SteveR Loc: Michigan

I read this story and it seems like the most preposterous thing I've read lately. Many of you are old enough to recall when during the Republican Convention was in Dallas in 1980 Gregory Lee Johnson burned the U.S. flag outside the Dallas Convention Center and was arrested. Eventually, the Supreme Court threw out his conviction as being protected under the First Amendment, as have been all U.S. flage burnings ever since. Apparently burning the LGBTQ flag is not protected by the First Amendment. At least in Iowa.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/iowa-lgbtq-flag-fire-church-prison

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Steve, these issues get complicated. It's not necessarily the burning of the flag that is the issue. In this case, he stole the flag he burned. Although the flag Johnson burned was taken from a building, as well, I'm sure the circumstances were probably different. Attaching the catchphrase "hate crime" is another issue. Hate crimes should be directed to a particular person or group of persons. "Hate crime" should not be attached to a particular dislike of a philosophy, a lifestyle, or religious belief.

Personally, I think a lot of money thrown at a Constitutional lawyer would probably get an appeal to a higher court and this would be reduced to a slap on the wrist and a substantial fine.
--Bob

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Hate Crime = Thought Crime

thomseninc

I wish somebody would challenge the Constitutionality of the "Hate Crime" laws. How can we pretend to have equal protection under the law when some select groups are more protected than others.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Bob I think you are correct. In reality this case is nothing more than petty theft of the flag and then malicious mischief for burning it. But the real crux of the matter is that LGBT issues are big in the news today and they are looked upon as a protected class though I don't know if the Federal government has really put them in the protected class category. There is no reason they should be protected.

People of LGBT nature are there because of their difference in sexual desires. Let's face it sex truly belongs in the bedroom where heterosexuals have tried to keep it for generation. I have gay friends and they know I don't care what they do as long as they don't shove it in my face militantly and keep it in the bedroom which they do.

Yet people who are trying to bring down America continue to bring up every aspect they can to promote division when possible. In my opinion THAT is what is happening here.

Dennis

Elaine2025 Loc: Seattle, Wa