flag desecration

By Chuck Lindell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Oct. 7, 2015 A Texas law banning desecration of the flag is unconstitutional, the state’s highest criminal court ruled Wednesday. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court of Criminal Appeals tossed out the law, saying it was too broadly written and criminalized an act that is protected by the First Amendment’s right to free speech. Apparently rarely used, the 26-year-old law threatens one year in jail and a $4,000 fine for those who intentionally damage, deface, mutilate or burn the U.S. or Texas flags. Similar laws have been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court [...]