Ridiculous is the “sky-is-falling” argument that our nation cannot have free speech and laws against flag desecration. For more than 100 years, federal law and the laws of 48 states protected our flag from acts of physical desecration. There were no adverse effects on the 1st Amendment. The only reason a constitutional amendment is being sought is the Supreme Court in 1989 left such an amendment as the only recourse of the people. In a 5-4 ruling, the court broadened 1st Amendment interpretation to a point that neither precedent nor the values of the American people support. Forty-nine state legislatures, including Illinois, passed resolutions supporting the amendment.
On behalf of my 2.9-million-member American Legion, I invite Sens. Dick Durbin and Carol Moseley-Braun to vote the will of the people–to vote in favor of the flag-protection constitutional amendment.
