Senators propose amendment to prevent flag burning

The Hill ^ | 06/15/11 | Pete Kasperowicz

[arderkrag]

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.

[arderkrag]

First, someone please explain to me how flag burning directly interferes with anyone's rights. I'm not interestedin any silly social/ideological arguments.

Second, you people in Utah, call Hatch, tell him to knock off this nonsense.

[dalebert]

kind of stranges since its government brining the country down

[headstamp 2]

I wish these lunkheads would start dealing some far important issues. Hatch is looking like the fossil he is with this nonsense.

[ansel12]

I don’t suppose Petraeus will be wading in on this one.

[pnh102]

Dumb. Doesn’t the Senate have more important things with which it should be dealing?

[nralife]

Now’s NOT the time for this. Idiots...

[Wonka]

Let’s see, 1990 to 2011... That means 21 years for hack politicians like Snorin’ Orrin to make a meaningless gesture that looks patriotic, but really is just a ploy for a few reflex votes.

It’s not like there will be any follow up, just a free photo opportunity.

Old tricks are the best tricks...

[Notary Sojac]

After the first two years of the Obama regime, I am entirely prepared to justify burning the flag as an act of righteous protest. Stuff it, Orrin.

[yantis]

I clicked on this thread to say exactly what you said. Out of all the thing going on in the country, we are wasting time on THIS?!?!?

[cherry]

I hate flag burning but for these elites to take up the country's time with this crap borders on treason....we have trillion dollar debt and in 4 wars now and maybe they should be dealing with THAT!

who do they think they're fooling?

[RicocheT]

Senators fiddle while USA burns. They want to divert our attention rather than freezing the debt ceiling, cutting spending and borrowing and lining their pockets at our expense. Most of our Republican senators need a kick in the pants instead of our votes.

[swain_forkbeard]

How about an ammendment to clarify Presidential qualifications and establish a process for verifying them?

[Melas]

First, someone please explain to me how flag burning directly interferes with anyone's rights. I'm not interestedin any silly social/ideological arguments.

From a free speech point of view, flag burning is viewed as any other anti-government expression. On yet another level, it's a basic property right to dispose of your own property as you see fit. Seems pretty clear to me.

However, that's not the issue here. The issue that we're facing an(other) economic crisis, we have troops scattered across the globe, but we have senators worrying about burning bits of cloth. This the best analogy of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic I've seen come out of the senate yet.

[Night Hides Not]

Second, you people in Utah, call Hatch, tell him to knock off this nonsense.

Orrin won't get the message until Chaffetz knocks him off in the primary.

[Gettin Betta]

I forget who the comedian was that once said,
“I dont know what all the fuss is about the legality of flag burning. Why not pass a law that mandates all flags be made out of non-flamable material. Let them stand there all day with their Bic lighters”

[FewsOrange]

http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html

§176. Respect for flag

(k) 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.

[Dead Corpse]

All other problems being solved...

WTH are we paying these people for?

[jesseam]

Since I have come under hostile fire defending the flag I have a different take on this issue. When I see obamas friend, bill ayers wiping his feet on the flag—well, it is a good thing for him that he is not in my reach!!

[repentant_pundit]

Since I have come under hostile fire defending the flag I have a different take on this issue. When I see obamas friend, bill ayers wiping his feet on the flag—well, it is a good thing for him that he is not in my reach

Well said, and I thank you profoundly for your military service, but you also know the difference between an "assault" on a flag (not THE flag...I have a copy of an American flag at home, it's my own flag, not THE flag) vs. assault on a human being...assault not in self-defense, but for offending you.

.

[Venturer]

My American legion Post just retired 276 flags in the dignified way prescribed by the American legion handbook Monday.

We get them from many [places including the local Post Office. One year we retired over 400.

But there is a big difference between burning flags to show disrespect for that flag and burning it to show respect.

This flag amendment will not pass, they never do.

When a person burns pour flag in protest they are only showing their profound ignorance.