Flag burning amendment almost passes

This vote was a little too close for comfort. The measure to start the process for a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning failed by only one vote.

I have never understood the move to get this in the constitution. Some of it is pure politics and the conservatives playing to the base, but I also have friends that really believe in this. To me, supporting this measure means you think our men and women in uniform fight and die for nylon rather than the right to free speech. Burning the flag is not great speech, but the right to protest deserves protection.