order

• President issues a formal public proclamation

• Insurrection Act properly invoked

❌ Unlawful Deployment

• Routine crime control

• Political retaliation

• Using the military without legal authority

• Skipping the required proclamation and process

A Biblical Perspective on Leadership and Justice

• Romans 13:4 — Leaders are God’s servants to protect the innocent and restrain evil.

• Proverbs 29:4 — Justice stabilizes a nation; corruption weakens it.

• Acts 5:29 — Obey God rather than men when earthly commands oppose righteousness.

Bottom Line:
Every leader — federal, state, and local — is accountable to God for protecting life and upholding justice without partiality.

Solutions That Put Americans First

1. Accountability for All
Mayors, councils, Congress, and Presidents must uphold the law — not party politics.

2. Public Standards
Americans deserve clarity on what is lawful vs. unlawful, without political spin.

3. Biblical Leadership
Decisions should flow from justice, truth, and protection of life — not political gain.

Closing Thoughts
As Americans, we must demand leaders who uphold the law consistently, not selectively.
Justice cannot depend on party lines.
Truth cannot be optional.
And protecting the innocent should never be a political calculation.