Teen spends 9 days in jail for Burning Flag

[hrscowboy]

Fox News

Marysville Tenn-

A teenager was jailed for nine days after being accused of burning an American flag on the Fourth of July, and faces trial next month.

While the case could test a state statue against flag burning and act that the US Supreme Court says is protected under the first ammendent, Prosecutors said Andrew Staley has yet to argue that he was exercising free speech rights.

Bottom line is the kid got drunk said his mother hes never been in trouble before.

Staley 18 is accused of taking the flag from a residence and setting it on fire. His father stated this boy has no reason for anger against the United states and could have easily ignited a garbage can instead of a flag.

Staleys father also said this boy knows right from wrong and has been nothing but problems when he quit school this year.

The teenager was released from jail thursday on his own recognizance while he awaits his Aug 2 trial on charges of desecrating a venerated object, underage drinking, littering, evading arrest, burning personal property and theft.

The Tennessee flag burning statue makes the crime a misdemeanor, punishable by less than a year in jail and a 2,500 dollar fine...

[mrbsox]

Now...
IN MY OPINION
His parents should also be involved in this some how.

a) They acknowledge he was drunk. Where did he get alcohol at age 18 ?? Where was his supervision ??

b) If he has been trouble since getting out of school, why haven't THEY done something to occupy his time, like GET A JOB ?? I'm guessing he lives at home, with all the comforts of mom's apron strings.

c) If he 'knows right from wrong', have they taken a belt to his A$$ yet ?? Perhaps he was never taught that ARSON is wrong. That makes it his PARENT's fault.

[hrscowboy]

Burn some other countries flag and see what happens to you. It has always amazed me that all the men and women that have fought for and died for our flag that our own supreme court could make a dumb arse ruling like they have..

[hrscowboy]

In my eyes you burn my flag or stomp on it and your an american your a traitor in my eyes and you should be deported and banned from ever coming into the United States again...

[Old Marine]

This kids father sounds dumber than a rock and the kid seems to be following in his footsteps.

Tenn. should lock up his mother & father for letting the kid run around without supervision.

[hrscowboy]

What i dont understand is this kid is 18 years old is he not considered an adult in Tenn. ? he damn sure would be here in Kansas..

[KingDonkeyPunch]

They should institute public humiliation for crimes like this. Bring back the stockade, or public spankings like in Singapore. I think, only then would people really learn. I mean, who would want to commit a crime if the punishment was a bare-a$$ed public paddling. I think punk kids would think twice before vandalism and such. Hell, more parents should beat their kids.

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by KingDonkeyPunch
They should institute public humiliation for crimes like this. Bring back the stockade, or public spankings like in Singapore. I think, only then would people really learn. I mean, who would want to commit a crime if the punishment was a bare-a$$ed public paddling. I think punk kids would think twice before vandalism and such. Hell, more parents should beat their kids.

As much as I agree with you, I can only say four letters. ACLU! They would lambast the local governments with compensatory law suits for cruel and unusual punishment. The end of it all would be some very rich young punks.

[KingDonkeyPunch]

Did I mention I also hate hippies? Cruel and unusual punishment? This was the norm back in the day. What ever happened to the idea of "The punishment should fit the crime"? Then people wonder why crimes that are being commited are becoming more and more awful.

[Sidewinder]

First of all, I have never been able to determine when freedom of speech became freedom of expression. I know some liberals somehow got it changed to fit their agendas, but that's not how it is worded in the Constitution.

When I was a kid, I remember that if the colors were passing during a parade, you removed your cover and put it over your heart. If you weren't wearing a cover, you placed your hand over your heart as a sign of respect. Also, you never let it touch the ground. I remember my veteran grandfather, father and uncles who weren't marching in the parade saluting the flag. What has happened in this country where so many have no respect for the flag and law makers who want to allow it?

Desecrating the symbol of our freedom is not "freedom of expression!"

[KingDonkeyPunch]

You're right. Burning our national colors is the freedom to get intoduced to the buisness end of my shoe. That is freedom of expression right there.

[DanCross]

This kid sounds like am imbred idiot, and obviously did wrong, but I don't like it when people make blanket statements about burning flags. Here's why....

As far as I'm aware, the proper way to dispose of a flag that has been rendered unservicable for one reason or another is still to burn it. According to the website http://www.flagkeepers.org/, `The U.S. Flag Code states, "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning".'

NOW, I know everyone is saying, ``oh, yes yes, we know that, but that's different...I didn't mean flag disposal, I meant burning it to make some sort of political statement (or because you're imbred and drunk and your parents didn't raise you right)....'', but just please bear in mind that there *are* legitimate reasons to burn flags, that come from honorable and respectful motives.

Semper Fi.

[Joseph P Carey]

Donkey, Sidewinder,

With all due respect, we can not put to death a sleazebag that kills a clerk in a supermarket for the Chump Change in the register drawer, thanks to the Liberalism theory that these men or women can be saved and rehabilitated to a working member of the society.

They get the best representation that money can buy, and they get numerous appeals to defeat the process. You know, the type of appeals that state the Defense Attorney was inept, he was out classed by the evidence, or maybe the evidence was touched in the wrong way by someone that had a parking ticket outstanding, Anything!

Now, knowing this, how do you expect to get satisfaction in the issue of a flag burning. I am with you, string the A$$hole up by his ankles, and beat the crap out of his buttox with a cane pole, but the Liberals will never let it happen.

And Dan Cross,

With all due respect, it was not his flag to destroy, it belonged to someone else, and as far as the Flag being burnt, you are correct to the point out that the etiquette requests that the Flag be retired and burnt with dignity and ceremony, like through an organization like the American Legion, or even the Boy Scouts.

[DanCross]

Oh, I know, Corporal. My point wasn't about this particular scum bag so much as it was about the dangers of making blanket statements about burning flags. I know that, if I ever had a flag that became unserviceable for one reason or another, I'd burn it myself. Not because I disrespected it, but rather because I respected it. I'd do so with some honor and dignity and not make a spectacle out of it.