Hatch, Baucus propose constitutional amendment on flag burning
Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the ranking member and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, respectively, on Tuesday introduced an amendment to the Constitution that would allow Congress to pass laws preventing the physical desecration of the American flag. Tuesday was Flag Day.
The two senators have introduced this legislation in the past, and believe that an amendment is needed in order to give Congress the right to protect the flag. Hatch explained on Tuesday that under a 1990 Supreme Court ruling, burning or destroying the flag is protected speech, and that any law against these actions is unconstitutional.
"I believe the court was wrong in that conclusion, but because the court claimed to speak for the Constitution, the only way for Congress once again to have authority to protect the flag is by amending the Constitution," Hatch said.
Hatch said the amendment is a single-sentence addition to the Constitution: "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." He also stressed that this addition alone would not immediately prohibit flag desecration, but gives Congress the option of passing legislation on this matter.
"In fact, should Congress propose and the states ratify this amendment, it might not result in any change in the law at all," Hatch said. "That would be up to Congress and the people we represent to decide."
To amend the Constitution, the measure would have to pass the House and the Senate by a two-thirds majority, and then have to be ratified by three-fourths of the states, or at least 37 states.
Other co-sponsors to the bill are Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and David Vitter (R-La.).
As a 20 yr veteran, laws to prevent burning of the flag are NOT a limitation on the freedom of speech. We must as a country establish what is/is not sacred. For thos of you who disagree, all that I ask is that you pick up a weapon and join us or walk the national cemetaries or ride with a police officer in gang-ridden cities. I spent my life defending the freedoms of US citizens…but we have to draw a line. Thank you, MIKE D — you are so right about legislating patriotism. Why do we need this, anyway? Don't these guys have more important issues that need addressing? Last time I checked, there wasn't any epidemic of flag burning sweeping the country.Against Flag Burning - News
He also stressed that this addition alone would not immediately prohibit flag desecration, but gives Congress the option of passing legislation on this matter. "In fact, should Congress propose and the states ratify this amendment, it might not result
It is her own form of protest against the American values of ambition and achievement; a flag burning, if you like, though with the tiniest of matches and lowest of temperatures. Of equally low temperature is the protest adventure she undertakes.
Rollins said the VVA cancelled its flag burning scheduled for Saturday due to the no-burn order in place across the state, but it may be rescheduled for Veterans Day. In the little Wisconsin town that started it all, Janik said more than 7000 people
He asked whether burning the Koran should have the same protection as, say, flag burning. Probably Durham missed that day in class—sorority picnic? hair color appointment?—when they were discussing protected speech. And it hurt her.
With four competitors left gunning for the crown, Durham was asked a question posed by celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito about whether burning religious books, including the Muslim holy book, should be afforded the same constitutional protections as flag
Flag burner opposes flag desecration legislation - This Ain't Hell
According to Foster, the legislatures of all 50 States have called upon Congress to pass this common-sense legislation to prevent the continued corruption of the use of the flag.
I think it’s ironic that Murray is offended that “some politicians have reduced that flag to a cheap pin on their suits”, yet she doesn’t recognize that she and Brower and Matthis have reduced the flag to a cheap entry on their anti-war, anti-US credentials, such as they are.
And she seems to be offended that “extremists” use the flag for their own political purposes, typical cognitive dissonance of the Left because she thinks that she is not an extremist using the flag for her own political purposes.
And, oh, I guess this kinda disproves Army Sergeant’s contention that Murray only got caught up in the flag burning because she didn’t know what Matthis and Brower had planned.
The ninja who sent the screenshot of Murray’s cheap post also sent this picture of Matthis doing his best imitation of Jay and/or Silent Bob;
Added: For those of you who are wondering about Matthis’ tattoo, someone sent us this;
So; Robynn is a member of the Legion? I surmised that from the headline of her fb post. Well, Robynn, you don’t HAVE to be a member. You can quit paying your dues and therefore not whine about how the Legion spends your money. It’s really simple, just don’t renew your membership for 2012 and all will be good.
I hope that helps you navigate such a complex problem, robynn.
I’m against flag-burning. I think it’s the hallmark of puddle-deep reactionary tools who enjoy attempting to shock for shock’s sake, and can’t summon the mental capacity to express their discontent in more effective ways. But I don’t think it should be outlawed. If you outlaw it, said tools are just going to want to do it even more so they can get arrested and draw more attention to themselves. I’d prefer to let them burn the flag and not lend legitimacy to their ham-fisted lazy brand of activism.
The argument Murray presents makes no sense: the flag should not be used for political symbolism [against Murray's efforts].
The flag IS a political symbol. That’s why it’s real, and not a concept.
Murray’s argument is the usual effort to deny the common political symbol of America to those that serve and have served America, and give honor to the flag as representational of giving honor to all Americans and our great Nation.
No stupid pot laws, no zoneing laws that are not designed to protect health no stupid unconstitutional laws against flag burning...
very nice flag burning neighbours I have too.
apparently Malaysians are saying I'm blindly accusing them of flag burning. NAH I SHOW YOU! YOU ALL BLIND AH? Against Flag Burning - Bookshelf
Burning the Flag, The Great 1989-1990 American Flag Desecration Controversy
The May 8 New York flag burning, which was featured on the front page of the May 9 New York Daily News, apparently involved RCP members, thirteen of whom ...Censorship: Abelard, Peter-Front, The
The US Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled against flag-burning legislation; however, its members have not been unanimous in their rulings. ...Desecrating the American flag, key documents of the controversy from the Civil War to 1995
Nominees to the Supreme Court were not pressed during Senate confirmation hearings about their views on flag desecration, and, in decisions that were barely ...The Constitution and the Flag: The flag salute cases
But when citizens claiming to be Americans burn their flag on the streets of New York City, it is time for patriotic Americans to act.232 Hearings on flag ...Jet
This is a another attempt to burn the flag piece of rag that came from Tai- ... What started as a controversial flag- burning demonstration on the steps of ...Free Information Directory
Flag Burning Laws - History of U.S. Laws Against Flag Burning
Information about laws banning the burning and other desecration of the American flag, Texas v. Johnson, the Flag Protection Act, and the Flag Desecration Amendment.
Hillary Clinton and Flag-Burning
Hillary Clinton and Flag-Burning. by Matt Stoller, Mon Dec 05, 2005 at 04:14:36 PM EST ... who courageously vote against the flag burning Amendment even though ...
Texas v. Johnson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
During the burning of the flag, demonstrators shouted such phrases as, "America, the red, ... of the flag "justifies a governmental prohibition against flag burning in the way ...
Flag desecration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
As a protest against nationalism. As a protest against the government in power in the ... As described below burning or defacing a flag is a crime in some ...
Why America needs laws against flag burning. : American Flag
Why America needs laws against flag burning. An argument from someone ... Weak minded liberals might argue that burning the flag is a form of free speech, ...
