Westboro Chuch restricted

[Northwest Slobovia]

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.

Yeah, I'm not sure where to draw the line. The courts have generally allowed reasonable restrictions on free speech -- I think the catchphrase is proper "time, place, and manner" -- so the question would be whether this unduly restricts people's rights. I don't think so, but I'd have to think about it a little more to be sure.

[Seleucas]

They DO picket other funerals; they were just at Aurora.

In that case, someone should inform Congress. I really don't see why they limited it to military funerals, unless they're just doing this for political reasons during election season. But, if what you're saying is true, they shouldn't have excluded other funerals from the law.

Well, I don't believe in such a law, and I think that it is likely going to be struck down. (The distance is OK, I don't think they should be going inside the church or anything like that, but not the prohibition on when they can show up.)

[Katganistan]

Thank god they did something to stop these assholes. They give Christians a pretty bad name, an even worse one than Mormons and Catholics.

Are you aware that Catholics are Christians, btw?

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

[Galborg]

Are you aware that Catholics are Christians, btw?

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

Freedom of Worship clause in the Constitution forbids Jack Chick from forbidding Citizens to worship Isis and Baal.

[Imsogone]

I don't see the problem. They haven't been told they can't protest, they've just been given a time frame and a proximity limit. Their right to protest has not been eliminated it's just been given certain parameters. As far as I can see, no one loses. The families' privacy is protected and the WBC still has license to act like jerks.

[Samuraikoku]

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.

My thoughts too.

And mine.

[Gauthier]

I think this law is the only thing keeping the westboro baptists from eventually going too far and getting beaten down wholesale by an angry mob.

That's nothing. You know there's a shitload of people waiting for Fred Phelps to finally die so they can ALL picket his funeral fabulously.

[Imsogone]

I think this law is the only thing keeping the westboro baptists from eventually going too far and getting beaten down wholesale by an angry mob.

That's nothing. You know there's a shitload of people waiting for Fred Phelps to finally die so they can ALL picket his funeral fabulously.

Keep me posted, I will so be there! With picket signs and KFC.

[Seleucas]

Also, if I recall, there was a bill like this passed during the Bush administration with similar time/space constraints for WBC, but it was struck down.

[Neutraligon]

That's nothing. You know there's a shitload of people waiting for Fred Phelps to finally die so they can ALL picket his funeral fabulously.

Keep me posted, I will so be there! With picket signs and KFC.

If this law passes you can't be within 300ft or the 5 hours before during and after his funeral, although I was wondering if instead of picketing the funeral you can protest at some place related to the person, like their house.

[Gauthier]

Keep me posted, I will so be there! With picket signs and KFC.

If this law passes you can't be within 300ft or the 5 hours before during and after his funeral, although I was wondering if instead of picketing the funeral you can protest at some place related to the person, like their house.

Even if it was actually passed which I doubt very much, it only applies to military funerals. And Fred was never a military man.

[Genivaria]

If this law passes you can't be within 300ft or the 5 hours before during and after his funeral, although I was wondering if instead of picketing the funeral you can protest at some place related to the person, like their house.

Even if it was actually passed which I doubt very much, it only applies to military funerals. And Fred was never a military man.

I can easily see an amendment being made to it so that it includes ALL funerals.

[Vitaphone Racing]

Nobody has the right to free speech if what they're saying is illegal. Picketing funerals is harassing the grievers; should always have been illegal in the first place.

[The Black Forrest]

Thank god they did something to stop these assholes. They give Christians a pretty bad name, an even worse one than Mormons and Catholics.

Reading your post; I don't think Christians need help.....

[The Black Forrest]

If it was genuine protest; this would be heading into dangerous areas.

However, I have read a couple things where WC does this for lawsuit potential......

[Takaram]

If they're still around when I die, I'd gladly invite the WBC to protest my funeral if they wanted. I'd consider it one of my greatest achievements in life. That being said, I do understand the desire to keep them well away from grieving families.

[Avorez]

When wbc disrupts funerals, they violate Freedom of Worship: sue them for every dollar they got.
Now, I'm no expert in funerals, but I'm pretty sure that 'funeral' doesn't fall under violating the freedom to Worship. If anything they have the Freedom to Protest on their side.

When wbc murders gays, hang them for incitement to felony.
I've personally never heard of them murdering gays, but if they do then they should be charged with murder and given due process and not just hung on the spot. Honestly, as much as I hate them, I still respect their damned civil rights. Also, if WBC urdered gays, that's not incitement to commit a felony....that's a felony called um...murder.

If wbc preached, "when gays die, Gaad sends them to Hell" they got both Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Worship on their side. I can't see what crime we could charge them with?

Nothing at the moment because they've broken no laws.

[Pendragonia]

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?

To put it crudely: fuck the WBBC. However, as things go in the US, just because Congress makes a law, or the people of a given state pass a referendum or initiative, does not make it so. Ultimately, the decision will be made by nine unelected officials.

[Orcoa]

Good, They are lucky they get this and not their heads beaten in. Honoring the dead is a big thing for me and what they do is so disgusting it makes me steam with anger.

I mean, what kind of fucking asshole do you have to be to go to a fucking funeral and protest at it? And I'm even more surprised that any of you would support their right to spew their shit.

[Herlosk]

I don't even understand WBC anymore.

[Pendragonia]

Good, They are lucky they get this and not their heads beaten in. Honoring the dead is a big thing for me and what they do is so disgusting it makes me steam with anger.

I mean, what kind of fucking asshole do you have to be to go to a fucking funeral and protest at it? And I'm even more surprised that any of you would support their right to spew their shit.

The right to freedom of speech is held sacrosanct by many, even if it is to their detriment.

[Of the Free Socialist Territories]

I don't even understand WBC anymore.

You mean you understood them at one point?!

[Genivaria]

I don't even understand WBC anymore.

You mean you understood them at one point?!

Share your wisdom oh wise one!

[L Ron Cupboard]

I say we put Fred Phelps in a ring with Wladimir Klitschko to see who really is the WBC champion.

[Of the Free Socialist Territories]

Good, They are lucky they get this and not their heads beaten in. Honoring the dead is a big thing for me and what they do is so disgusting it makes me steam with anger.

I mean, what kind of fucking asshole do you have to be to go to a fucking funeral and protest at it? And I'm even more surprised that any of you would support their right to spew their shit.

Freedom of speech, my man. They may say awful, repugnant things, but they have a right to say them, as they should, and you have a right to counter-protest, as you should.