They are at it again...

[Big Rig]

I hope PGR and Warrior Watch will be there...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40587353/ns/us_news-life

[FLAVALK]

Something really bad needs to happen to that sorry bunch of  #@&**#@ 

[Psychotic Bovine]

this quote bothers me: "While distancing themselves from the church's message, media organizations, including The Associated Press, have called on the court to side with church because of concerns that a victory for Snyder could erode free speech rights. "

How would the employees of the AP like people protesting and mocking their loved-one's funerals?
I'm sorry, but that is not free speech.  It's harassment, and if the press can't see that, then they are totally blind and morally corrupt.

[Willow]

  It's harassment, and if the press can't see that, then they are totally blind and morally corrupt.

Wow!  I think you've hit the nail squarely on the head.

[Dubsvalk]

Amen, Brother!
Bernie

[G-Man]

I'd bet the farm that the police baracades will be a lot farther from the funeral proceedings than at the funerals for "just plain ole" soldiers.

The probelm I see with this group, and too many other groups in THIS country, is that they all have the right to do what they choose (within the law), regardless of what is the appropriate or honorable thing to do.  "We have the right to do this!"  Yes, you do, but is it the right thing to do?

Imagine, the only time when our wonderful President gets involved, makes a statement, and sends the brass in to shut it down is when Muslims are involved.  Just sayin'   

[Stormrider65]

WHAT THE %U*(*%^%$^((%^%^$$%*???????  For some reason, this doesn't surprise me.  I understand freedom of speech, I served my country for it.  What I don't understand is the intelligence(or lack of) that it took for some bunch of individuals to actually come up with this.  And to think, these people(yes I am giving them more credit than they deserve) have the right to vote.  Something needs to happen to them.    ???

[Chiefy]

Seems like the news media is supposed to keep their pie-holes shut and just report.  But I know better then that.  And my cynical side tells me the Westboro folks sell advertising time on the news outlets that report on them.

[elraque]

I'd bet the farm that the police baracades will be a lot farther from the funeral proceedings than at the funerals for "just plain ole" soldiers.

The probelm I see with this group, and too many other groups in THIS country, is that they all have the right to do what they choose (within the law), regardless of what is the appropriate or honorable thing to do.  "We have the right to do this!"  Yes, you do, but is it the right thing to do?

Imagine, the only time when our wonderful President gets involved, makes a statement, and sends the brass in to shut it down is when Muslims are involved.  Just sayin'   

+1

Yeah, what you said. Especially the part about just because you have the RIGHT to do something doesn't make it the RIGHT thing to do.

(Not all truth needs to be spoken at all times...)

[Bobbo]

Seems like the news media is supposed to keep their pie-holes shut and just report.  But I know better then that.  And my cynical side tells me the Westboro folks sell advertising time on the news outlets that report on them.

It’s unlikely that there’s some sort of sinister money plot between Westboro Baptist and news outlets.  I doubt they even buy advertisement; the neo-patriots give them plenty of airtime!  I, and everyone I talk to in our local PGR unit believe they have a First Amendment right to peaceably protest, as is our right to counter-protest.  On the dozen or more PGR missions I’ve done, we’ve only encountered them once.  They stayed away from the funeral site and hung around the street holding their signs.  Not a lot to it, really.

The news media have a lot at stake in our First Amendment, and they see any eroding of it as a direct threat to their livelihood.

[hubcapsc]

  It's harassment, and if the press can't see that, then they are totally blind and morally corrupt.

Wow!  I think you've hit the nail squarely on the head.

I was once a witness at a harassment trial, I didn't know about the legal definition of the word until then.
I think if they did it right they could keep from hitting the "free speech" wall on a lot of these kinds of things by
going after harassment. In the right state (I think the legal definition of "harassment" might differ from
state to state) I bet some of these paparazzi/stalkers could be taken down on harassment charges...
is it silly to think that Oss or Jess?

-Mike

[Chiefy]

Seems like the news media is supposed to keep their pie-holes shut and just report.  But I know better then that.  And my cynical side tells me the Westboro folks sell advertising time on the news outlets that report on them.

