Mexican flag flying above an american flag.

[Alhamdulillah 0]

I don't know about the illegality of flying another flag over the american flag but I know for a fact that damaging and then stealing another person's property is against the law.

If this aired on the news there and the american man who was caught on camera damaging that shop owners property and then stealing his flag was not arrested and prosecuted there is something seriously wrong with this.

The Reno police department has told krnv that Brossert will faces charges for theft if the store owner files a police report of what happened.

Source

They probably don't know they can press charges since the news crew just stood there filming it and no one stopped the man from stealing it in the first place.

[Vipul and Jamie 0]

It may be illegal, but I loved what he did. I understand this is America and everyone has the right to express themselves. I won't say, "they don't have the right to display a mexican flag in public" but I personally think it's, as an understatement, entirely disrespectful. Flying it above the American flag makes me sick and furious. If they are so proud of it, then why are they here? I know there are alot of people that probably disagree with me, but that's my opinion.

-Jamie

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the flag of the United States. It is title 4 of the United States Code: 4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. This is a U.S. federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with them and they are not widely enforced — indeed, punitive enforcement would conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, as the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled when the subject has come up in the past. (The Flag Desecration Amendment that has been proposed from time to time would override Supreme Court rulings on the matter.)

This etiquette is as applied within U.S. jurisdiction. In other countries and places, local etiquette applies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Flag_Code

OK. I'm confused. It is illegal. But it is not widely enforced. And there's no punishment anyway. So it's like one of those ice cream cone laws, then?

Yep, ice cream thats it. When pride a dedication to country is vacant, these are the types of anwers we get.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its just a flag... Think we could all do with a bit of perspective...

Its not like the guy broke into your house and stole the family bible...

[Sister Fracas 5]

It may be illegal, but I loved what he did. I understand this is America and everyone has the right to express themselves. I won't say, "they don't have the right to display a mexican flag in public" but I personally think it's, as an understatement, entirely disrespectful. Flying it above the American flag makes me sick and furious. If they are so proud of it, then why are they here? I know there are alot of people that probably disagree with me, but that's my opinion.

-Jamie

So damaging and stealing someone else's property is ok though?

[SteveLaura 0]

The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the flag of the United States. It is title 4 of the United States Code: 4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. This is a U.S. federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with them and they are not widely enforced — indeed, punitive enforcement would conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, as the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled when the subject has come up in the past. (The Flag Desecration Amendment that has been proposed from time to time would override Supreme Court rulings on the matter.)

This etiquette is as applied within U.S. jurisdiction. In other countries and places, local etiquette applies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Flag_Code

OK. I'm confused. It is illegal. But it is not widely enforced. And there's no punishment anyway. So it's like one of those ice cream cone laws, then?

Yep, ice cream thats it. When pride a dedication to country is vacant, these are the types of anwers we get.

Marc, I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but to honestly understand what the law is. There are laws in certain states that say you can't carry an ice cream cone in your pocket. Obviously it's not enforced.

In this instance, is the law unconstitutional? Is that why it's not enforced and there's no punishment?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

It may be illegal, but I loved what he did. I understand this is America and everyone has the right to express themselves. I won't say, "they don't have the right to display a mexican flag in public" but I personally think it's, as an understatement, entirely disrespectful. Flying it above the American flag makes me sick and furious. If they are so proud of it, then why are they here? I know there are alot of people that probably disagree with me, but that's my opinion.

-Jamie

So damaging and stealing someone else's property is ok though?

Okay buy the guy a new anchor wire for his flag pole.

[Alhamdulillah 0]

I honestly do not see what the big deal is here. At least he was flying the american flag. Women wear flags for swimsuits.... in effect, they are sitting on the flag and possibly farting on it

All this guy did was try to show that he loves or appreciates both countries by flying both flags together. He probably wasn't aware of the law or etiquettes of flying them together... I'm american and I never heard of this.

Just because someone comes to america doesn't mean they hate their country nor should they be expected to.

This veteran in the story scares me. I hope those who are figting in other countries right now are not as likely to go off half-cocked over some small trivial matter and harm innocent people in the process.

I'm also curious why the store owner has to file charges on the man when he was caught on camera and had it broadcast for all to see... ?

Edited October 19, 2007 by Alhamdulillah

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It does seem rather trivial.

[Alhamdulillah 0]

In this instance, is the law unconstitutional? Is that why it's not enforced and there's no punishment?

Yes, according to this part of the quoted text:

punitive enforcement would conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, as the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled when the subject has come up in the past.

[SteveLaura 0]

In this instance, is the law unconstitutional? Is that why it's not enforced and there's no punishment?

Yes, according to this part of the quoted text:

punitive enforcement would conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, as the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled when the subject has come up in the past.

OK. So what happens to a law that's unconstitutional? Does it get erased from the books? Or does it stay and be argued in court, based on the individual circumstances?

[Vipul and Jamie 0]

It may be illegal, but I loved what he did. I understand this is America and everyone has the right to express themselves. I won't say, "they don't have the right to display a mexican flag in public" but I personally think it's, as an understatement, entirely disrespectful. Flying it above the American flag makes me sick and furious. If they are so proud of it, then why are they here? I know there are alot of people that probably disagree with me, but that's my opinion.

-Jamie

So damaging and stealing someone else's property is ok though?

As I just said it's probably illegal, and yes according our laws he would probably face a penalty. It's unfortunate but likely. Doesn't change the fact that I admire what he did.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

What I found kind of laughable, was the two guys sat there and let the guy trash thier flag and had nothing to say about it.They had no complaints about it at all. Hell, I woulda been calling 911.

[Sister Fracas 5]

I honestly do not see what the big deal is here. At least he was flying the american flag. Women wear flags for swimsuits.... in effect, they are sitting on the flag and possibly farting on it

All this guy did was try to show that he loves or appreciates both countries by flying both flags together. He probably wasn't aware of the law or etiquettes of flying them together... I'm american and I never heard of this.

Just because someone comes to america doesn't mean they hate their country nor should they be expected to.

Yeah, you'd THINK there would be a better way to bring it to the shop owner's attention if he's so hell-bent on pointing out laws.

This veteran in the story scares me. I hope those who are figting in other countries right now are not as likely to go off half-cocked over some small trivial matter and harm innocent people in the process.

indeed!

[john_and_marlene 162]

Perhaps the shop owner should also be cited for creating a public distrubance. The film crew was there due to a public outcry.