‘Flag Ban’ bill fails to pass

By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — The “Flag Ban’’ bill, HB1605/SB1722, which would have had Tennessee state schools prohibit the display of any flag that was not either the Tennessee State flag or the American flag, flunked out of Tennessee legislation as it was blocked in the state senate with rarely seen bipartisan opposition. Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) Executive Director Chris Sanders said he thinks the bill failed in no small part because it never gained real public support. Sanders said the idea of the government making a list of acceptable flags not only raises concerns of a possible First Amendment violation, but goes against American tradition.& Sanders said that issues concerning citizens’ Constitutional Bill of Rights are those which resonate deeply with Tennesseans. He said that he and his colleagues at TEP had been hopeful at the bill’s rejection since the week before it was blocked in the Senate after speaking to several Tennessee State legislators. Despite being hopeful however, Sanders said he is always prepared for either way the legislation rules, just in case. “You never know until the vote takes place or doesn’t take place,” Sanders said.& Sanders said he felt relieved more than anything when he...