SF's own Representative Steve Womack gave a big thumbs up to President Trump's latest play—a signed Executive Order aimed at those who would deface the enduring symbol of the U.S.—its flag. In a statement obtained by his own office, Womack expressed his endorsement: “Year after year, I have championed legislation to hold accountable those who desecrate our flag—an act that causes deep grief to those who understand what it represents and, in many cases, incites violence and other unlawful behavior."
Womack, who's been in Congress since the early 2010s, sees the flag as much more than a piece of cloth. "The Stars and Stripes has flown over battlefields, stood behind civil rights leaders, and been draped over the caskets of fallen soldiers." Showing his support for the EO, he heralded Trump's move to “restore respect and sanctity to the American flag.” In trying to drive the point home, Womack remarked via the press release on the flag's symbolic weight—its connection to those who gave everything in "defense of our rights, liberty, and security."
But Womack doesn't believe the President's action is the be-all and end-all. He's calling on Congress to change the Constitution to crank things up a notch. According to his statement, he's pushing for an amendment that would explicitly ban the "physical desecration of our flag," which he believes would fortify law enforcement's ability to press charges, no matter who's running the show in the Oval Office.
It's not exactly a new encore, but the congressman's tune is familiar—he's been trying to pass a constitutional amendment, with a matching Senate resolution led by Steve Daines of Montana. For those interested in the nitty-gritty, as is Womack's amendment proposal, Trump's full Executive Order and fact sheet are up for grabs online.
