Alabama county refuses to lower flag for Orlando massacre, faces online backlash

One county in Alabama drew the ire of the internet after choosing not to lower the American flag to half-staff in response to the deaths of 49 people in Orlando, Florida last Sunday – and not for the first time, either.

Following the attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida that killed 49 and wounded 53, President Barack Obama ordered the flag to be lowered to half-staff on all federal buildings and properties, including the military. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley likewise sent the order to lower the flags on all federal and state buildings.

READ MORE: FBI calls Orlando massacre both hate crime & terrorism

Right across the state line from Florida, however, Alabama’s Baldwin County decided to leave the flag up – just as they had in the aftermath of the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, or the terrorist attacks in Paris or San Bernardino, California last year.

“Lowering the flags to half-staff after mass shooting or terrorist event is not a valid circumstance or memorial as specified in the US flag code,” Commissioner Tucker Dorsey wrote on Facebook, explaining his decision. “I realize that the President and Governor may make the order, but I believe and interpret their order inconsistent with the adopted flag code.”

Dorsey’s remarks were picked up by WPMI-TV, a local news station in nearby Mobile and a CNN affiliate. After CNN reported the story on Friday, social media lit up with criticism of Dorsey, Baldwin County, and Alabama in general.

What CNN and the irate Twitterverse denizens seemed to miss was Dorsey’s full statement, in which he explained why the county refuses to lower the flag.

“When the flag is at half-staff, our country’s head is figuratively held low, and quite frankly, I am not willing to hang my head down because of a terrorist attack against our people and our allies,” Dorsey wrote. “I am not willing to hang my head down because evil shoots up a church, school, or movie theater. We need more than a gesture as a response. I want us, as Americans, to stand tall, courageously, and fight back against the forces of evil, and let’s fight like we intend to win.”

Obama has ordered the flag to be lowered at half-staff 66 times during his two terms, more than any of his predecessors.

ttp://www.rt.com/usa/347214-alabama-flag-orlando-victims/

:I have having another one of those... "WHY is this a Controversy moments? "

We are individual States!
Counties, cities, towns & jurisdictions!


* pass the asprin *

he is right

the code only mandates half staff for the death of certain politicians and dignitaries,, not citizens

the 'order' is a matter of consideration and respect in this case, but not a true 'order'


it is an option to show 'respects' to the deceased through this order or through other means

or not at all

why would the flag be at half mast for Paris? am i missing something here?

because American citizens died,,

still not politicians and still not mandated,,,but it happened out of respect

Yeah, looks like classic "lets all get upset" BS to me too.

The for-profit news media love to stir people up this way, no matter what side they take themselves (left right or center), because when people get upset, they make more money.

And lots of people of all kinds, LIKE to get upset, again regardless of which side they take, because when they DO get self-righteously angry, it makes them feel heroic or important.

So this is a classic, ready made pseudo-scandal for all of them to enjoy.

My own take is, if they are consistent about how they deal with the flag, and are respectful of the flag, I'm fine with it.

I would only side against the people making this decision, if they were clearly playing coy games, and switching from one set of "rules" to another, based on some favoritism. No evidence of that here.

Americans die all over the world every day... the half mast thing should be more reserved than that...

Yes, Like the USA military base, that was attacked. Three people, including the military, had to remind The Commander and Chief.

But Whitney Houston... He did it for

http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/article/2015/jul/22/half-truths-white-house-half-staff-flag-controvers/