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Posted: |
Oct 2, 2023 - 11:24 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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I really don't agree with the analogy that burning the flag is free speech. You're burning a piece of fabric. There's laws how, where and when you can burn things. So its no different than your freedom to burn anything else under fire regulations. I mean you can burn a hundred dollar bill and I don't see anyone looking to ban that. People want to ban burning the flag only because it hurts their feelings. That not enough reason to base a ban on.
As much as Americans love money, it still doesn't carry the symbolic weight of the flag. There is no need to ban the burning of currency, because technically, it is already illegal to do so. In the United States, burning banknotes is prohibited under 18 U.S.C. §333: "Mutilation of national bank obligations," which includes "any other thing" that renders a note "unfit to be reissued". The penalty is a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both. Nevertheless, there is no known case of anyone being prosecuted for burning currency. (Perhaps the authorities figure that the self-imposed financial penalty is sufficient.)
Burning the flag is a entirely separate matter. As you note, the various state or Federal statutes that prohibited flag burning did so because the act hurt people's feelings about that symbolic representation of our country. The statutes were all struck down by the Supreme Court because hurting other people's feelings is protected as an act of free speech. You are correct that someone could still be ticketed for a municipal fire code violation for public burning of the flag or currency, as long as they weren't being singled out from people who may have been burning other things.
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Posted: |
Oct 3, 2023 - 5:40 AM
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By: |
Solium
(Member)
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I really don't agree with the analogy that burning the flag is free speech. You're burning a piece of fabric. There's laws how, where and when you can burn things. So its no different than your freedom to burn anything else under fire regulations. I mean you can burn a hundred dollar bill and I don't see anyone looking to ban that. People want to ban burning the flag only because it hurts their feelings. That not enough reason to base a ban on.
As much as Americans love money, it still doesn't carry the symbolic weight of the flag. There is no need to ban the burning of currency, because technically, it is already illegal to do so. In the United States, burning banknotes is prohibited under 18 U.S.C. §333: "Mutilation of national bank obligations," which includes "any other thing" that renders a note "unfit to be reissued". The penalty is a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both. Nevertheless, there is no known case of anyone being prosecuted for burning currency. (Perhaps the authorities figure that the self-imposed financial penalty is sufficient.)
Burning the flag is a entirely separate matter. As you note, the various state or Federal statutes that prohibited flag burning did so because the act hurt people's feelings about that symbolic representation of our country. The statutes were all struck down by the Supreme Court because hurting other people's feelings is protected as an act of free speech. You are correct that someone could still be ticketed for a municipal fire code violation for public burning of the flag or currency, as long as they weren't being singled out from people who may have been burning other things.
Gawd Damn! I learn something new everyday. I had no idea burning or mutilating US currency was illegal.
Not that its like I have money to burn!
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Gawd Damn! I learn something new everyday. I had no idea burning or mutilating US currency was illegal.
Not that its like I have money to burn!
It's not as if major law enforcement agencies do a lot of sting operations to bust all these clans who secretly burn money.
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even writing or stamping on the money is illegal
As long as shooting on money is allowed, we're in the green.
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even writing or stamping on the money is illegal
Is moping ones brow also illegal, even if it was a very hot day and no towels were at hand?
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