A question I’ve always had is, isn’t the burning of the American flag in public quite obviously illegal? Maybe not federally but by municipal or state law? Not because it’s the flag, but because you can’t just set fire to things in public?
If I were to take a lawn chair and walk down to my local park and set it on fire and stand there. I imagine it wouldn’t be long before someone showed up and arrested me. I would think the same applies to an American flag.
Same if you do it at a protest.
Shouldn’t the fact that every municipality in the country has laws against public burning render the whole debate moot?
Now if you want to burn the flag in your fire pit at home, burn away scumbag.
Actually, you "retire" an old, frayed flag by burning it. We did it in my sons Boy Scout Troop nearly every camp out.
Now, it is done with respect and with ceremony (ie. properly). It would never be confused with a protest, but the point being, yes it is perfectly legal to burn a flag.
Local fire safety and public nuisance/disturbance laws can still apply.A question I’ve always had is, isn’t the burning of the American flag in public quite obviously illegal? Maybe not federally but by municipal or state law? Not because it’s the flag, but because you can’t just set fire to things in public?
If I were to take a lawn chair and walk down to my local park and set it on fire and stand there. I imagine it wouldn’t be long before someone showed up and arrested me. I would think the same applies to an American flag.
Same if you do it at a protest.
Shouldn’t the fact that every municipality in the country has laws against public burning render the whole debate moot?
Now if you want to burn the flag in your fire pit at home, burn away scumbag.
@squeakyclean But doesn’t it depend where you burn it?
Not that I am aware of. You can do it anywhere from a camp site to a public park to a parking lot.
As long as you are following the proper conduct (respectful, silent, you can salute if you choose, pull the grommets from the ashes, etc.), I'm pretty sure there is no restriction on location.
@bradstevens pretty much every burning of an American flag as a form of protest would violate said laws.
Depends on the situation, but it sure could.@bradstevens pretty much every burning of an American flag as a form of protest would violate said laws.
A question I’ve always had is, isn’t the burning of the American flag in public quite obviously illegal? Maybe not federally but by municipal or state law? Not because it’s the flag, but because you can’t just set fire to things in public?
If I were to take a lawn chair and walk down to my local park and set it on fire and stand there. I imagine it wouldn’t be long before someone showed up and arrested me. I would think the same applies to an American flag.
Same if you do it at a protest.
Shouldn’t the fact that every municipality in the country has laws against public burning render the whole debate moot?
Now if you want to burn the flag in your fire pit at home, burn away scumbag.
Your nearest American Legion Post likely has a designated drop box for worn, frayed flags. They will be disposed of in the prescribed manner.
Calling Sheldon Cooper.