Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
You understood even before you posted this that your argument was going to be dishonest. He wouldn't have received any jail time if he had burned HIS flag .
Still 15 years seems a little excessive for a non-violent crime.
NEVADA, Iowa -- A man has been imprisoned for burning an LGBTQ flag that was flying at a church in central Iowa.
Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years for the hate crime of arson and given a year for reckless use of explosives or fire and 30 days for harassment. The sentences are to be served consecutively, Story County court records said.
A jury convicted Martinez in November. He'd been arrested in June.
He's said he tore down the flag that had been hanging from the United Church of Christ in Ames and burned it because he opposes homosexuality.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
--------------
15 years of prison for burning an LGBTQ flag..... but I highly doubt anyone in Iowa has been charged or even sent to prison for 15 years for burning an American flag.....which our liberal court has determined it is now your 1st amendment right to do so......Yes folks, this country cannot last the way it was headed....We need a few more men like Trump to back him up in the White House until, at least 2050 to FIX what has gone wrong here since the mid 1960's....even some before that!
There is nothing wrong with putting a criminal in prison.
It's illegal to steal someone else's property then destroy it. They probably trespassed on private property to do it.
So the person is a thief and guilty of a hate crime.
I know you don't have those laws in russia where you live but here in the US it's illegal to do those things.
How is the weather in moscow today comrade?
There is nothing wrong with putting a criminal in prison.
It's illegal to steal someone else's property then destroy it. They probably trespassed on private property to do it.
So the person is a thief and guilty of a hate crime.
I know you don't have those laws in russia where you live but here in the US it's illegal to do those things.
How is the weather in moscow today comrade?
The actual crimes here were the theft and destruction of someone else's property, and the careless use of fire, creating a risk of harm to other people and property. Probably trespassing, as well.
For his actual crimes, Mr. Martinez was sentenced to a total of tirteen months in prison. Probably a fair sentence.
———
For thehate crimethoughtcrime of expressing antipathy toward a sick and immoral sexual perversion, he was sentenced to fifteen years—almost fifteen times the sentence for his genuine crimes.
To criminalize the expression of a belief or opinion in this manner is a blatant violation of the First Amendment. Government has absolutely no legitimate authority to dictate to any of us what opinions or beliefs we are allowed to hold or to express. This sort of abuse has no place at all in a civilized society. This is the kind of crap that happens in tyrannical European shitholes, not in a free country as we are supposed to be.
Furthermore, I say that even if it was legitimate to criminalize the expression of an unpopular opinion, fifteen years in prison would be an outrageously disproportionate punishment for that crime, and as such, a violation of our Eight Amendment as well.
I do hope that Mr. Martinez has a good lawyer, who will fight this absolutely unacceptable abuse of government power. Allowing government to get away with this sort of crap puts us all in danger, should someone decide that they don't like an opinion that we choose to express.
Reading the story it was obvious the flag did not belong to martinezHow much is the proper incarceration time for stealing and destroying a $20 flag worth?....Your liberal judges give out 5 year sentences AND LESS for MURDER!You understood even before you posted this that your argument was going to be dishonest. He wouldn't have received any jail time if he had burned HIS flag .
Not much of a fan of honesty are you?
15 years for burning an LGBTQ flag and nothing for burning the American flag. Now that's effed up.
He wasn't found guilty for what he thought. He can still say anything he wants to say about gays, even in prison.
He wasn't found guilty for what he thought. He can still say anything he wants to say about gays, even in prison.
For genuinely-criminal behavior, he was sentenced to a year and a month.
For the fact that his criminal behavior was an expression of a politically-incorrect opinion, he was convicted of a “hate crime”, and sentenced to fifteen years.
So, yes, 93¼% of his sentence is for what he thought, and what he dared to express; and only 6¾% for any actual crime.
No. 100% of his sentence is for what he did. Obviously you don't agree with hate crime statutes. You'll just have to get over that.
No. 100% of his sentence is for what he did. Obviously you don't agree with hate crime statutes. You'll just have to get over that.
Obviously, you don't agree with the First Amendment. You'll just have to get over that. As part of our Constitution, it is the highest law in the nation.
Wouldn't burning the American flag be an act of hate just like burning the faggot flag was adjudicated as an act of hate?15 years for burning an LGBTQ flag and nothing for burning the American flag. Now that's effed up.
I'm pretty sure if you were to go to a church, tear down the US flag they had flying, set it on fire outside of a bar, then brag about doing it on tv, you'd be charged and convicted.
Of course, the sentence would be less unless it somehow also fell under the hate crime laws. I don't like that this apparently became a felony because of that classification, as I don't like hate crime legislation.
No. 100% of his sentence is for what he did. Obviously you don't agree with hate crime statutes. You'll just have to get over that.
Obviously, you don't agree with the First Amendment. You'll just have to get over that. As part of our Constitution, it is the highest law in the nation.
This case has absolutely nothing to do with this guy's rights under the First Amendment. Moreover, it is clear from the facts that he has no respect for the rights of others under the First Amendment.
Hate crime laws only have an effect when a predicate crime has been committed. They do not punish a person for speech, no matter how disgusting this speech is, unless a crime has been committed as a result of the opinions expressed.
Well, if he had burned a USA flag, the libtards would have given him a medal.Still 15 years seems a little excessive for a non-violent crime.
Cool, find us an example of a guy getting a medal for burning an Israeli flag in the US?If it was an Israeli flag the man would have been given a medal. The hypocrisy is insane.
NEVADA, Iowa -- A man has been imprisoned for burning an LGBTQ flag that was flying at a church in central Iowa.
Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years for the hate crime of arson and given a year for reckless use of explosives or fire and 30 days for harassment. The sentences are to be served consecutively, Story County court records said.
A jury convicted Martinez in November. He'd been arrested in June.
He's said he tore down the flag that had been hanging from the United Church of Christ in Ames and burned it because he opposes homosexuality.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
--------------
15 years of prison for burning an LGBTQ flag..... but I highly doubt anyone in Iowa has been charged or even sent to prison for 15 years for burning an American flag.....which our liberal court has determined it is now your 1st amendment right to do so......Yes folks, this country cannot last the way it was headed....We need a few more men like Trump to back him up in the White House until, at least 2050 to FIX what has gone wrong here since the mid 1960's....even some before that!
There is nothing wrong with putting a criminal in prison.
It's illegal to steal someone else's property then destroy it. They probably trespassed on private property to do it.
So the person is a thief and guilty of a hate crime.
I know you don't have those laws in russia where you live but here in the US it's illegal to do those things.
How is the weather in moscow today comrade?
Wow, a right winger who is soft on property crimes?
