Mississippi: Flag desecration is a misdemeanor if anyone puts any "word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing, or any advertisement" on "any flag, standard, color or ensign of the United States or state flag of the State of Mississippi, or ensign or Confederate flag." It also applies if someone should "publicly mutilate, deface, defile or defy, trample upon or cast contempt, either by word or act, upon any such flag, standard, color or ensign, with the intent to desecrate or dishonor such."
Penalty: Imprisonment for no more than 30 days and a fine of not more than $1,000.
Source: [http://www.michie.com/mississippi/lpext.dll/mscode/1f3d2/1f5b1/1f617?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0#JD_97-7-39]97-7-39[/link]
Analysis:
Mississippi is not only one of the few states to protect the Confederate flag from defacement and defiance, but it is also one of the few states to criminalize casting contempt on the flag "by word" as well as by act. Arizona is the only other state to worry about people who "dishonor" any flags, too. How could any flag be "dishonored," though, without a message being communicated? That would mean that the law is designed to suppress a message, not to protect any flags.
More:
- Overview of State Laws on Flag Abuse, Burning, Desecration
- Index of State Laws on Flag Abuse, Burning, Desecration
