Senator Vitter Returned my E-Mail Regarding a Constitutional Amendment Banning Flag Burning

Senator Vitter responded to my letter regarding the horrendous thought of a constitutional amendment regarding flag desecration. Read his response below. Unfortunately, I sent my letter using the senator's website and forgot to save a copy. For the record: I am AGAINST a constitutional amendment banning flag burning. Flag burning is a form of expression and is protected by the First Amendment. I am for protecting the Constitution and an amendment banning flag burning would be a direct assault on the Constitution.

The Response:

"Dear Ms. Finley,

Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to a constitutional amendment to ban desecration of the U.S. flag. I appreciate hearing your views on this important issue.



In 1968, Congress passed the Flag Protection Act, which prohibited flag desecration to prevent those protesting the conflict in Vietnam from burning the American flag for which our soldiers were fighting and dying. This Act was upheld by federal and state courts for twenty years. However, in 1989 and 1990 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in two separate cases that burning the American flag during a political protest is constitutionally protected free speech (Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman).



Since the Supreme Court's rulings in 1989 and 1990, each Congress has considered a constitutional amendment to empower Congress to protect the physical integrity of the American flag. Under the First Amendment to the Constitution, every American has a right to free speech. However, I do not believe that this freedom can be extended to the act of burning the American flag. The American flag is a symbol of hard-won freedoms, including the freedom of speech. The act of burning the flag shows a lack of respect for the men and women who have died to make the United States of America what it is today. Unfortunately, I must respectfully disagree with you on this issue.



Thank you again for contacting me, and please feel free to contact me in the future about issues important to you.




Sincerely,


Senator David Vitter
United States Senator"


(NOTE: Thanks Senator Vitter for standing up to protect the rights of the citezenry, with congressional dipshits like you who needs terrorists?)