It is not the government&8217;s place to decide how people can treat flags. Where does the line of desecration begin? Is it desecration to wear a shirt with a U.S. flag design all over it? To some, yes. To others, no.

Is it desecration to fly the flag upside down? It is a sign of distress. Gen. George Washington flew it upside down. Perhaps to some it would be disrespectful to fly a flag upside in, say, your back yard. To others, it would make sense, considering how some people feel about the current state of our union.

The point is, it is hard to draw a line on the matter.

That&8217;s why a federal judge in Des Moines decided about two Iowa laws that prohibit misuse and desecration of American flags as unenforceable and unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Pratt determined Tuesday the laws are too vague. He declared they violated the due-process clause in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

&8220;Both the flag desecration and flag misuse statutes fail to specifically define vital terms necessary to put a person of reasonable intelligence on notice of what conduct is prohibited,&8221; Pratt wrote.

The ruling is a victory for due process and free speech. Iowa&8217;s motto &8212; printed on its flag, no less &8212; is &8220;Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.&8221;

Good thing judges are around to prize the liberties because the Iowa Legislature seems willing to take them away.