Arizona has a state statute that allows Arizonans to fly "the Stars and Stripes, the state flag, flags representing Indian nations as well as the official flags of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard," the Times reports.
McDonel's homeowners' association is strictly interpreting that law to ban the flying of any other flags, including the Gadsden.
The flag is named after Col. Christopher Gadsden, a Continental Congress delegate from South Carolina. The flag was flown by the Navy in 1775 -- but owes its design to the famous "Join or Die" icon that Benjamin Franklin created in the 1750s to promote unity among American colonists.
From around the country, it's a similar situation.
-Eric Smith of Thornton, Colo., said he and his neighbor were sent a letter by their homeowners' association that said "Tea Party flags are not permitted. Please Remove." They were threatened with a $100-a-month fine for flying the Gadsden flag.
-Meanwhile, a group of retired Marines in Connecticut is fighting for the flag to be flown over the state Capitol, after the Capitol police denied their request because the flag is not the official Marines flag.
"I'd learned about in the Marine Corps. It's one of the first, if not the first, Marine Corps flag," retired Marine Patrick Rubino told FoxNews.com. "They even flew it over our bases in Afghanistan and Iraq while I was there."
