Reader questions rationale
of deputy in flag incident

Concerned Asheville-Buncombe citizens want to know: Will local law enforcement now be entirely ignoring our inalienable right to free speech, as supposedly protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution?

Or, is this just an isolated example of one officer who just doesn’t understand this fundamental and individual right?

The Kuhns were violating no law by flying the flag upside down while making a statement regarding the state of distress in which we find our nation. This incident, instigated by a Buncombe County deputy, is a case in point of the growing tyranny which exists within our government at all levels.
Pinning signs of protest to an American flag while flying it upside down is not desecrating it, but rather an example of free speech in action! President George Bush has signed his signature on American flags, yet he isn’t charged — oh, I forgot... government officials are apparently above the law!

Apparently, the rationale of our Buncombe County Sheriff Dept., and typical of modern law enforcement in our country, is to issue citations to Americans without justification and tell them they can settle it in court. When there is no crime committed, why should anyone waste their time in court?!?

It appears that this deputy suffered a blow to his ego when Mark and Deborah stood up to his unjust threat of citation and decided to initiate unprovoked violent force upon these peaceful protesters, and now the Sheriff’s Department is attempting to sidestep his wrongdoing by asserting they should have complied with the officer’s whims.

This is typical governmental bunk right here in Buncombe County, which exemplifies the continuing erosion of our inalienable individual rights and the downfall of America! The deputy should be relieved of his position and never again be allowed to wear a badge of law enforcement — oh, but wait, I forgot ... government officials are apparently above the law! (I keep forgetting that!)

bernard baruch carman
Asheville

EDITOR’S NOTE: Carman is chairman of the Libertarian Party of Buncombe County.

Anti-flag-desecration laws
termed unconstitutional

Two things were not reported in the West Asheville flag desecration stories on WLOS and WWNC.
One is that flag desecration laws were struck down by the Supreme Court about 10 years ago giving rise to failed attempts at “flag burning” amendments.
The other is that the Sheriff’s Office seemed to be operating in Asheville City jurisdiction and acting there in a way that the City of Asheville would not have acted.

Alan Ditmore
Asheville