Veterans Defending the Bill of Rights

About the Amendment

10 Reasons to Oppose the Amendment

This would be the first ever amendment to the First Amendment. The right to Free Speech is in peril.
This would be the first time that the Constitution would be amended to take away freedom rather than expand it. (with the exception of the ill-conceived Prohibition Amendment)
It is wrong to use the flag as a vehicle to take away the freedom that it is supposed to represent.
This is a solution is search of a problem. Flag burning is extremely rare, how many times have you ever witnessed it, in person or on television? Enough to warrant a Constitutional amendment?
Veterans did not fight and sacrifice for a piece of cloth; we fought for what it represents. The freedom that it represents is what we stand to lose, for the sake of the material object.
Politicians are using this vote as an easy way to express rhetorical support for veterans at the expense of real support for veterans on issues like healthcare and social services.
This vote is an election year stunt, so that those who oppose it can be labeled “unpatriotic” or “anti-American.” We know that there are much better ways to measure a politician’s true record on upholding the principles of our country.
Free expression, especially the right to dissent with the policies of the government, is an important element of our form of government that has greatly enhanced its stability, prosperity, and strength of our country.
The burden on our law enforcement officials and court system to enforce this amendment in terms of their time and our money, when they have so many more important duties, is unreasonable.
Patriotism can’t be coerced. Making it illegal to burn the flag will not make discontented people love our country any more. When Americans feel coerced, especially by the government, they rebel. An unintended consequence will probably be an increase in flag burning.

Background Information and Timeline

Selected Testimony Before Congress