Carnivore wrote:
...freedom of speech can be spoken or written, if someone thinks they can act out their freedom of speech by burning the American/Christian/or even a P.O.W. flag in my presence, then they'll get to see me act out my freedom of speech also !
That
almost sound like a threat of physical violence.
Mac 12ga. wrote:
Sorry burning of OUR GREAT FLAG is not a right, its arson plain and simple, the Constitution says free speech not expression, if you want to stand on the corner and run your mouth about how you hate this country then that is free speech, If you burn anything then that is arson.
Much as I dislike the burning of the flag (regardless of where it's made), it is most certainly a right protected under our Constitution. Calling the (wholesale) burning of the flag "arson", is like calling OC "DC", or "DTP".
Of course, your welcome to cite the law where burning the flag in and of itself is arson.
Mac 12ga. wrote:
And if the act of buning the US Flag is free speech, then me kicking the ever loving @#$% outa you for doing it, is my free speech, and should also be protected.
You have little concept of rights (at least under our Constitution, maybe you'd prefer the constitution of some country like Iraq, or the UN's), and that lack of knowledge or understanding is a tool of tyrants. This type of attitude is what''s bringing this country down. As reprehensible as someone's act of burning the flag is (and let's be honest, we're not talking about them burning 'your' flag, or burning it in "your" yard), in this country, it is their right. It's little different than having an anti-war speach at the Lincoln Memorial. You want to stop something that is offensive and reprehensible to you, much like some people want to stop other things that are likewise to them. Things like the American flag, "in God we trust", the Bible, people who work on Sunday,... etc. By your logic, people should also have a right to assault others for those actions, symbols, or concepts.
Assaulting someone for exercising their right to free speech is not (nor should it be, unless you want to live in a totalitarian society) a right. I don't like seeing the gangbangers dealing drugs off the park corner across the street, but that doesn't give me the right to sit on top of my roof with a rifle and start picking them off (and them dealing drugs isn't even a protected right). I don't much care for tattoos or body piercings either, but that doesn't give me the right to assault someone with them, or burn down the local tattoo/ piercing palor.
Another thing to think about is that, "the attitude your displaying is one that gives gun owners the "loose cannon" image", by you wanting to take matters "into your own hands".