New Jersey: Desecration of a venerated object is a crime which occurs when someone "purposely desecrates any public monument, insignia, symbol, or structure, or place of worship or burial." Desecration is an act which covers "defacing, damaging, or polluting."
Penalty: none specified.
Source: 2C:33-9
Analysis:
New Jersey's law on desecration doesn't specifically list any national or state flags, but it does mention public "insignia," which would probably be read to cover both the national and the state flag. Then again, what does "public" mean here? Does it simply mean public property, which would mean that defacing a privately owned American flag is legal? Or does it mean something which is public venerated, in which case it would apply to all American flags, whether public or private property?
More:
- Overview of State Laws on Flag Abuse, Burning, Desecration
- Index of State Laws on Flag Abuse, Burning, Desecration
