In doing so, Stenholm would have helped pass the first amendment supporting free speech, a concept which Tucker obviously does not hold dear. Yes, I love my country and all it stands for, but in order to keep our freedoms, we must live with all acts of men. It would not allow opposition by lethal weapons.
Ideas are much more fatal things than guns.
In voting against the flag burning amendment, Stenholm helped keep everything the flag stands for, namely freedom of thought. If the reason behind making flag burning illegal is patriotism, then by that same logic, protesting government policies should be illegal because what patriotic Americans would question their government. To any of those in doubt as to what the rescinding of a freedom guaranteed by our Constitution can do, I urge you to read 1984 by George Orwell. See the full effect of the limiting of one's thoughts. The issue at hand when Stenholm voted was not flag burning, but rather ensuring continuation of freedom of speech and all that makes this country great.