Remember This? This was when Trump was still POTUS, imagine what will happen now that the left has control of … EVERYTHING …
An Ames, Iowa man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for stealing and burning an LGBTQ flag.
The Supreme Court has ruled that burning an American flag is protected by the First Amendment in the name of free speech but other flag burnings can net you sixteen years?
I do not condone him stealing the flag from the church and had he been charged just with that, I would have no problem with him receiving punishment for his act, but he is being punished for free speech.
This just seems like a very disproportionate sentence for what he has done.
This is special protection for members of the LGBTQ community.
I would not deny their right to live their lives as they wish but this is a bridge too far.
Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, was found guilty last month of third-degree arson in violation of individual rights — hate crime, third-degree harassment, and reckless use of fire as a habitual offender.
The prosecutor calls it a hate crime against 2% of our population but ignores the hatred for the 330 million Americans who suffer hate by those who burn our nation’s flag.
Somehow, we are expected to accept this as justice?
He was arrested after stealing a pride banner hanging at Ames United Church of Christ, 217 6th St., and burning it early June 11 outside Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club, 111 5th St., police said.
Martinez admitted to police that he lit the banner on fire with lighter fluid and a lighter after stealing it from the church, according to court documents.
Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said the hate crime charges were added because Martinez is suspected of criminal mischief against someone’s property because of “what it represents as far as sexual orientation.”
He faced a maximum of five years in prison for the hate crime and arson charge and a maximum of a year and month for the other two charges, according to Iowa sentencing guidelines.
Court records list him as a habitual offender, allowing him to be sentenced to a longer prison term.
