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In 1948 United States instituted a peace-time draft.
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In 1965, Congress amended the Act to prohibit the willful destruction of "draft cards" or registration certificates.
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This amendment was passed when public burnings of draft cards to protest the Vietnam War were a growing event.
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David Paul O'Brien and three companions burned their draft cards In front of the South Boston Courthouse, in front of a crowd with several FBI agents.
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O'Brien was convicted and sentenced to the maximum of six years, as a "youth offender".
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The Court decided both actions together and, in a 7–1 decision, upheld the constitutionality of amendment 462(b)(3), vacated the First Circuit's decision and reinstated O'Brien's sentence.