Stealing a flag off someone's porch has no place in our town or anyone's town

It's also a bunch of crimes rolled into one and is not just a youthful "prank"

ABOUT THAT STOLEN FLAG ... To the creep who committed theft, trespassing and a hate crime while exhibiting extreme stupidity in tearing down and stealing a flag from the front of an East Davis home, not to mention the gutless getaway driver who facilitated these crimes, you should know we have robust free speech protections in our precious country.

Actually, since you used your long arms to pull down this flag, we may add "armed" robbery to the charges.

If you feel so strongly about this issue, or any issue, you are free to fly any flag or post any sign you wish in this town or any other town, anywhere in America.

You can say "I Hate Love" or "I Love Hate" or any other foolish thing you wish to say. Just be sure you do it with your flag or your sign on your property and leave everyone else alone.

And while you're at it, whether you have any religious beliefs or not, find a copy of the Good Book at your local library and read the part about loving your neighbor as yourself.

THROWING THE BOOK AT HATE CRIMES ... This just in: "A Hayward man struck a deal and pleaded no contest to robbery and a hate crime in an incident where he burned a woman's Israeli flag. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail."