Should flag-burning be banned and considered a crime throughout U.S. states and territories?

Question

From previous research, some citizens felt if they were prohibited from committing this act, it would be a violation of their "rights." Others, however, believed burning the U.S. flag is a demonstration of non-patriotism.

Based on your knowledge, how do you feel about this and more importantly, why?

Answer 1

I think anyone who burns the U.S. flag should be arrested and placed in jail for a minimum of 60 days and then be made to join the military for 1 year. I'm a vet I put my life on the line for this country and so has every male member of my family since the Revolutionary War. I consider it an insult not only to me but all those before me who gave their lives so these punks have their "freedom of speech"

Answer 2

Honestly, I think it is a denial of expression. It is a supressive technique.

The banning of flag burning serves only to support the rabid Nationalism that fuels ignorance about social and political situations happening within and outside of the country.

It sets a poor tone. You bought the flag. It's your right to do whatever you want to do with your property. As long as the flag burning doesn't damage public property or another's property. I don't care.

When I went to school, I never said the pledge of allegiance. I did not agree about the "one nation under god" part. I wasn't an atheist, but I always felt I should never say what I don't mean. I didn't want to be a liar. Also, I felt the pledge was a tad hypocritical.

Answer 3

Some people answering this keep saying freedom of speech or expression only goes so far. How far? And who decides how far it goes? You? Or me? What if I have the bigger gun? Can I then decide how far the freedom of speech and expression goes?

It is so easy to say this is how far it goes, or that is right and the other thing is wrong when you are on one side of the issue. Change sides and see how soon your point of view changes. The flag is a symbol. Burning the flag is another symbol. Freedom of speech and expression cannot be suppressed unless it causes bodily harm to someone, like someone else said here, you can't shout FIRE in a crowded theater, because it might start a stampede and cause people to get hurt. But other than that limitation there can be no limitation to this right.

Answer 4

I think that if one feels the need to burn the US flag that should also feel the need to find and move to a different country if they are so unhappy with America.

I don't think it should be a crime to burn the flag; I just think that flag burning is stupid, pointless, and meaningless. If one is so unhappy with the current state of affairs, do something that would make a difference. Flag burning is not going to do anything but create warmth and smoke; and when the smoke clears, then what?

Answer 5

Freedom of speech is one thing that is overdrawn. Meaning I think they lost the definition of what your freedom is when it comes to intruding on mine.

One person's freedom ENDS where another person's freedom begins. Meaning it is OK to use profanity and other abusive speech in your own house, but is not OK to use in my house or in the presence of my children. Your rights ended at that point. (I have the right to not have my children listen to profanity and vulgarity.)
Flag Burning almost rest at the same level. Burn your flag wherever you want, but if you decide to burn it in the face our our soldiers, your rights ended. (It WILL cause a riot)

Freedom of speech also requires the ability to know when you should or should not speak. Some speech can invoke a riot and you do not have the RIGHTS to do that.
Another example of freedom of speech that you can not do is to yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater. That action causes an action of panic and the inevitable death of people. Your actions will result in a Felony Charge of manslaughter of Murder in second degree.
Get the point?

ADD for the Flag burner who forgets to finish the Flag Code:

What is the proper way to dispose a flag?

In many American communities, one or more organizations (such as the American Legion) render an important community service by collecting and overseeing the proper disposal of old, worn, tattered, and/or frayed U.S. Flags. Some organizations make it an annual service project; others announce when and where Flags will be accepted. Often, community newspapers, radio, and TV stations help broadcast the availability of the service. Churches, synagogues, chambers of commerce, civic organizations, and businesses sometimes have served as "drop off" locations for the collection of worn flags. Any American Legion or local VFW can put you in contact with an approved disposal facility.

If many U.S. Flags are collected, it may be desirable to seek assistance from a corporate, government or military facility which maintains an incinerator or furnace that can readily burn the flags. According to the United State Flag Code 36s 176(k): "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." This burning occurs during a formal ceremony conducted by an approved flag disposal organization.

Answer 6

No I think that it should be allowed, only that it be regulated the way liberal big government types want to regulate everything else.

1) They should have to obtain a permit, cost $95
2) They should have to state the reasons they want to burn the flag in the permit application.
3) The application should be posted on the web along with photo Identification of the flag burners.

