This topic has not come up since last year; What flags can be displayed in front of County buildings.
Well during the month of June, the Eastern District Commander again hoisted the "Rainbow Flag" during Pride month. Since the answer I recieved from my Councilman last year was that the Chief of Police could do as she/he pleases as there is no official policy on the matter, I just shrugged it off.
After corresponding with my County Councilman over the past year, he has proposed an ordinace which designates that only three(3) flags may be flown in front of County buildings; the American Flag, the Maryland State Flag and the Anne Arundel County flag. That's it!
I am attaching a copy of the proposed bill for your viewing pleasure. What I would ask each of you that support this issue is to reach out to respective Councilperson and ask them to vote in favor of the bill. If they do not support it, ask them why?
My rationale for driving this issue is simple; County institutions should always remain neutral on political-social matters. Take no side, but protect those citizens on either side and allow them to express their fundamental right to free speech.
If a County employee wants to express his/her opinion on a social issue that's fine. Do it own your own time, not in uniform and adhere to all laws, including the adherence to departmental rules & regs.
In closing I would like to say that I have friends and relatives who support abortion and some who are pro-life. I have friends who are avid "gun rights" supporters and some that want stricter gun control. I have family and friends that are part of the LGBTQ community and I treat them all the exact same way.
Let's keep our Police Department out of it and fly only designated flags!
Henry McClung (#517 Retired)
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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS indicate new matter added to existing law.
[[Brackets]] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
Captions and taglines in bold in this bill are catchwords and are not law.
COUNTY COUNCIL OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND
Legislative Session 2022, Legislative Day No. 14
Bill No. 74-22
Introduced by Mr. Volke
By the County Council, July 5, 2022
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Introduced and first read on July 5, 2022
Public Hearing set for September 6, 2022
Bill Expires October 8, 2022
By Order: Laura Corby, Administrative Officer
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A BILL ENTITLED
1 AN ORDINANCE concerning: General Provisions – Flags on County Property
2
3 FOR the purpose of allowing only certain flags to be flown on County flagpoles or
4 displayed in or on County buildings; and generally relating to general provisions.
5
6 BY adding: § 1-8-106
7 Anne Arundel County Code (2005, as amended)
8
9 SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the County Council of Anne Arundel County, Maryland,
10 That Section(s) of the Anne Arundel County Code (2005, as amended) read as follows:
11
12 ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
13
14 TITLE 8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
15
16 1-8-106. Flags on County property.
17
18 (A) THE FOLLOWING FLAGS ARE THE ONLY FLAGS PERMITTED TO BE FLOWN ON
19 COUNTY FLAGPOLES OR DISPLAYED IN OR ON COUNTY BUILDINGS:
20
21 (1) THE NATIONAL FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;
22
23 (2) THE OFFICIAL FLAG OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND; OR
24
25 (3) THE OFFICIAL FLAG OF THE COUNTY.
PROPOSED
Bill No. 74-22
Page No. 2
1 SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, That this Ordinance shall take effect 45 days
2 from the date it becomes law.
Responses