Kaylara
March 13th, 2001, 08:47 PM
Capitol Hill Lawmakers Introduce Flag-Protection Amendment
U.S. Newswire
13 Mar 15:25
Capitol Hill Lawmakers Introduce Flag-Protection Amendment;
Cunningham-Murtha, Hatch-Cleland Measures Dropped in the Hopper
To: National Desk
Contact: Mary Kay Rutledge of the Citizens Flag Alliance,
317-630-1384; Web site: www.cfa-inc.org
WASHINGTON, March 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Senators Orrin Hatch
(R-Utah) and Max Cleland (D-Ga.), Representatives Randy "Duke"
Cunningham (R-Calif.) and John Murtha (D-Pa.) today introduced a
proposed constitutional amendment in both chambers that would
return to the American people the right to protect their flag. The
one sentence amendment reads, "Congress shall have power to
prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United
States." The amendment has more than 100 co-sponsors in the House
of Representatives. Post-election analysis indicates the measure
enjoys support from 308 members of the House -- well over the 290
needed for passage -- and 64 Senators.
"This is a values issue and the entire debate over values is
centered on what we teach our children," said Maj. Gen. Patrick
Brady (USA-Ret.), chairman of the board of directors of The
Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc. (CFA). "Flag burning is wrong, but
what it teaches is worse. It teaches our children disrespect. It
teaches that the hateful conduct of a minority is more important
than the will of the majority. It teaches that our laws need not
reflect our values, and that the courts, not the people, own the
Constitution."
During the 106th Congress a flag-protection amendment passed
overwhelmingly in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of
305-124. The Senate amendment was lost when it failed by four
votes (63-37) to reach the supermajority required for a
constitutional amendment.
In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court took from the American people
the right to protect their flag by invalidating flag protection
laws in 48 states and the District of Columbia. To date, 49 state
legislatures have passed memorializing resolutions asking Congress
to pass an amendment and send it to the states for ratification.
"It is not the flag, it is the Constitution that is at the
center of this struggle," Brady said. "Flag burning is wrong and
few would dispute that. But it is not the flag burners who are the
danger. The danger is from those who call flag burning 'speech.'
They demean the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights and threaten
the very foundation of our Constitution as defined by our founders.
"Our flag ignited a fire in the hearts of our patriots. Burning
the flag will put that fire out," Brady concluded.
------
The Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc. is a broad-based, national
coalition seeking to return to the American people the right to
protect the American flag from acts of physical desecration. Its
membership consists of more than 140 civic, fraternal, veterans,
minority and business organizations including the Fraternal Order
of Police, National Grange, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks,
The American Legion, AMVETS, Gold Star Wives and the
African-American Women's Clergy Association.
http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/0313-132.html
Thoughts?
Kaylara
U.S. Newswire
13 Mar 15:25
Capitol Hill Lawmakers Introduce Flag-Protection Amendment;
Cunningham-Murtha, Hatch-Cleland Measures Dropped in the Hopper
To: National Desk
Contact: Mary Kay Rutledge of the Citizens Flag Alliance,
317-630-1384; Web site: www.cfa-inc.org
WASHINGTON, March 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Senators Orrin Hatch
(R-Utah) and Max Cleland (D-Ga.), Representatives Randy "Duke"
Cunningham (R-Calif.) and John Murtha (D-Pa.) today introduced a
proposed constitutional amendment in both chambers that would
return to the American people the right to protect their flag. The
one sentence amendment reads, "Congress shall have power to
prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United
States." The amendment has more than 100 co-sponsors in the House
of Representatives. Post-election analysis indicates the measure
enjoys support from 308 members of the House -- well over the 290
needed for passage -- and 64 Senators.
"This is a values issue and the entire debate over values is
centered on what we teach our children," said Maj. Gen. Patrick
Brady (USA-Ret.), chairman of the board of directors of The
Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc. (CFA). "Flag burning is wrong, but
what it teaches is worse. It teaches our children disrespect. It
teaches that the hateful conduct of a minority is more important
than the will of the majority. It teaches that our laws need not
reflect our values, and that the courts, not the people, own the
Constitution."
During the 106th Congress a flag-protection amendment passed
overwhelmingly in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of
305-124. The Senate amendment was lost when it failed by four
votes (63-37) to reach the supermajority required for a
constitutional amendment.
In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court took from the American people
the right to protect their flag by invalidating flag protection
laws in 48 states and the District of Columbia. To date, 49 state
legislatures have passed memorializing resolutions asking Congress
to pass an amendment and send it to the states for ratification.
"It is not the flag, it is the Constitution that is at the
center of this struggle," Brady said. "Flag burning is wrong and
few would dispute that. But it is not the flag burners who are the
danger. The danger is from those who call flag burning 'speech.'
They demean the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights and threaten
the very foundation of our Constitution as defined by our founders.
"Our flag ignited a fire in the hearts of our patriots. Burning
the flag will put that fire out," Brady concluded.
------
The Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc. is a broad-based, national
coalition seeking to return to the American people the right to
protect the American flag from acts of physical desecration. Its
membership consists of more than 140 civic, fraternal, veterans,
minority and business organizations including the Fraternal Order
of Police, National Grange, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks,
The American Legion, AMVETS, Gold Star Wives and the
African-American Women's Clergy Association.
http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/0313-132.html
Thoughts?
Kaylara