States Eye Picketing at Soldiers' Funerals

[Judi Lynn]

States Eye Picketing at Soldiers' Funerals
States Rush to Stop Fundamentalists From Picketing U.S. Soldiers' Funerals

By CARRIE SPENCER GHOSE

COLUMBUS, Ohio Feb 6, 2006 (AP)— States are rushing to limit when and where people may protest at funerals all because of a small fundamentalist Kansas church whose members picket soldiers' burials, arguing that Americans are dying for a country that harbors homosexuals.

During the 1990s, the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., went around picketing the funerals of AIDS victims with protest signs that read, "God Hates Fags." But politicians began paying more attention recently when church members started showing up at the burials of soldiers and Marines killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Legislation is being considered in at least 14 states, and several of the bills moving quickly, with backing from legislative leaders and governors.

If they pass, the bills could set up a clash between privacy and free speech rights, and court challenges are almost certain.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1586000

[applegrove]

1. What is wrong with these people.

[Occulus]

2. Irony alert:

The military doesn't like gays either.

Sooooo.... what we have is states saying it's not okay to picket soldiers' funerals, because of Phelps, but the military won't allow gays, and the states are disallowing them to marry.......

BUT....


The states didn't do anything about picketing soldiers' funerals until Phelps and his crackpot crew showed up.

My head can't explode twice!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. Those guys

are just plain strange. Almost like Monty Python, without the laughs.

[MADem]

5. Did you ever see THE AWFUL TRUTH episode (Michael Moore's old TV show)

...where Michael brought a busload of proud and SCREAMING QUEENS all dressed up in parade gear that made Carnivale in Brasil look like an exercise in modesty, to counter-protest those kooks? It was priceless in the extreme...!!!

Laughs a plenty in that episode--of course, those nitwits didn't get the joke.

[nofoil]

10. LOVE THAT!!!!!!!!!

Let's get a parade on!

[MindPilot]

4. They have to make laws to limit the activities of ONE GUY?!

I think if Rev. Phelps and his minions show up at a few more military funerals the problem will be taken care of...if you know what I mean. Local law enforcement can probably be counted on to look the other way for a few minutes.

Of course it's far more likely the law makers don't give a flying rat's ass about military funerals, and see this as a convenient excuse to prohibit ALL protests--especially those which don't advocate killing A-rabs or abortionists.

[BOSSHOG]

6. Won't it be a grand ole get together at Phelp's funeral?

A celebration if you will; akin to democrats cheering that nothing was done with bush's attempt to destroy social security last year. Another law is not needed. Eventually the sadness and evil phelp's places on this earth will be gone, sadly to be replaced by another of his kind and all in the name of Jesus Christ.

[Thor_MN]

14. Phelp is going to need Astroturf on his grave

The amount of urea that's going to be in the soil within days after they plant him will keep anything from growing there.

[Up2Late]

17. My mom's next-door neighbor is an old Spanish woman, and she says...

...that's exactly what most people do at Franco's grave.

[Initech]

7. Come on, they gave signed bills guaranteeing health care for one person...

[MindPilot]

12. oh you're right...and she was brain-dead too!!

sometimes I just crack me up.

[Initech]

8. Something needs to be done about that fucker Phelps.

[Tempest]

9. Phelps won't picket, he just want the publicity

Phelp's group announced they were going to picket a soldier's funeral in Bakersfield but they didn't show. And I've read reports of this happening in other cities.

It's just showmanship to him.

As soon as the media stops giving him attention, he'll go away.

[foreigncorrespondent]

11. Let me guess...

...these so called laws will make it illegal to protest a soldiers funeral, all the while make it possible that any gay persons funeral will have open invitations for protest?

Regardless of who the dead person is, protesting ANY funeral is in bad taste, but there is also the freedom of speech laws. I hate what Phelps does, but it is his right to do it.

[Inland]

13. Wonder why it's the soldiers and not Bush who are damned.

Has the guy said a bad thing about the Chimpy in Chief that sent the deceased over there to become dead?

[rodeodance]

15. hypocracy--pure and simple.

.......During the 1990s, the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., went around picketing the funerals of AIDS victims with protest signs that read, "God Hates Fags." But politicians began paying more attention recently when church members started showing up at the burials of soldiers and Marines killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[Up2Late]

16. NPR Covered Phelps today! The guy sounds like Charley Manson!!!

I'm betting he gets arrested tomorrow when he protest Mrs. King's Funeral, Both President and Senator Clinton and * and Laura are said to be coming. I bet the Secret Service are not going to put up with his crap.

Here's the link to the audio:

Kansas Church Uses Funerals for Anti-Gay Protests

Listen to this story...(at link above)
by Frank Morris

All Things Considered, February 6, 2006 · As Atlanta readies
for Coretta Scott King's funeral Tuesday, police brace for
Fred Phelps and members of his Kansas church. Phelps has exploited
funerals for virulent, anti-gay protests. The controversial preacher
says state efforts to neutralize his protests violate his First Amendment
rights. Frank Morris of member station KCUR reports.

[Rex]

18. Protesting a soldiers funeral.

Wow. What total hate. I can't imagine the sick mind that comes up with shit like this.

[Rex]

19. dupe

[Sgent]

20. Should he be allowed to picket? Yes.

That doesn't mean that private cemetaries have to allow them on their grounds. Even in the case of public cemetaries, its probable that outlawing any activity other than visiting the dead, interrment, and religious services would pass constitutional muster.

That being said, if he want's to stand on the sidewalk at the entrance to the cemetary, I don't think that can be banned -- nor IMHO should it be.

[Charlie Brown]

21. Yes, I agree

As disgusting as he is, he has a right to demonstrate in public, as long as he keeps a reasonable distance from the funerals and doesn't interfere with the proceedings.

Phelps wants laws to be passed that prohibit picketing. I'm convinced that's the true agenda of his movement.