Thats all...very simple plan...and I'll bet not one of those flag burning idiots ever gets elected too office and might even find it hard getting a job some where...all good by me.

Answer 7

Patriotism may be much admired, but in a free society, it is not mandatory. In countries where there are laws against flag burning you find people in prison for things like sitting on a folded newspaper (a picture of the president was on page 2, hence this disrespected the president) or wearing a shoe & shoe lace combination making the flags colors (shoes are unclean, hence this desecrates the flag). Do we want to send Americans to prison for these sorts of offences?

And consider the silly legal questions that start popping up if you try to make "respect" mandatory. Could we use stars and stripes designs for paper plates and paper napkins at our July 4 picnics? For clothing? Could we be arrested for burning a picture of a flag? If we couldn't BURN our flag for a protest, could we BOIL it? Spit on it?

If we can't burn a picture of the flag, can we burn a picture of the US Capital building? Of a Senator we don't like? If not, can we criticize that Senator? Criticize the Senate?

When you start asking these obvious yet silly questions, it becomes obvious that this would be a silly law.

Addendum to those arguing that it should be illegal because it "makes" people commit crimes like rioting and assault. This is the same argument people who abuse their spouse use. "Well her actions FORCE me to knock her down -- it's HER fault." Grow up folks, the only excuse for violence is when that is the only way to protect your own safey. No one has the power to MAKE you be violent. You are responsible for your own actions. Grow up.

Answer 8

In the movie "An American President", Micheal Douglas (as the president) said something to the affect...you can not have the symbol of your country be a flag without having the right to burn that flag in protest...

I agree with that statement. Freedom, isn't one sided. It is (at its best) multifaceted. If the flag of our country is symbolic of our rights and freedoms, then you must allow for the possibility of someone burning the flag in protest when they feel the Bill of Rights is being violated.

I have spent most of my adult life defending this country, and part of the cost of that is when you are serving your country some of your "Rights" are suspended. I won't go into the reasons behind the justification, but the reasons for this are valid.

Having the "Right" to express yourself is a privilege...defending someone else's "Right" to express themselves is the responsibility of all citizens, even if you disagree with the other person. Democracy and the freedoms that are inherent with it, can not and should not be one sided or it ceases to be democracy.

Answer 9

I think that flag-burning should be legal. I don't like it, I would never do it, but it is a way of expressing dissatisfaction with the US government, and so is protected as free speech. To say that it should be illegal because it is unpatriotic, to me, is just another reason to make it legal! What else could be banned as unpatriotic? Criticizing the president? expressing dislike for a senator? I believe that all forms of speech should be protected, and I believe that that is what makes (the idea of, anyway) the US so great: that we can say and believe as we like without fear of government reprisals.

Answer 10

I feel flag burning is should be a protected right included with the Freedom of Speach and Decent.

In this country we are allowed to speak freely about what we dislike about our country, or at least we used to be allowed to do so. But recently it seems our basic freedoms and civil rights are being trampled upon moreso by our own President.

If we protect the right to own firearms we must protect the right to speak our minds as well as demonstrate our decent by burning our flag!

Answer 11

Every human being is born with three inalienable, divine, fundamental rights and freedoms: spiritual freedom, civic freedom and moral freedom.

Spiritual freedom is the right to worship or not to worship according to ones choice.

Civic freedom is the right to justice.

Moral freedom is the right to be true and just in ones dealings with society.

Governments therefore, reason will confirm, should ONLY enact legislation, where an individual's act impinge on or deprives another of his/her fundamental rights and freedoms.

IF NOT, THEN WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE???

These three INALIENABLE fundamental human rights and freedoms, will therefore always trump any legislation or policy, civil or ecclesiastical, that seek to deprive individuals of these rights.

Flag-burning is an inalienable fundamental human right and freedom, to the extent that JUSTICE demands people exercise their freedom to express themselves in a peaceful manner, in opposition to government policy.

Institutions, civil and ecclesiastical, are learning very quickly, the world's population is more and more rejecting these authoritian institutions, sticking their noses more and more into indiviuduals' lives, WHERE THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS.

It is for precisely this reason, people gather all across the globe annually demanding freedom and justice. Freedom from authoritarianism - civil and eccliastical. And justice in their right to civic freedom.

Peace,
Justice