It's all very simple:
an action harms no one else;
an action deprives no one else of their property;
an action does not infringe upon anyone else's rights;
it should be perfectly legal.
I buy a flag, and I burn it (for WHATEVER reason.) How have YOU been harmed? How has YOUR property been taken away? What right of YOURS have I infringed upon?
It upsets you? Where in the Constitution (or anywhere else, for that matter) does it say one has a RIGHT to not be upset or offended? That's the whole concept of "political correctness", that a person somehow has the right to not be offended. It makes me want to puke-after all, if everything that offends anyone is made illegal, who'd be free?
You want to punch me in the nose because I want to burn a flag? Great. What's the difference between assaulting someone because they're doing something that offends you and assaulting someone because you want to take their wallet, or just like to see people bleed and suffer? Nothing. Assault is assault, regardless of the reason. There's no such thing as a valid reason for initiating the use of physical force against someone. The use of force is moral only when it is used in defense of one's life.
Your rights end where my nose begins. You attack me, for whatever reason, and you open yourself to my own defensive measures. I will use as much force as is necessary to stop your attack, and if you attack with lethal force, you've forefeited your own right to life, and may end up on a slab in the morgue, where such human trash belongs. In short, you attack me for ANY reason, you've just dropped yourself to the same level as a street mugger, and will be dealt with accordingly.
Seems some people here are just as confused about what constitutes a right as are our bannit liberal enemies. Sad. Freedom and liberty are absolutes, with no restrictions. Laws should only punish the ABUSE of rights when they are exercised in an irresponsible manner resulting in harm, loss, or rights infringement to others. Laws punishing people for yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre when there is no fire are not restrictions on the right, but rather punishment for an irresponsible exercise of the right which can result in loss of life, health, or at the very least, money (theatre owner has to refund.) That is as it should be.
Don't restrict rights, else they become privileges. Punish the irresponsible exercise of rights ONLY.
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Shoot straight regards, Richard
The Shottist's Center
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