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In reply to the discussion: Sure as shit Trump has put into motion a decree that any protester against trump or trump policy will be labeled [View all]Ms. Toad
(37,856 posts)He is signing Executive orders (which have legal effect to the extent they direct executive branch agencies or interpret existing law), and writing internal memos - wildly outrageous, but no legal effect other than creating a basis to fire executive branch employees who don't comply.
The flag burning was (1) a speech (followed by a bunch more speeches/texts/etc.) and (2) an executive order. No decree involved.
(1) The speech was nonsense - and bore no relationship to the executive order.
(2) The executive order directed the department of justice to enforce any law, on any matter, which was violated by burning a flag. For example - Federal marijuana laws are not currently being enforced. But if you use an American flag to light one - guess what - now they are going to go after you for consuming marijuana, because you did so by burning a flag to light it. If you burn an American flag in violation of a no-open-burning ordinance - guess what - now they are going to charge you with burning in a no-burn area.
Trump has no idea what he signed. He has been yammering (that speech thing) about imposing a one year prison sentence for flag burning, but the EO said zero about a new law, and zero about a prison sentence. In fact, it expressly excluded prosecution for burning the flag as speech so long as it did not violate other laws.
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