Posted on 11/29/2016 10:01:18 AM PST by Kaslin
Donald Trump came under heavy criticism Tuesday after calling for the criminalization of burning the American flag, with critics gasping that the president-elect’s words represent a threat to the First Amendment. However, Trump’s suggestions are similar to a bill pushed in the Senate in 2005 that would criminalize flag burning – a bill that was co-sponsored by then-Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Trump tweeted that there should be “consequences” for the burning of the flag -- including a year in jail or a loss of citizenship -- which is seen by many as an act of desecration.
Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag - if they do, there must be consequences - perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2016
The president-elect came under immediate fire for his comments. Mother Jones called it “a terrifying sign of how he may crack down on dissent during his administration, even if it means trampling the Constitution in the process."
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However, despite the Supreme Court’s pronouncements on the issue, seeking to criminalize flag burning has been a regular occurance in American politics, and was pushed in 2005 by Trumps’ Democratic presidential rival and former New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
In 2005, Clinton co-sponsored the Flag Protection Act which, while it did not call for the stripping of citizenship, made flag burning with the intent to incite violence or disturb the peace punishable by a year in jail and a $100,000 fine.
-- Snip --
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Trump needs to ref this fact in his rebuttal Tweet
Can we burn the Koran? Or is it only taxpayer-paid-for-”art” if the crucifix is displayed in urine, and the BVM is displayed under dung?
The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:
- The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
- The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
- The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard
- The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
- The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
- The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
I’d rather outlaw burning the flag than encouraging it like we have the last 8 years.
I’m glad he said it and I agree with him.
Personally, I think they are both wrong. I may not (and do not) like that someone would burn the flag, but, burning the flag should no more be against the law than my wiping with pages out of the Koran.
Free Speech means all speech is free, else we are just disagreeing on what is politically correct speech.
And the Supreme Court condoned it ruling that it was an expression free speech. My A@@!!!!!!!
Have you served your country in the Armed Forces to be able to say this? Or has someone in your family served to give you the freedom to say this? Best think about that...
political speech is the most cherished of freedom of speech examples. Marching, carrying signs, wearing slogans on T-shorts, equating outside the WH on Pennsylvania avenue for months are all “actions” nor literal speech, but they are protected as free speech because they are forms of political protest.
Conservative who favor restrictions are opening a pandoras box which under a different administration will bite us in the ass.
Burning the Flag is not free speech!!! It is total disrespect for the United States of America and the millions of people who have sacrificed their lives, fortunes and sacred honor so you can live like you do.
"The Flag Protection Act of 2005 was a proposed United States federal law introduced by Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah), with original co-sponsor Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).[1] Additional co-sponsors include Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Thomas Carper (D-Del.). The law would have prohibited burning or otherwise destroying and damaging the US flag with the primary purpose of intimidation or inciting immediate violence or for the act of terrorism. It called for a punishment of no more than one year in prison and a fine of no more than $100,000; unless that flag was property of the United States Government, in which case the penalty would be a fine of not more than $250,000, not more than two years in prison, or both.[1][2][3]"
...Trump takes heat for wanting to outlaw flag burning — but Clinton wanted the same in 2005...
The rules are always different for Democrats
Burn the “rainbow” flag and see what happens.
That’s exactly why he tweeted it...
And another important issue, there was a time when her Thighness and Dingy Harry Reid wanted border security.
http://www.breitbart.com/live/third-presidential-debate-fact-check-livewire/fact-check-yes-hillary-clinton-wanted-wall/
Then they did an about face, thinking those illegal votes would push the `rat candidate over the top earlier this month. Democrats are like lice.
We’re going to secure our southwestern border. After a quarter century of uniparty perfidy, it’s good to feel hopeful again, isn’t it, on so many things?
I have never agreed with the Court on burning our flag as `free speech’. Peaceable assembly never contemplated arson; free speech contemplated “fighting words” or conduct. Libertarians and `rats can console themselves with their ‘Piss Christ’ photos.
Excellent point.
Should not be allowed is not the same as would not be allowed.
Thanks for that post!
Trump says something seemingly over-the-top, and gets the MSM lemmings to focus on something that they’ve been trying to ignore. They fall for it over and over again. Arrogance is truly a roadblock to enlightenment.
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