A constitutional amendment to ban flag burning is heading toward passage. Do you support the ban?

Question

A constitutional amendment to ban flag burning is heading toward passage. Do you support the ban?

Answer 1

Hell no. The flag symbolizes our freedom - including the freedom to burn it if we want. Will they ban using it on clothes? How about letting it hang outside your house until it's tattered and faded? What about all those made in China magnetic ones on the backs of cars that are filthy dirty?

The flag burning amendmant is just a way for republicans to placate their rightist followers without doing anything.

Answer 2

I am not in favor of the Amendment. By the way it will most likely fall a couple of votes short.

It is indeed a contentious issue with many opinions on either side, but I believe that the first amendment was ratified for issues such as this. The first amendment exists to protect unpopular speech and expressions. You may truly hate the people that do this and may find it disgusting and insulting, but this is what freedom truly means. It means that people may do things that you do not agree with and as long as it does not physically harm you, they should not be subjective to arrest or other legal consequences from the government. Of course the first amendment does not protect someone from the court of public opinion.

I certainly feel that there should consequences of acts such as this, but those consequences should be limited to public opinion, private censorship, and opposing protests, not any legal consequences from the government.

We need protection from the government to allow us to stand up against things we don't agree on. Some may say, if you don't like it, then leave. That is not what the ideals of this country are about. You can love this country and disagree with it's leaders and government and not have to worry about being arrested for your opinions or your chosen method of expressing that disagreement, no matter how insulting or disgusting others may think it is.

Edit: The vote fell one vote short in the Senate.

Answer 3

No, the Constitution has been a check on government power and has, historically, expanded rights. This increases our government's power and limits our freedom of expression -- no matter how horrid or offensive. I'm just surprised 9/11 or national security haven't been pulled into the debate. With all the problems our country faces, this is what were concerned about ? Not war, not massive debt -- Flag burning.

Answer 4

I don't like the flag being burned as a protest but I don't support the amendment. Burning the flag is a form of freedom of expression and free speech. I may not agree with a flag burner's actions but he or she should be free to complete those actions.

Answer 5

I support any stop to our flag being burned .... if you MUST add an amendment to stop this...so be it!!

There are many other ways to express freedom of speech, without burning the flag that represents so much and so many..

Remember, "the pen is mightier than the sword... " You use this proverb to say that you can solve problems or achieve your purpose better and more effectively through communication with words than by violence. (or burning a National symbol, our flag.)

God bless America and our BEAUIFUL flag, and what it represents.

Answer 6

The amendment does not ban flag burning, it states that Congress shall have the power to punish the physical desecration of the flag. It is to rescind a foolish decision of the Supreme Court that held that such ACTION was speech.

And yes, I support criminalization of flag desecration.

Answer 7

Absolutely not! I don't like flag burning, but passing a law to stop something that happened all of 13 times last year and 4 times this year is stupid (the link below is where I got the statistics). Why don't they pass an amendment to stop prarie dogs from driving cars. I bet it happens about as often.

Answer 8

I do support the ban. I feel that burning the flag just another way to express ourself, and we still have the freedom of speech given to us by the first amendment. So, by banning the action, it could be considered hindering our freedom of expression.

Answer 9

I support it 100%. Everytime I see an AMERICAN burning a symbol of freedom, I get angry. I think it should be illegal to burn it, and strongly support the amendment.

As for the vote, it was one short. Want someone to blame? Blame Ffrank Lautenberg, a democrat from NJ, who voted no. Why him? He illegally entered the Senator race a few years ago, after Robert Toricelli (another Democrat) took some bribes from Korea, and dropped out of the race. So blame Frank Lautenberg, that's who I'm blaming.

Answer 10

As a conservative youd think id be for the ban but quite the opposite.....If someday my government becomes a tyrannical regime it's my right to burn the flag as a statement of speech. Don't take away my right to free speech. Before you know it we will not be able to curse in public. This shouldnt even be being considered.