Session of 1998
                   
House Concurrent Resolution No. 5053
         
By Representatives McCreary, Ballou, Beggs, Campbell, Carmody,
                Compton, Cook, Cox, Dahl, Dillon, Dreher, Edmonds, Empson, Fa-
                ber, Farmer, Feuerborn, Flower, Franklin, Freeborn, Geringer, Gil-
                more, Glasscock, Gregory, Hayzlett, Howell, Huff, Humerickhouse,
                Hutchins, Kejr, Landwehr, P. Long, Mason, Mayans, Mays, Mollen-
                kamp, Morrison, Myers, Neufeld, O'Connor, O'Neal, Osborne,
                Packer, Palmer, J. Peterson, Pottorff, Powell, Powers, Presta, Ray,
                Schwartz, Shore, Showalter, Shultz, Stone, Swenson, Tanner, Thi-
                mesch, Tomlinson, Toplikar, Vickrey, Vining, Wagle, Wilk and Wilson
               
3-25
          17             A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing the Senate of the U.S.
18             Congress to pass H.J. Res. 54, proposing an amendment to the Con-
19             stitution of the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the
20             physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
21            
22           WHEREAS, Millions of Americans hold the American flag in deep
23       reverence, as evidenced by the fact that flag desecration was prohibited
24       by an act of Congress and by the laws of 48 of the 50 states; and
25           WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court has held that the
26       burning of the American flag is a protected form of free speech under
27       the First Amendment of the United States Constitution; and
28           WHEREAS, The American flag symbolizes the ideas of liberty and
29       equality and what our nation is and what it values. No other American
30       symbol has been as universally honored as the American flag; and
31           WHEREAS, The American flag has served as a rallying force for
32       American fighting men from Yorktown to the Persian Gulf; and
33           WHEREAS, Kansans find the desecration of the American flag to be
34       highly offensive and are appalled by the Supreme Court's decision allow-
35       ing this type of repugnant behavior; and
36           WHEREAS, More than 500 Kansas veteran, fraternal and civic organ-
37       izations have joined many city and county bodies of government in signing
38       resolutions calling upon the Kansas Legislature to approve a resolution
39       memorializing the Congress of the United States to propose a Constitu-
40       tional Amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of the flag of the
41       United States; and
42           WHEREAS, Kansans believe that the right to express displeasure with
43       government is a cherished right protected by the First Amendment. How-

HCR 5053

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  1       ever, Kansans believe that the desecration of the American flag is an
  2       atrocious act which should be prohibited; and
  3           WHEREAS, H.J. Res. 54, which proposes an amendment which when
  4       ratified would give Congress the power to prohibit the physical desecra-
  5       tion of the flag of the United States, has been passed by the U.S. House
  6       of Representatives: Now, therefore,
  7           Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas,
  8       the Senate concurring therein: That the Legislature memorialize the
  9       Congress of the United States to pass H.J. Res. 54 proposing an amend-
10       ment to the United States Constitution, for ratification by the states, spec-
11       ifying that Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical dese-
12       cration of the flag of the United States; and
13           Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send
14       enrolled copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States
15       House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate and
16       all members of the congressional delegation from the State of Kansas.
17