This just hacks me!!!!

[Guest]

I knew it was coming but had hoped it wouldn't.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/03/supreme-court-oks-anti-gay-churchs-picketing-of-funerals/1

These people are just plain nasty. No soldiers family should be treated like this.:cus:

[Guest]

I think I have an answer to this.

The so-called Reverend Phelps won this case because he was protesting on public ground. The 1st Ammendment clearly covers cases like these. I mean, it's easy to support the Free Speech rights of those that one agrees with. It's the reprehensible views of those like Phelps or, back in the day, the Illinois Nazi Party.

I wonder if we could solve this problem with a simple little bit of paperwork.

That is, when a funeral is taking place, legally RENT the grounds to the family of the deceased. That way, it is no longer PUBLIC grounds but a PRIVATE function which means that Phelps and his deluded apostles can be legally evicted from the grounds. If they persist, THEN they can be sued for tresspassing, etc. Under THOSE circumstances, the 1st Ammendment does NOT apply.

I'm also wondering if "hate crime" legislation could be used against them. Courts don't seem to have a problem restricting Free Speech in THOSE cases..

[Guest]

I think I have an answer to this.

The so-called Reverend Phelps won this case because he was protesting on public ground. The 1st Ammendment clearly covers cases like these. I mean, it's easy to support the Free Speech rights of those that one agrees with. It's the reprehensible views of those like Phelps or, back in the day, the Illinois Nazi Party.

I wonder if we could solve this problem with a simple little bit of paperwork.

That is, when a funeral is taking place, legally RENT the grounds to the family of the deceased. That way, it is no longer PUBLIC grounds but a PRIVATE function which means that Phelps and his deluded apostles can be legally evicted from the grounds. If they persist, THEN they can be sued for tresspassing, etc. Under THOSE circumstances, the 1st Ammendment does NOT apply.

I'm also wondering if "hate crime" legislation could be used against them. Courts don't seem to have a problem restricting Free Speech in THOSE cases..

Your points are well taken....that is why I knew it was coming. But these people are all about Hate Crimes. They just spew HATE.

My family now tries to attend any local funerals they will be protesting to try and shield the family.

Some how I hope this can be fixed.

[Guest]

For the life of me, I don't understand these people (Phelps). What kind of miserable life they must have. They spend their wholes lives just spewing hate. They must spend 24/7 looking for funerals etc. to protest. Do you think they ever just go to a ballgame, movie or whatever? I've heard of fanatics, but they are just way over the top. If they weren't so reprehensible I'd feel sorry for them.

[Guest]

They are a disgrace.

[Guest]

At the deceased family's request, the Patriot Guard Riders will shield families from groups such as the Westboro Baptist church. Here's a link to the group on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Guard_Riders IMHO,
I find protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church to be evil-attention getters from Hell who enjoy our country's privileges, but have never lifted a finger to protect our country's freedom.

[Guest]

Individuals sometimes get an order of protection issued for harassment that is no less egregious than this. Sometimes what is right is not justice.

[Guest]

:cus:Why can they not be "run in" for disturbing the peace? That has nothing to do with their "free" speech. For crying out loud, the law against disturbing the peace gets enforced all the time for loud mufflers, radios, etc. on public streets so why not their yelling/chants, etc. or does peace disturbance just apply to cars?

[Guest]

I believe that these people are some of the sickest people we have. I just get fed up with their antics. People that use the bible to spew their hatred are scumbags. I watched a documentary on these folks and the whole show made me sick.

[Guest]

They know how to skirt the law. They are well practiced at dancing that fine line between 'free speech' and 'harassment'.

They are the sick extension of when your kids were in the back seat of the car on a long road trip and one is all up in the other's face going "Does this bug you? I'm not touching you!"

[Guest]

When it comes to the issue of free speech there will always be the same arguments, remarks, etc but in the final analysis while we may have to endure hateful people such as this we have the saitisfaction of knowing nothing they do can in any way limit our right to free expression and speech. This belief is so ingrained in our society and this belief has withstood the test of time over and over again that relatively speaking such hate groups become just a minor annoyance.

[Guest]

On judgement day,won't the protestors be surprised when the devil greets them when they are expecting to go to heaven? They will pay in the end...in ways we can never dream of....I am sure the Lord is not pleased with what they are doing in his name. At least that is what I believe and I am not a very religious person.