A New Hampshire state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require elementary school students to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance, a move he said would help teach young people to respect the flag.
But the lawmaker, Republican state Rep. Harry Accornero, acknowledged Wednesday in the
New Hampshire Union Leader that he doesn’t expect his legislation “to go anywhere” because of questions raised during a hearing before the state House Constitutional Review and Statutory Recodification Committee.
“I grew up in an era when it wasn’t even considered that you didn’t stand and respect the flag,” he told the newspaper. “Our Constitution is being thrown down the toilet. I thought this would encourage young people to appreciate what the flag means and the people who fought and died for it.”
The Union Leader reported that some committee members, including Accornero’s GOP colleagues, argued the bill could be challenged as unconstitutional while others observed that it would “contradict what the flag stands for.”
“While the sponsor’s intention may have been a good one, to have students show respect, it’s a bad idea,” Republican Seth Cohn was quoted as saying. “We can’t require people to stand up. Compelling someone to stand is clearly unconstitutional, especially for the pledge, because it says ‘one nation under God.’”
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.