If the U.S. Congress passes a constitutional amendment
banning burning of the American flag, South Carolina's General Assembly
would certainly ratify it, area legislators said Thursday.
"There is no doubt, none whatsoever, that South Carolina would ban
burning the flag, and I would vote for it," said Herb Kirsh, D-Clover
and the second-most senior member of the S.C. House of Representatives.
"Argue about stuff? Great. But burn the flag? No way."
Rep. Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill, said he also was certain the
Legislature would pass the amendment with little opposition.
"It's our symbol," Simrill said. "I'm all for free speech, but not
burning the symbol of this country."
But the American Civil Liberties Union's executive director for South
Carolina vowed that its state and national chapters have galvanized to
fight the amendment.
The U.S. House voted Wednesday to pass the amendment, but the Senate
has not yet taken up the issue. At least 38 states would have to ratify
any amendment passed by the Congress within seven years for it to become
law.
The ACLU is opposing the amendment with all its political muscle in
Washington, said Denyse Williams, executive director of the South
Carolina chapter. Even though the house passed the amendment idea,
support is eroding and the U.S. Senate probably won't vote on the issue,
Williams said.
"This is a free speech issue, and we are very strongly supporting the
freedom of people on this one," Williams said.
Rock Hill lawyer Thomas F. McDow, who has argued court cases before
for the ACLU, said he was "astounded at this foolish attempt" by the
Congress to erode free speech.
"The reason this country is so great is there is a right to burn the
flag," McDow said. "I don't approve of burning the flag. But I approve
of the right to do it. People in America are free to publicly and openly
criticize the government and not be threatened by the government."
The national Veterans of Foreign Wars has lobbied Congress for years
to pass a flag burning ban, said Johnnie Robinson, commander of Rock
Hill's VFW Post 2889. Local veterans groups would rally behind
politicians who voted to make flag burning illegal, said Wallace
Coleman, commander of the Fort Mill American Legion Post 43.
"Every time I see a flag burned improperly, it makes me sick,"
Coleman said. "That's not what we fought for."
The flag burning issue is often a hot topic at veterans' meetings,
and Coleman expects the next meeting in Fort Mill July 7 to center on
the amendment.
"It will come up, and people will let their representatives know they
want flag burning outlawed," Coleman said.
Andrew Dys • 329-40565
adys@heraldonline.com
