Flag Burning Amendment

Recently, the senate fell one vote short of sending a vote to the 50 states to determine if the constitution would be amended make flag burning a crime. I personally think that this is by no means a problem that requires a constitutional amendment to solve. I would also say, that it's not even a problem. The main sponsor of the bill, Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah, shows a graph during the debate of the confirmed number and dates of flag burning occurrences. The total occurrences was a mere 10, since about mid 2004. A mere 10 requires a constitutional amendment? The constitution is more appropriately amendment to provide rights to the people, such as universal voting rights, ending slavery, etc., not flag burning.

As Jon Stewart quoted the flag code for proper disposal the last time this came up, “when a flag has served its useful purpose, it should be destroyed, preferably by burning.” Priceless. I suppose that if the amendment eventually passed, veterans groups that dispose of worn flags on flag day by burning them would be targeted for prosecution?