This article comes to us from FoxNews.com about a new law in Minnesota that will take effect at the end of the year. The law, ironically sponsored by a Democrat, will require that all American flags sold in the state to have been made in the United States.

By year's end, a new law will require every Old Glory sold in Minnesota stores to be American made. It's the latest and strongest attempt by states to stem imports of foreign-made U.S. flags.

And apparently Minnesota is not the only state with laws like this one:

In Arizona, schools and public colleges were required starting July 1 to outfit every classroom from junior high up with a made-in-the-USA flag. Tennessee requires all U.S. flags bought via state contract to be made here, and similar bills are moving forward in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

At first glance, this must seem like the patriotic thing to do. After all, how can an American flag truly be American if the Chinese make it? I suppose one might call this a "preemptive war" on foreign flag manufacturers. You can't let the terrorists win by letting them produce our flags and get our money, even if they are far less expensive for consumers and it's what buyers prefer. That's just not American.

However, not everybody was keen on the measure (we call these people "traitors"):

"That flag should be made throughout the world because it is our message to the world that there is hope for freedom and justice," Republican Rep. Dan Severson said at the time.

Well, not really, Mr. Severson. Forbidding its sale more likely sends the message that the whole idea of private transaction without government interference, the founding philosophy of the United States,is not as highly regarded as it once was. But hey, it sounds good as long as you don't think about it.

Another issue is whether or not this new state law violates World Trade Organization standards:

Under World Trade Organization standards, the U.S. government can't treat foreign products less favorably than those produced within its boundaries, said Peter Morici, a business professor at the University of Maryland and the former chief economist for the U.S. International Trade Commission. How the rules apply to states is debatable, he said.

For now, the law's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Tom Rukavina, is happy with his victory over the "terrorist nations" who defile our flag with their grimy, un-American hands:

To celebrate his legislative victory, he plans to hand out 1,000 miniature flags at Fourth of July parades in his district.
"The biggest honor that you can give the flag is that it be made by American workers in the United States of America," he said. "Nothing is more embarrassing to me than a plastic flag made in China. This replica of freedom we so respect should be made in this country."

Evidently your American flag only represents freedom if it has the "Made in the USA" logo proudly stamped on it. So, be sure to hide all your foreign-made American flags, lest you have the Minnesota Flag Police storming into your yard with torches blazing.

I just wonder how Mr. Rukavina is going to feel about his victory once he realizes his 1,000 little flags were probably made by Mexican immigrants working in the manufacturing plants.

Oops.