Westboro Chuch restricted

[Simon Cowell of the RR]

A Republican introduced this?
Shocking.

The legislature gets to legislate, but of course the courts will eventually strike this charming little law down. And the WBC will be on the front page of every news paper in the country, which is exactly where they want to be.

[Ethel mermania]

I think this is the wrong approach.

I would like to see a legal definition of the term "fighting words", that would be not limited to but include protesting private funerals.

Then let the aggreived families beat the living crap out of the WBC, and then if they survive, thow the protesters asses in jail for asault.

[Ethel mermania]

Are you aware that Catholics are Christians, btw?

Oh no. Jack Chick says Catholics worship Isis and Baal. So they're not REAL Christians.

I have been to catholic masses, no offense intended but baal throws a much better party.

Or I should try and work in how it does not surprise me that moderation worships baal, but its to early in the morning for that.

[Lotrabme]

Westboro baptist church is an abomination and must be destroyed, I support any bill that will lead to the destruction of the refusers and the enlightenment of those of them who wish to break away from their heinous beliefs and way of life, they believe science has progressed to serve their needs to spread Gods word. Well unfortunately for them, they are wrong, and if they spread their faith and it was mainstream, the world would be destroyed, and likewise they SHOULD and WILL meet their permanent end.

[Northern Dominus]

Congress Passes Restrictions On Military Funeral Protests, Delivers Blow To Westboro Baptist Church

Westboro Baptist Church protesters will soon be severely limited in their ability to disrupt military funerals, after Congress passed a sweeping veterans bill this week that includes restrictions on such demonstrations.

According to "The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012," which is now headed to President Barack Obama's desk, demonstrators will no longer be allowed to picket military funerals two hours before or after a service. The bill also requires protestors to be at least 300 feet away from grieving family members.

This aspect of the legislation was introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who, at the urging of a teenage constituent, proposed new limitations on military funeral demonstrations as a response to a 2011 Supreme Court case that ruled such actions were protected under the First Amendment.

In the wake of that decision, many have turned to counter-protest efforts to block Westboro Baptist Church's disruptive and insensitive displays, which frequently suggest that U.S. soldiers have been killed as God's vengeance for gay tolerance.

Thousands turned out in Missouri last month, forming a "human wall" around a church where the service for a fallen soldier was being held.

Earlier in July, hundreds of Texas A&M students showed up in a similar effort, joining together to create a barrier between Westboro Baptist Church members and a military funeral.

And while not at a specific service, a group of demonstrators dressed as zombies gathered at a military base in Washington last month, far outnumbering and overshadowing followers of the far-right congregation.

The bill also contains a variety of measures meant to address veterans health, benefits, housing and education. Obama is expected to sign to the legislation later this month.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/0 ... 33080.html

I'm sure I don't have to tell you who the WBBC is.
I personally support a restriction on their actions, although I am aware that an argument could be made against this bill for reasons of Free Speech.
What do ya'll think of this NS?

Honestly I don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand the Westboro Baptist Church are a bunch of inbred misanthropes who obviously don't read the book they claim to live their lives by, because if they did they either missed or skimmed over the parts where it says "do unto others" and "love thy neighbor". As a member of the Patriot Guard Ridersand a veteran it fills me with glee when I can back my motorcycle right up to their protest line and twist the throttle, thereby drowning out their message of hate but blasting them with hot exhaust, but really we shouldn't have to do this in order to safeguard the sanctity of a family mounring the loss of a loved one.

That being said as much as I don't like what they have to say or where they say it, constitutionally they are legally entitled to do so. The first amendment not only applies to speech we may not disagree with on a personal level but hate speech as well, stopping short of outright threats. If we ban the right for one, what's to say we can't start banning other forms of speech we find objectionable?


So that's the conundrum, on the one hand I believe that not only do the funerals for our nations bravest deserve to be held without fear of incendiary hate speech but that it is the duty for all of us to actively stand up to and resist these misanthropes at every turn by any means short of direct physical violence. On the other, as soon as we start stripping away rights we have the precedent, and where does it stop?

[Democratic Koyro]

Good.

[Norstal]

I think it's wrong that such a measure is enforced about soldiers' funerals only. It should be about ANYONE's funeral.

Why limit it to funerals and why not just make a completely new harassment law?

