Which is why many patriotic citizens of Utah were surprised when an activist Supreme Court ignored that history, and over 300 years of legal precedent, and created a right to desecrate the flag. In 1994, Utah's Legislature spoke for the people of this state with a nearly unanimous resolution asking Congress to send a flag protection amendment to the states for ratification. That resolve has not wavered. A recent poll shows that 69 percent of Utahns support a constitutional amendment that would protect the flag.

Some support legislation, rather than an amendment, to protect our flag. I agree we should be very cautious about amending our Constitution. But I also agree with most experts that a statute would be struck down by the Supreme Court. Therefore, Congress must send an amendment to the American people for ratification.

Despite some misgivings, most people realize that this amendment does not compromise our rights to free speech; we are restoring important rights we held for hundreds of years. Support for the flag amendment is growing rapidly and crossing party lines. The House of Representatives has passed the amendment many times, and this year it received another overwhelming endorsement, with a vote of 286-130.

The Senate has held 10 hearings on the amendment, heard numerous witnesses, and now appears to be only one or two votes shy of the 67 needed to send this amendment to the states for ratification.

I am pleased to join other supporters who have placed their lives on the line to protect and defend our flag and the sovereign nation and people it represents. I hope that the Senate passes this amendment soon and sends it to the states for a vote by the people. Hatch's flag amendment simply and permanently restores the traditional right of the American people to protect the flag that protects their sovereign rights.

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Mark Shurtleff is Utah's attorney general.