National flags are piece of cloth that means different things to different people. To make it illegal to burn is merely giving credence and matyrdom status to those who would do so.
That is complete rubbish!
How many flag bearers were killed in times of war? The answer is simple: Nearly every one, because they were a prime target, and the only only carrying a great big, colorful banner to mark his location and to annoy the enemy.
Did the flag mean anything to the flag bearers? Absolutely. They knew they were going to die early, but they carried the symbol of their country proudly, and when he died, another soldier picked it up and died in turn.
Only fools deny that the flag has special meaning as the symbol of our country. That is what it is by definition. That is the reason it was created.
There are always limits to absolute freedom of speech. It is against the law to yell fire when there is none, to incite to riot, to menace another person, to cause a fight with fighting words, or to express yourself by running naked across the pitch.
He who burns the National flag should wear a criminal record on all of his job applications and supplications for government charity for the rest of his life. His criminal record should be published as public information like sex offenders. It is amazing what a little background search will turn up on someone that you suspect. For example a private sector background search can reveal Locating virtually anyone, Age , 30 year address history , current and previous occupants , change of address records , phone , aliases / maiden names , associates , birth certificate records , death records , possible relatives, neighbors , marriages and divorces , property records , civil liens, tax liens . Now it is getting a little frightening, but criminals deserve it.