Fla. Teens Charged After Allegedly Burning American Flags

[seriousstan]

Two Sarasota teens accused of burning six American flags have been charged with arson and manufacturing a firebomb.

Scott A. Baber and Brian A. Richard III, both 18, told deputies they burned the flags because they are anarchists and disagree with the war in Iraq and other U.S. government policies.

They set fire to six flags Sunday and tried to firebomb a car, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said.

Richard remained in jail Tuesday on $402,120 bail. Baber was released Monday on $101,120 bail.

http://www.local6.com/news/4660589/detail.html

[Gregorian]

1. Delete

[despairing optimist]

2. Anyone know how Kenny Boy Lay is doing lately?

You know, the guy who ruined thousands of Enron employees' retirements and stole millions from Enron stockholders as well as the citizens of California?

How many flags does he have to burn to face the justice that 18-year-old kids have to face?

[MetaTrope]

3. Well, it's like this...

"Enron employees who lost their pensions will have to wait longer to get any of an $85 million settlement because two ex-bosses and a bank that worked on their pensions have appealed.

"This week former Enron Chairman Ken Lay, former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling and Northern Trust Co. asked a federal appeals court to hear their complaints about being kept out of this settlement."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/business/3240374

[livinginphotographs]

4. Sounds like a seriously misleading headline.

Trying to firebomb a car is definitely a crime, as well as setting fire to someone else's flag.

[UpInArms]

5. correction required for last sentence

Richard remained in jail Tuesday on $402,120.39 bail. Baber was released Monday on $101,120.39 bail.

The additional .39 was need as compensation for the cost of the imported US flags from China.

[seriousstan]

7. Should you also add the cost of the car they tried to firebomb?

Maybe you should also add the time and expense of patrolling, arresting and detaining these arsonists.

[UpInArms]

8. I made that correction based on the assumption that

those costs were included in the $402,120 and $101,120.

Not to obscure that firebombing a car was a much worse crime than burning some .39 cheap flags.

BTW, would having a flag attached to a radio antenna to be damaged by wind, rain etc be considered "flag desecration"?

[seriousstan]

10. Not if it is disposed of properly and replaced when damaged.

Wind and rain have always taken their toll on the flag.

Other than that, I guess the Supreme Court will have to decide to let Congress decide.

[lynne]

6. Sound like great kids -

- especially the "manufacturing a firebomb" part.

If you make bombs and attempt to firebomb cars, you deserve to be arrested. Burning a flag is pretty much inconsequential in comparison. :banghead:

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

9. don't try this in Florida ! and don't burn any cars--stick to flags only

these kids gave me a great idea-

Everyone who disagrees with the flag burning law should burn their own flag that they themselves bought at a store--
and they should synchronize the protest and do it all on the same day at exactly the same time nation wide to protest the new law!

National Flag burning day-
-they can't arrest everyone--but if they try the jails will be flooded--it could make quite a statement.

[seriousstan]

11. What new law? When does it go into effect?

[UpInArms]

14. House OKs flag desecration amendment

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8318974/

Updated: 8:33 p.m. ET June 22, 2005

WASHINGTON - A constitutional amendment to outlaw flag burning cleared the House Wednesday but faced an uphill battle in the Senate. An informal survey by The Associated Press suggested the measure doesn’t have enough Senate votes to pass.

The 286-130 outcome was never in doubt in the House, which had passed the measure or one like it five times in recent years. The amendment’s supporters expressed optimism that a Republican gain of four seats in last November’s election could produce the two-thirds approval needed in the Senate as well after four failed attempts since 1989.

But an AP survey Wednesday found 35 senators on record as opposing the amendment — one more than the number needed to defeat it if all 100 senators vote, barring a change in position.

...more...

[420inTN]

15. That doesn't make it a law. n/t

[UpInArms]

16. sorry - this was the catalyst (another assumption on my part)

for the flag burning furor.

:hi:

I realize that until the Senate has also passed this resolution and the pResident has signed on, it is not a law.

{edited for typo)

[420inTN]

17. This wasn't a bill resolution, but a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT...

that was passed in the House. Of course, it would take 2/3 of the Senate to pass in the Senate, but the votes aren't there.

[iamjoy]

13. We Would Need To Be Careful

Make sure we get a permit for a bonfire. That way, they can't charge us with violating any firecodes. Make sure we do not burn the flags too close to any buildings or dry brush.

Follow all the rules so they can't charge us with anything.

[wicket]

12. This is the second incident I've heard of today on DU

Hmmmmm.... :think:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1589692&mesg_id=1589692