[HogsBreath]

You can steal an American flag, burn it, and piss on it....and that is political speech. You CAN'T commit petty theft of a rainbow flag and burn it....that gets you more time in prison than armed robbery. I am having a problem with the logic here.....

[mylife]

We ALL have issue with it.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Yep what about the concept of punishment fitting the crime?

Or is it a crime against humanity, to violate the special LGBT flag?

He absolutely broke the law and deserves punishment. But it’s boggling that he gets more time than some violent killers.

[mylife]

Dont forget peeing on Christ.

[Jan_Sobieski]

This is insane!? How can a person commit a “hate crime” against an inanimate object? Most murderers get off in 6-7 years now days. This man must have offended the PC gods...

[Mark17]

I am having a problem with the logic here.....

I believe that is a bit of an understatement sir.

[imardmd1]

He would have been subject to less punitive action if he had just burned the church down, with the flag as collateral damage, umnspecified.

[nwrep]

I am having a problem with the logic here.....

I don't see a problem. This was stolen from someone's property, the owner was threatened/harassed, then the flag was set on fire.

On the other hand, taking an American flag that one owns to a rally for which one has a permit and then burns it is manifestly a different operational sequence. That becomes protected speech under the protest permit that one receives for the rally.

[Repent and Believe]

Sodomy is a mortal sin and an act of unfathomable FILTH.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I wonder if the church sought dialogue and leniency.
Looks like not.

[Dr. Sivana]

My wife told me a woman who ignored a school bus stop sign plowed into three children (from the same family), killing them, and got four years.

[escapefromboston]

At most the guy should be given a fine for destruction of property. This sentence is outrageous and the Judge should be removed.

[colorado tanker]

You can burn a US flag if it's your own, but you can't steal someone else's.

The outrageous thing about this case is they boosted a petty theft charge into a 15 year sentence by claiming a "hate crime." I'd love to see a court reverse that on First Amendment grounds.

[Oscar in Batangas]

At least we have our legal precedent for the next American Flag burning case.

Isn’t this what they call “established law” or something??

[SkyDancer]

Sounds like he had a lousy lawyer.

[napscoordinator]

Good grief. At best this guy should get community service for a weekend.

[A Navy Vet]

Probably has a rap sheet.

[dsc]

Haven’t seen the name of the judge reported anywhere.

[Fester Chugabrew]

15 years?!!!!!

[Gay State Conservative]

That verdict wouldn’t last a minute in the Federal courts.

[coaster123]

This is what the left wants for you until the time at which the left can be candid.

Anyone who cavorts with leftists (like the idiot who supports his demented and demonic cousin) needs to be taught a lasting lesson.