Why not regulate flag burning?

Question

So burning the American flag is legal say the courts; but that does not mean we can't regulate it? The only thing about regulation is that it can't be so honerous as to make the act illegal. So I propose a simple law:

1. Burn a flag with out a permit and its an automatic 5 year prison sentence; so get a permit.

2. Permits cost $25, can be obtained by anyone with proper identification. A photo copy and digital scan of your ID is required.

3. Permit is for a 24 hour period to burn away;

4. After permit is used the photo ID and day of the flag burning is added to a national database online for all too see.

This way we can see who burns the American flag and maybe there should be room on the permit application to say why and that could be included in the online display. The $25 fee should cover this pretty easy.

This would make a great database of people I'd never hire, do business with, or vote for - ever - what do you think?

Yoli; there would be no crime, it would be legal 100%. No employer should discriminate because they found an applicant listed; I would never disclose that is why I didn't hire them. But I might stop doing business with someone on that list - that is also a choice thats still legal.

BTW I got a great additional idea fed to me; we could add another $25 to the fee for air quality control and to help stop the global warming caused by flag burning.

Answer 1

great plan, can you send this idea to your rep. and see if they can get the law passed. I like to regulate flag burning my way. I find a big rocks and throw them hard at the burner to express my freedom of choice.we need video of a flag burner catching one to the head.

Answer 2

This is a silly idea. I want to know how many people actually burn flags. I knew some pretty wacky people in college--who were at the extremes of both right and left--but I never saw any of them burn a flag. Does anyone posting here know anyone who's done it? Has anyone seen someone burning a flag in person? The only people I've ever seen doing it were on the news--and they were in another country.

Flag burning is just another non-issue that Conservative pundits and political consultants dreamed up to get all of you riled. That's all.

Who burns the flag, according to these people? I don't listen so I don't know for sure but I'd be willing to bet it's those darn liberals again. They burn flags at Christmas and at family reunions, right?

Aside from the fact that this is a largely imaginary problem, you've also got to remember (as many people have pointed out) that burning a flag is the preferred method of disposing of one. Do you arrest people who fly the flag unlit at night, let their flag fly ragged, or let the flag touch the ground? How about people who wear a flag or write on one? These are things you aren't supposed to do with a flag at all.

Would you need a license to buy a flag? Sign a form saying you agreed not to burn it? Absurd.

Who would be the flag police? Since you're making it a federal crime I assume it would be the FBI. Even if it's local law enforcement making arrests or local courts dispensing fines--would you really eat up their time with this?

Your national database is absolutely ridiculous. Any comparison to sexual predators is... it's just so far off I can't even think of a good word to describe it. Not to mention the fact that all these regulations, fines, databases and enforcement do nothing to make government smaller and more cost efficient.

I think that burning a flag as a piece of political speech, while useless and disrespectful, is covered by the first amendment. Nowhere in the first amendment does it say that only speech we like is covered. Nothing in the constitution says that a piece of fabric is an exception to the first amendment.

Once you open that can of worms--"The flag is an exception to the first amendment because it's a symbol of our country that needs to be protected" or whatever--you're officially on a very scary slippery slope. Now even with court stacking this stuff would never make it by constitutional muster today--courts would shut any of this down in a heartbeat--but if you people passed this stuff where does it end? What kind of precedent is it? Symbols of the government all need protection? What happens when speaking out against your government is considered 'an assault' on the government, just like flag burning? You aren't free anymore, that's what happens. I don't understand how all you folks can't see this.

I hear people say that soldiers died for the flag. I don't buy it. They died protecting America and the American way of life. The flag is a great symbol, but that's all it is. It's like a 'graven image' compared to a truly sacred piece of America that does more than symbolize our freedoms, our way of life, and what makes us different from almost every other country. That's the constitution.

You don't mess with the constitution--at least not the Bill of Rights. It's 1000 times more sacred than any flag. Anybody who doesn't think so--well, they're just wrong.

Answer 3

I like it. Your idea that is, it is brilliant.

I don't believe in burning the flag, and anyone who does should have to do it on the way to the airport, for their flight out. That is their flight out of The United States of America, the Country that they profess to hate so much.

Let's try to get a group rate, for all of those who spew hatred towards the U.S. They are all so intelligent, just ask them, I am sure they could do the same wonderful research they have completed on what is happening in Iraq, and find a new Country to call their own. Then try to burn their flag in the open, and by the way be sure You curse their President too. Then if You live to tell about it, tell Your buddies here at Yahoo.

Y'all Come

Answer 4

Burning the flag IS illegal.

Most municipalities and states have laws against open fires. There may be only a small fine, but fines can be increased.

If the fire is in a particularly dangerous place, say a crowded sports stadium, that could be reckless endangerment.

Answer 5

The only proper way to dispose of an American flag is to burn it.

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning"

It is the law. So adding another law to stop it is wrong.

http://www.usa-flag-site.org/etiquette.shtml

So flag burning is regulated.



I guess no one here as attended a military flag burning ceremony, no one here knows US history and laws.

Answer 6

well i don't agree with you at all , simply when some ppl burn others flag it means one thing that they are against this country's politics and may be they are against it cuz it hurts them or it's jut not fair ..i think burning a flag isn't that big deal , it's much better than a war , and the American international policy sucks , dude so Chill

Answer 7

Because no matter how distasteful and despicable it to burn our flag, the courts have said it is freedom of speech. I agree with the courts because we are a nation of laws, but I personally don't like it.

Answer 8

I think hiring based on that would consititue discrimination and you could be sued. Speaking solely on HR terms and experience hiring someone, only crimes of bodily harm and theft are allowed to be disclosed in most states, making a disclosure of other crimes and non-hiring based on those crimes, illegal.

Also, we have better things to worry about. Like North Korea nuking us.

Answer 9

If someone wants to burn the flag then that is their perogative. As long as they aren't hurting anyone they should be able to do whatever they want to the flag.

Answer 10

i dont think anyone should burn the american flag in ANY circumstance cause sh*t lik that pisses me off when u have so little respect for this cuntry that u burn the flag