The Law: Draft Loophole?

As soon as a young man turns 18, he is required to register for the draft. But what if he does not do so within the five-day grace period provided by law? Although few people realize it, the Government has no official system for detecting the 18-year-olds who fail to register. Last week, a five-man majority of the Supreme Court decided that if the Government does not discover and prosecute a non-registrant for his dereliction within five years after the grace period ends, he cannot he prosecuted at all. The three dissenting Justices complained that even though a man is supposed...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!