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He stood in his front yard, on a public road—to be in the public's face—and slashed an American flag? I don't see why that's not fighting words, yelling-fire-in-a-theater actionable, for starters on grounds of disturbing the peace. I also favor flag-desecration ordinances and bans on public displays or sale of pornography. Public morality has to be allowed to protect itself. Think about it: If the guy really wanted to slash a flag privately, he would have done so. But he wouldn't have, because he's an America-hating jerk.

The public space has legitimate rights to protection from genuine scandal—and I mean as traditionally understood, not PC specialness. This is not inconsistent with free speech (flag-desecration isn't speech anyway), and was never considered so until the insane Supreme Court struck down anti-obscenity laws starting in 1966 with the Fanny Hill decision.

As Adams pointed out, a republican form of government can only survive with a people who are moral and religious. We need to be forthright enough to defend our flag and the 10 Commandments, and our guns as well. We are Americans, and we entitled to the principles of public order and genuine morality.

"As Adams pointed out, a republican form of government can only survive with a people who are moral and religious."

You either have free speech or you don't. The First Amendment is there to protect the right of the individual to voice his opinion AND to illustrate it through physical actions as well. You may not agree with it but it is his right to burn the flag in protest. Its what makes this country great.

“I don’t see why that’s not fighting words”

For the same reason we don’t let liberals jail you and punish you for saying something negative about their “Lord and Savior”, their “dad”, Obama.

Hell, we could REQUIRE you to stand in your front yard, display a flag, salute it and say the pledge or else if it weren’t for free speech.

If those are “fighting words” then you need to seriously grow the Hell up.

He stood in his front yard, on a public road

A front yard is not a public road. It is private property. That's different than the public square.

He's an America hating jerk, but that in itself isn't illegal, nor should be.

As far as obscenity laws go, the problem there is that they are hard to define.

We are Americans, and we entitled to the principles of public order and genuine morality.

Morality in whose eyes? Morality is something that is between me, my conscience, my family, friends, and God. Not government. Not "society." If I say that I don't support gay behavior in public, that's now in many eyes as immoral has calling an 70 year old church lady a word that begins with c that isn't in my vocabulary. I don't trust "public order" anymore either, not with how school admins and our government officials run things.

Distasteful behavior is bad, but shouldn't necessarily be illegal with misdemeanors and felonies that goes on the record (for everything these days). Sometimes an old fashion arse-kicking is the better solution.