Flag burning

Apparently a man in Illinois has been arrested for burning and American flag and sharing it on Facebook. He also received death threats for it, but the people who issued them faced no consequences.

So, what do you think? Should flag burning be illegal? If so, why? Personally, I think that it's pointless but support everyone's right to burn whichever inanimate object they want, as long as it doesn't belong to someone else. Punishing people for flag burning resembles blasphemy laws a bit too much.

To me, it's just another piece of material.

I suppose for some it's offensive because of what the flag symbolises but even then people should have the freedom to burn it if they wish (provided it belongs to them, of course).

Sending a death threat is worse than burning a flag.

Well, burning the American flag is a crime. I'm pretty sure it's a federal crime too. If he filmed himself doing it and posted it online he will most definitely be convicted of the crime. I am an American and I personally feel it should not be a crime. It should be protected under the first amendment of free speech. I think the American flag is merely just a symbol and I don't think symbols should be given any kind of special protection under the law. He should not have filmed himself committing a crime and posting it online.

Apparently a man in Illinois has been arrested for burning and American flag and sharing it on Facebook. He also received death threats for it, but the people who issued them faced no consequences.

So, what do you think? Should flag burning be illegal? If so, why? Personally, I think that it's pointless but support everyone's right to burn whichever inanimate object they want, as long as it doesn't belong to someone else. Punishing people for flag burning resembles blasphemy laws a bit too much.

It is not against the law in America. Protected by freedom of speech, either something else went on or the cops were being Idiots

It's possible that it's against the state law was of Illinois, but one would think that the First Amendment trumps any state laws.

For a country so into free speech, arresting him was the height of hypocrisy.

Burning a flag, unless he was alone, could be called a protest or a demonstration. You need a permit to demonstrate in public. Maybe he didn't have one. I do know flags are burned all the time and no one gets arrested.

Apparently a man in Illinois has been arrested for burning and American flag and sharing it on Facebook. He also received death threats for it, but the people who issued them faced no consequences.

So, what do you think? Should flag burning be illegal? If so, why? Personally, I think that it's pointless but support everyone's right to burn whichever inanimate object they want, as long as it doesn't belong to someone else. Punishing people for flag burning resembles blasphemy laws a bit too much.

I just read the article about this incident. The reason given by the police for the arrest was that the flag burning produced such a negative response from his neighbors and others that they were concerned for the mans safety. Sounds great but I have a more probable explanation for his arrest. The guy pissed off the cops.
Knowing how the average American cop feels about flag burners this guys safety was not first on their list. This isn't to say that they wanted him seriously hurt but when this guy said something smart ass just one too many times they arrested him on a bogus charge of flag desecration. Chances are good they had no intention of arresting him but when he couldn't keep mouth shut..........

The article doesn't suggest this. It looks like a considered decision the day after the flag burning took place. As such, I think this is going to run, and the lawsuit for the unconstitutional arrest is probably being written as we comment.

I don't think there will be a lot of taxpayer sympathy here, where there would have been if the police had acted on the spur of the moment.