After a dozen individuals died in the Aurora, Colorado, theater act of domestic terrorism, President Obama used his power of proclamation to lower the Stars and Stripes flown at half staff to honor the victims in July 2012.
At the end of 2012, after another gun-related act of homegrown terrorism in Newton, Connecticut, fatally shot 20 children and 6 adults, President Obama decreed flags on government property lowered out of respect to the dead.
When three people were killed and more than 250 were maimed and injured after the Boston Marathon terrorist bombing in March 2013, President Obama issued a another flag lowering proclamation.
But when a white gunman carried out one more act of American terrorism, armed with legally-obtained arms, on sacred soil in Charleston, South Carolina, leaving 9 black persons dead, President Obama didn't order his usual proclamation directing Old Glory to fly at lowered height to honor the murdered folks.
What's up with that?
His most recent proclamation was on June 12 commemorating Flag Day and National Flag Week. I'd like the Confederate Flag removed from South Carolina's capital grounds and American and LGBT Rainbow Pride Flag lowered to half mast in honor the dead of Charleston.
Channeling my mother the English teacher: flags on ships on masts. Thus, to order flags to half mast is to request ships to lower their flags, but not those on land. To order flags to half staff encompasses both ships and flags flown on land.
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