Table of Contents
Is it disrespectful to drape the American flag?
Yes. Can you drape an actual flag over your shoulders and wear it as a cape? Wearing the flag emblem is acceptable in most cases but treating an actual flag like a costume or accessory is a sign of disrespect whether regulated by a flag code or not.
Is it OK to wrap yourself in a flag?
The organization mandates that the flag never be used for decoration, and The Flag Code states that the flag should not be used as drapery, ever.
Is it disrespectful to wear the American flag on your shoulders?
Actually, by draping the flag over their shoulders, they’re actually disrespecting the flag and the Flag Code. According to section 176 of the Flag Code, “The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery” aka you should NOT drape it over your shoulders or wrap it around your body like a towel.
Is it bad to burn a flag?
No. The Court has recognized that the First Amendment protects certain forms of symbolic speech. Flag burning is such a form of symbolic speech. When a flag is privately owned, the owner should be able to burn it if the owner chooses, especially if this action is meant in the form of protest.
Is it illegal to mistreat the flag?
18 U.S. Code § 700 – Desecration of the flag of the United States; penalties. Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
Is destroying a US flag illegal?
Currently, flag burning is not illegal in the United States. The Supreme Court of the United States in its decision from 1969 has ruled that the burning of the flag is protected by the First Amendment. However, the person who burnt the flag can be found guilty of a misdemeanor for starting a fire without a permit.