[Of the Free Socialist Territories]

I think it's wrong that such a measure is enforced about soldiers' funerals only. It should be about ANYONE's funeral.

Why limit it to funerals and why not just make a completely new harassment law?

Because then you're restricting their freedom of speech, presumably, and you're going to get WBC members screaming "FIRST AMENDMENT FIRST AMENDMENT FIRST AMENDMENT".

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

A Republican introduced this?
Shocking.

Derp.

[Typhlochactas]

Good.

No, bad. They wanted this to happen.

[Democratic Koyro]

Why limit it to funerals and why not just make a completely new harassment law?

Because then you're restricting their freedom of speech, presumably, and you're going to get WBC members screaming "FIRST AMENDMENT FIRST AMENDMENT FIRST AMENDMENT".

IF they do that, then arrest them.

[Northern Dominus]

Good.

No, bad. They wanted this to happen.

Exactly. All this is going to do is result in a big court case and a PR coup for the scum from Kansas.
Better that they get held up at every turn, counter-protested and harassed...stuff like that.

[Samozaryadnyastan]

They target military funerals in order to get exposure. Their protests are horrid; children do not need to see a bunch of assholes holding signs telling them that their mommy or daddy died because God hates America, etc. It's pretty uncommon for them to target any other funeral unless the deceased can gain them some media attention.

They have admitted to, for example, picketing the funeral of a Muslim man's wife because he had admonished them for burning a Quran a week beforehand.

While this may be a relatively isolated example, I fail to see why military funerals should have protections that that man's wife's funeral would not.

Because a soldier has volunteered to do his country and his government service, in the armed forces.
Regardless of whether it is agreed upon whether or not it was 'right' for his government to demand whatever service they sent him to do, nor what he did during this service, his government should protect the rights of his family to grieve after the loss of their loved one to the government's service.

[Ifreann]

I fail to see why military funerals should be protected ahead of the funerals of the countless other people that Westboro Baptist feels the need to picket.

Clearly you hate freedom, you godless peacenik.

[Big Jim P]

I served. I did not die (obviously) but my service, and other deaths, paid for everyones (including the WBC) right too be an asshole to me and my comrades. It also paid for our right to laugh at those who would be assholes.

[Grenartia]

Doesn't this make you wish WBC would just go the fuck away...

I'm sure they'd be perfectly happy in Iran.

[Ifreann]

I served. I did not die (obviously)...

Source?

[Ifreann]

Doesn't this make you wish WBC would just go the fuck away...

I'm sure they'd be perfectly happy in Iran.

Why would trolls be happy around people who agree with them?

[Big Jim P]

I served. I did not die (obviously)...

Source?

Damn. Called out with no answer.

OK, I died. I am just to stupid to lie still.

[Grenartia]

I served. I did not die (obviously)...

Source?

Consider that sigged.

I'm sure they'd be perfectly happy in Iran.

Why would trolls be happy around people who agree with them?

They could always troll the fuck out of the Iranians regarding their religious differences.

[Der Laufeland]

The Westboro Baptist Church is protected by the freedom of assembly. As long as they are not destroying property, or breaking any laws they have the right to assemble wherever they wish. It is sad that they are attacking those who gave their lives to defend their freedom though, but since they aren't doing anything illegal, no one can stop them.

[Woodstead]

I fail to see why military funerals should be protected ahead of the funerals of the countless other people that Westboro Baptist feels the need to picket.

This, but I don't see why Westboro sometimes have to be protected by the police; I don't see any counter movements getting much comparatively.

[Miss Defied]

I don't see how this can possibly happen since SCOTUS ruled in WBC's favor in Snyder v. Phelps.

[Der Kaiser Mikey III]

I am not one for government involvement, but the 2 hour before/after margin is acceptable I suppose, however I'd prefer for the people to continue to block their efforts...it shows support, and publicizes the ridiculousness of their religious bullshit. If god hates good men who've sacrificed themselves, God can suck my dick. I'm in the Navy, and though I don't really agree with Homosexual unions, I have no objection for someone to serve our Nation, and furthermore lay down their life for it. Westboro, go jump off a cliff and do us a favor, God is going to have a long talk with you bastards...

[Roan Cara]

I served. I did not die (obviously)...

Source?

He is too hot to be a dead guy but then again guess rigamortis (sp?) has its benefits