Remember some police will also tell you not to keep valuables in your home....
about the flag?
I'm reminded of an old Jeff Foxworth routine, paraphrased it goes something like this..
the thief sees a nice house, flowers along the walk, nice yard, thinks, hmm, might be something in there worth taking....
He sees a house with weeds four feet high, a couple of cars on blocks, tree with an engine block hanging from a chain....that's a house where a GUN LIVES!!!
And, if you come in the window some night, you're gonna meet it!!
Point here is that if you think flying the flag makes you a target because flag flyers often have guns, consider the opposite effect, perhaps it makes you less of a target, because crooks know that flag flyers often HAVE GUNS!!
(and can use them...
)