Reply #23: There is more nuance to the bill than the headline shows

[MADem]

The key phrases have to do with INTIMIDATION (that is the civil rights aspect) and burning a flag that does not belong to you, as well as doing it on Federal property:

In her public statements, she has compared the act of flag-burning to burning a cross, which can be considered a violation of federal civil rights law.

The Bennett-sponsored measure outlaws a protester intimidating any person by burning the flag, lighting someone else's flag, or desecrating the flag on federal property.

Near as I can tell, if you don't steal someone else's flag, scare the shit out of them while burning it (wade into a pro-Bush rally and light 'er up), and don't do it in the Pentagon parking lot or other federal facility, you're still OK.

It is a pandering measure, but not the all-out prohibition that the headline suggests.

I wish they'd enforce the prohibition on desecration WRT Dumbya autographing flags, as well as all those cheesy Nine One One flags that everyone wrote all over.