What should be the penalty for burning the flag?

1. 81

   Marcy Goodfleischposted 8 years ago

   What should be the penalty for burning the flag?
   
   This is being discussed in the news and some are saying there should be stiff penalties. What do you think?

   replyreport
2. 77

   randslamposted 8 years ago

   There is no punishment for expressing your opinion...a flag is a flag...time to get over this non-issue.

   replyreport
   1. 82

      gregasposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Rand, were you ever in the military? The burning of the American flag is an issue if you ever lost friends or relatives defending this country which is what that flag stands for.

      replyreport
   2. 77

      randslamposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Gregas, I don't need to be in the military to know this is a "non-issue". It is--I'm sorry that you may have lost friends...we all have...but I didn't need to be in the military to do that--just a writer/artist/human being.

      replyreport
   3. 87

      Jackie Lynnleyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      No Greg, he does not understand, as many don't, nor even try to.

      replyreport
3. 68

   chefsrefposted 8 years ago

   This is free speech, exactly what our military fights for. Example: in Thailand you can be jailed for insulting the king. Imagine if in America it was made a crime to insult the President. The right wing including Trump, would all be in jail for insulting Obama. Now it would be leftists going to jail for insulting Trump.
   It's worth saying that the approved method of destroying an old or tattered flag is to burn it. Thus flag burning would only be banned if it stood for a message, free speech!

   replyreport
4. 74

   Aime Fposted 8 years ago

   Nothing. 
   
   I think it's disrespectful but attaching a penalty to a symbol sets a weird precedent.

   replyreport
5. 68

   Ceegenposted 8 years ago

   I served 7 years in the armed forces, and I don't think there should be a penalty for burning the flag. Sure it might be disrespectful and I don't particularly like it, but it is after all just a flag. I can just go to Wal-Mart and buy another one that was made in China for real cheap...

   replyreport
6. 59

   fpherj48posted 8 years ago

   I've never really given any thought to there being a sort of penalty for flag-burning.  I seriously doubt that would ever be an issue. 
   I feel pretty much the same across the board about ignorant low-lifes who find it necessary to burn our flag, lash out in violent protests, creating destruction and injury, & instigating hatred & chaos. 
   Let the idiots do their asinine thing....allow them their "rights" to speak, protest & assemble, however outrageous & insane is their action......with a bit of luck, they might light themselves on fire, get their empty head cracked open by a fellow-lunatic, perhaps roll a police vehicle over onto 2 or 3 flag burners as they watch the flames burn high.
   No penalties need be imposed.  It's punishment and disgrace enough to be seen & identified as brainless, disrespectful, morally bankrupt pieces of human excrement.  Eventually they'll destroy themselves.....can't be soon enough for the law-abiding, loyal, proud patriots.

   replyreport
   1. 87

      Jackie Lynnleyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Amen to that! lol

      replyreport
7. 87

   Jackie Lynnleyposted 8 years ago

   Cannot believe I am going to say no, it is not a crime, it is only a symbol of something. I do think though it is a real shame because of what it means to ones who love America and the military it represents and freedom they help hold for us through their lives. I do think it shows who real Americans are and who are not; so maybe it is good to let it happen so we can keep a good eye on the enemy. That may be really important up ahead you never know.

   replyreport
8. 91

   lisavollrathposted 8 years ago

   No penalty. The Supreme Court ruled in 1989 that it is unconstitutional for any government to prohibit the desecration of a flag. It is considered symbolic speech, and protected by the First Amendment.

   replyreport
9. 68

   PhoenixVposted 8 years ago

   Everyone take notice of, I presume the liberals will suddenly be for freedom of speech and expression. On another QA They will hypocritically demand there be consequences. You might want to rethink your ideology or maybe it's character or notably the lack thereof, if one is inconsistent to this degree.

   replyreport
10. 83

    tamarawilhiteposted 8 years ago

    There should be no criminal penalty for burning the American flag, rainbow flag, Bible or Koran.
    But liberals have to be consistent - all or none, no immoral double standards.

    replyreport
    1. 87

       Jackie Lynnleyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Exactly!

       replyreport
    2. 59

       fpherj48posted 7 years agoin reply to this

       Oh, I would only approve of burning the Koran, if a boatload of Isis Terrorist savages were each holding one.  Why waste a good match just on a book?

       replyreport
11. 62

    wingedcentaurposted 7 years ago

    When you effectively dare people to do something (with some vague penalty hanging in the air), certain contrary souls are going to do it. Why is it that burning the American flag is even an issue?
    
    I think that, probably, somebody "dared" somebody else to do it. The latter somebody did do it; and I bet things snowballed from there. If you keep saying---and I'm not saying that you are saying this, Marcy Goodfleisch---"Don't burn the flag!" "Don't burn the flag!" "Don't burn the flag!," somebody will say to himself: "Well, why shouldn't I burn the flag?"
    
    You know, when you think about it, it's kind of like Prohibition. If you tell 10 people not to do something---eight of them will do it, five of them to great excess.
    
    What I'm saying, then, is that, in my opinion, it is the prohibition that creates the issue in the first place.

    replyreport
12. 60

    songboatposted 7 years ago

    It is my opinion that the symbolism is to show government that their actions disrespect the Nation, the people and the world. My father did not serve in the US Navy for me to have my property stolen by corrupt local government officials on behalf of one of their own. In fact his ship took a hit in the South Pacific, he was on the USS Cabot and he would turn over in his grave is he saw what my local officials intentionally did to me.

    replyreport
13. 84

    RJ Schwartzposted 7 years ago

    As a Veteran, I am totally disgusted by someone burning the flag.  I don't think their should be any penalties for it, BUT, I do think if our education system returned to teaching civics and focused on the history of America instead of social justice, that we'd see fewer people want to engage in anti-American activities such as flag burning, ANTIFA protests, BLM, and the rest.
    
    Too many people don't understand the price of the freedom - I'd recommend a long visit to Arlington Cemetery with their eyes open and mouths shut.  Watch the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice grieve for their sons and daughters.  You might be anti-war, but war often comes unexpectedly and without notice.  That flag is more than just a piece of fabric; it's a way of life.

    replyreport