An Open Letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California)

Dear Senator,

As one of your constituents, I was horrified to read your editorial in USA Today announcing your support of a constitutional amendment to ban "physical desecration" of the U.S. flag. You should know that such an amendment would effect the desecration of the first amendment by banning a (currently) protected form of political speech. I have a hard time believing that you call yourself a Democrat yet would have the constitution amended for the first time since the 18th amendment to take back our rights.

Of course, it should not surprise me that you support such an abomination as you have publicly supported another attack on the first amendment when you pushed for funding of religion in California (The California Missions Preservation Act).

You seem almost eager to repeal the first amendment and this is deeply troubling to me. I urge you to reconsider this issue, come to your senses, and realize that any constitutional amendment that takes away citizen's rights for political reasons must be rejected on the same principle and using the same arguments that you currently use to support it.

Thank you for your consideration,

Ray Pennisi