http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/20...uct-taped.html

The man sat duct-taped as the town held its fall youth soccer picnic with a long parade of children passing in front of him.
The Times Union reported:


The young man was given three choices: get turned over to the police, go one-on-one in a fight with a seasoned war veteran, or be duct-taped to a flagpole for six hours with a sign around his neck identifying his alleged crime: flag burning.

It was the third option that would still have the small town buzzing a week after a 21-year-old was hunted down and forced to endure a public humiliation with its roots dating to the Middle Ages. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1938 were incensed enough to tie up the man last Sunday after they accused him of setting the flag in front of their building on fire.

Post Commander Nick Normile, a Vietnam War veteran, said the man came into the post's bar Sept. 18 on Poplar Avenue and was eventually turned away for not having a proper ID.

Apparently angered, the young man, who Normile did not want to name, cut the rope of the American flag flying overhead and used a cigarette lighter to set it on fire, Normile and others said.

The man sat pilloried as the village had its fall youth soccer picnic with a long parade of children passing in front of him.



"He'll never disrespect the flag again, I can tell you that," Normile said.

Normile said the flag had at one point flown over U.S. troops in Iraq had special significance.

Veterans, both local and nationwide, responded to the event as accountings were posted online to the official VFW Facebook page and national Web site. Comments posted supported the act and added ideas for further punishment.

Old fashioned justice in a modern age, what a unique idea.

Another ACLU lawsuit just waiting to happen.

I love a happy ending.

you betcha....how dare somebody commit arson and destruction of private property....the a.c.l.oosers should throw the book at the idiot tied to the pole...

Sniff, sniff......I just love a happy ending!

Sounds about right to me

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- The Federalist #46 -

Thanks for the link, I especially enjoyed the vid of the head VFW guy being interviewed.

Hope the VFW guys don't get into trouble, they shouldn't, but it just might happen given today's climate.

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Barry, youngest son of Claud

I wasn't going to respond to this thread because I despise folks who burn the flag, but any decent lib lawyer could win this case for the scumbag with ease. I hope he doesn't decide to sue. I believe he would win.

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Freedom above all else.

He got off too easy.............

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Dom

Ditto.....He's a low-life but any lawyer would win this case for him.He could end up rich because of this.What they did may have felt good to them but some of them could actually serve time (prison).

My feelings about people who desecrate the flag which represents the country in which they enjoy their rights and priveleges are not suitable for print.

Sounds like the young man chose his own punishment. If you or I were on the jury he would not win.

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SC Army National Guard

Ditto +1 .

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

Ditto +1

wyo-man

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Live free or die

I agree with you on this, but remember not enough people think the way we do. Look at the last election as an example.

I have a feeling there are enough candy *** PC people that would allow him to win if they were on a jury.

I love it!!!! Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

Sad but true

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SC Army National Guard

Advised of his options, it sounds like the punk "voluntarily" decided to wear the duct tape "costume" while celebrating the event. If this is co-ercion then plea bargaining should be outlawed.

He should have been painted red white and blue and run up the flag pole by his neck, or big toe, or maybe a certain male appendage.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Luckily he didn't have an accident and get his own hair set on fire. They were more than kind to him IMHO.

In most countries you get shot for that.

There is only one reason to set a flag on fire, and that is at the end of its useful life, in a separate container not used for anything else in a solemn ceremony in a respectful way. Never throw away a flag- bunting yes, flag- no.

I've heard that VFW's and American Legions will kindly dispose of worn and used up flags for you, although I've never asked.
I've also been told that if you do have many of them, only one should be done at a time. I have three old worn out flags in the closet, and just can't bring myself to get rid of them.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

You got that right! He should have every hair on his body, not his head (I'm not vindictive) removed by duct tape!



.

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PC, censorship
with a smile.

Man!
By the looks of things I would not fair well in court.
I think he should have been duct taped to the pole, had his butt kicked by any and all and then been turned over to the police.
Thanks
Mike

he chose to not go with the police even though he was given that option....he wimped out when a veteran told him to stand his yellow spine up.....so he chose to duct tape himself......it wasnt a mob forcing him to...had he felt threatened why didnt go with the police option....

personally, he should have gotten a punch in the mouth from an unknown person because im sure nonbody there would have saw anything...

This is true. When he decided to burn the flag outside of a VFW post because they wouldn't serve him at their bar, he pretty much said "screw America and my rights".

Though it always amazes me how people who burn flags are so quick to hide behind the protections that America (and the flag, through that) symbolize. What a hypocrisy.

Considering that they had a flag pole and piece of rope handy, he could have been given a 4th choice..........

Lighting a flag in front of a VFW.....sounds like an attempted case of "suicide by stupidity".

He did get off easy and no he would not win a law suit in the county where I live.

One thing I can't stand is when someone burns a flag.To me that is the biggest disrespect to a country and it's people.I would have knocked his teeth out and then given him a good hiding.


Ken

In my ignorance of the law, I must say that he damaged the VFW property (cutting the halyard), then attempted even further damage burning their flag. Most likely he was trespassing since he was ordered to leave.
Surely we can find someone who will defend the action of the irate citizens, protecting their property?

The anti war protesters found legal cover by burning their own flag and calling it free speech. This doesn’t sound the same to me.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

I have often wondered how come flag burning is legal and cross burning is not? To me they are both equally repugnant, but if one is protected speech then the other should be also.

he certainly got what he deserved...unfortunately how long will it be before someone tells him just how much money he can make on this venture??!pretty sure its wishfull thinking to believe he realized the error of his ways and will not pursue the matter...this may be a story to follow

Don't forget book burning and bra burning (if you're old enough to remember that one).

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You are what you learn.

I am old enough to remember, but just barely. Draft cards too.

Aussie, just to ask because of curiosity...

How are Australians taught to dispose of your national flags when they are at the end of their useful life? Any different than here, or is it even an issue?

Also, is it "legal" for folks to burn an Australian flag in Australia under your "free speech" laws, or is it outlawed?

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Lost it all in a boat accident

I am not a lawyer, but I do have an opinion. I think if he burned the flag as a protest against the military or the VFW it might be taken as protected free speech and some shyster from the ACLU could make a case of it. In this case he destroyed VFW property and burned the flag because they refused to serve him a drink. That sounds like malicious mischief to me.

Frank

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sona si latine loqueris .

Sue? Somebody might. But .......

How often have we seen "socially responsible" people commit outrageous crimes involving arson, paint, etc., and offer up (and get away with) a "choice of evils" defense?

It was either do this to the man, or commit an act of barbarism.

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and what his trumpet saith

As long as it's your cross and you don't plant it in someone else's yard first, how would it be illegal to burn one?

Andy Griffith.I dug this up for you.

• Desecrating or otherwise dishonouring the Australian National Flag or an Australian Ensign, or
• Burning, mutilating or otherwise destroying the Australian National Flag or an Australian Ensign, without lawful authority.

The maximum penalty is set at 100 penalty units ($11 000).


http://www.foxflags.com.au/4-FlagFAQ/FlagProtocol.php

Flag Disposal is a subject that should be treated with the respect that a nations most visible symbol deserves. The following ceremony should be carried out with dignity and proper respect.

• Burning
• Bury

Ken

I don't remember the specific case but IIRC the Supreme Court ruled that if the burning was meant to "intimidate", then it was not protected, at least on public land (I'm not sure about private land.) That gives it less protection than flag burning, which they have held to be protected speech on public land.

I don't want to come across as defending cross burning either. I just don't see how they can forbid the one on the hazy grounds of "intimidation" while allowing the other.

Edited to add: the case was Virginia v. Black:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_v._Black

Apparently, as long as the state can prove intent to intimidate with the threat of impending violence, they can prohibit cross burning. Sounds to me like they are simply protecting speech they like (flag burning) and not protecting speech they don't like (cross burning.) It's very confusing to those of us who don't like either, but believe in the 1st Amendment.

Many years ago , a few of us Sailors and Marines from Norfolk went to the beach for a day. Some guy with long dreadlocks showed up with his girlfriend and were using a large American flag as their beach towel!

Let's just say we used our , 'freedom of expression' to show our disagreement with his views.

If the flag belongs to someone else, it's probably vandalism. If you want to burn it, you better buy it first.

Maybe the next time he burns a flag, he'll wrap himself in it first.

I have thought regarding the flag burner strap him down to old sparky and pull the switch, in fact i volunteer to pull the switch myself.

^^^gotta agree with both of the above posters.

I too have no time for those that disrespect our flag, but the truth is, vigilante justice has no real place in America either and the disrespecting of our justice system is no different than disrespecting the flag.

Pretty much the Flag belongs to all of us. When you take possession of a Flag you're responsible for it's care and treatment to the best of your ability as it's not yours it's everyone's. If a lawsuit was to be brought in this case it should be in the form of a class action suit. We the citizens of the U.S. against the desecrator of OUR Flag.

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SOS USA

No that is Federal AND a Felony. Know why O.J. is is prison? Kidnapping. Kidnapping, besides forcing someone to go with you, also includes preventing someone from going somewhere. That is what they got O.J. on. PREVENTING the guy from leaving his room while O.J., and friends, searched it.

Link doesn't work for me.

But yeah... in Kalifornistan that VFW post would be writing the d'bag rent checks for the rest of his life.

And if it's OK to do that, I sure hope I don't "look like someone who did something." I've been the victim of mistaken identity and it sucked like a Dyson Animal.

I remember, but for the most part the ones burning their bra were not worth looking at, or touching.