It’s unlikely that there’s some sort of sinister money plot between Westboro Baptist and news outlets.  I doubt they even buy advertisement; the neo-patriots give them plenty of airtime!  I, and everyone I talk to in our local PGR unit believe they have a First Amendment right to peaceably protest, as is our right to counter-protest.  On the dozen or more PGR missions I’ve done, we’ve only encountered them once.  They stayed away from the funeral site and hung around the street holding their signs.  Not a lot to it, really.

The news media have a lot at stake in our First Amendment, and they see any eroding of it as a direct threat to their livelihood.

I didn't mean some direct connection between the news media and Westboro.  Folks are shocked at Westboro, the media reports it, "following these important commercial messages."   

[Jess from VA]

I bet some of these paparazzi/stalkers could be taken down on harassment charges...is it silly to think that Oss or Jess?

This presents a difficult issue (as the Westboro scum well know).  The first amendment is a fundamental individual liberty (just like the 2d amendment).  Any limitation on a fundamental right will be given the most careful scrutiny.  OW Holmes wrote there was no right to falsely scream "fire" in a crowded theater, because such speech had no useful purpose, was false, was imminently dangerous, and tantamount to action.  The test was a "clear and present danger" to others, and this was later even more limited to speech likely to incite imminent lawless action (like a riot).  

As bad as the Westboro scum's message is, it probably does not arise to the level of unprotected speech (there have been no stampedes or riots, ie there is no immediate threat to life or limb)... especially since they are known to scrupulously follow the administrative (State-by-State) rules about how close to the funeral they can get, or how big their signs can be, etc.

When you suggest they be attacked with harassment charges, you are raising an interesting issue.  The first amendment right to free speech is really a complete defense to general, non-physical, speech-only harassment.  

However, where new constitutional law could (possibly) be made would be in a case where the complainants were able to prove that the Westoboro scum had no actual religious or other belief in their message, but rather had engaged in a course of conduct for many years which was only aimed at creating disturbances/altercations/disputes where they were able to sue people and governmental entities civilly for violation of their civil rights.... for money.    

This is, of course, exactly what the Westoboro scum do.... they don't really believe God is punishing soldiers by allowing them to be killed in combat because the US allows homosexuals to live and/or abortions to occur.... they know protesting funerals with this message will cause people and police and government entities to try to stop them (or assault them) so they can sue for monetary civil damages..... which is how they make their despicable living.   But how do you prove this?

IF a plaintiff could prove this, then he might be able to carve out an exception to the first amendment protection which otherwise completely protects this Westboro scum behavior.  The paparazzi reporting the oral arguments of the pending case before the Supreme Court could gleen no predilections of the court members from their questions.   I doubt the Marine's father proved the Westoboro scum don't believe their message and are only in it for the money, but who knows?

[3fan4life]

It seems to me that these SCUMBAGS are really nothing more than a hate group.

My question would be, why can't they be punished for some type of hate crime?

[RoadKill]

who is funding these dirtbags?

The whole fam damily are LAWYERS!  They fund the church thru' lawsuits won against any one trampling on their right to free speech. 

[RoadKill]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20025158-504083.html


http://www.google.com/maps/place?cid=18171191365935982095&q=westboro+baptist+church&fb=1&gl=us&hq=westboro+baptist+church&hnear=Paxico,+KS

[TheSpadMan]

Am I rememberin Correctly ? ?  They didnt show up in West Virginia at the coal miners funerals .....    Someone said that they would Dissapear if they came to these mountains.   Just sayn.   

Bill

[Big Rig]

I wonder what would happen is people started protesting thier church before during and after thier services holding up signs along the road ways to the church that they all would have to pass....make it damn near impossible to talk or pray in peace...free speach does work both ways...

[RoadKill]

I wonder what would happen is people started protesting thier church before during and after thier services holding up signs along the road ways to the church that they all would have to pass....make it damn near impossible to talk or pray in peace...free speach does work both ways...

They would smile and count their money (Praying to the court clerk that signs your garnishment)  as they search for your address and bank account information!

[Jess from VA]

Sgt. Ryan Newell was not careful or discrete enough. 

Nothing a .50 Barrett from a half mile away couldn't better remedy.... one at a time.   Better yet.... "front toward enemy."

I do believe love and turning the other cheek are admirable qualities.... but there are exceptions to every rule.