They should have no right to this type of free speech. Sorry, I think there's a line and this group of idiots crosses it way too often. YOUR rights end when they infringe on MY rights. The Supreme Court needs to step up on this one and end the tolerance of this group and others like them. Yes, they have the right to say it - but not anywhere close to the funeral. This family should have the right to conduct the funeral free of harassment.

Twice tonight I have concurred with you.

I Have the protest - just not where it disrupts the event. 1 mile away would be a good distance to write into law.

 

It didn't disrupt this funeral. Heck, the dad didn't know they were there until he saw the news coverage later.

It didn't disrupt this funeral. Heck, the dad didn't know they were there until he saw the news coverage later.

 

He did not see the signs the protesters made Clyde. He did however see the protesters

 

"I had one chance to bury my son and it was taken from me," Is the comment Snyder stated on the issue.

Westboro Baptist isn't a church It's a cult . The Baptist Church in America should sue this outfit for defamation of character .

I believe there is a simple answer here. Pass a federal law that defines protesting at the funeral of a fallen soldier as an act of treason. That would end these protests.

 

That's an interesting proposal. Admittedly I haven't thought much about it, but at least initially, it seems reasonable to me.

I believe there is a simple answer here. Pass a federal law that defines protesting at the funeral of a fallen soldier as an act of treason. That would end these protests.

You are a true Voice of Reason :thumb::thumb::thumb:

I believe there is a simple answer here. Pass a federal law that defines protesting at the funeral of a fallen soldier as an act of treason. That would end these protests.

I'm in total agreement, sounds like a simple solution indeed. :thumb:

Sometimes there are things we just don't do. This is what I asked Margie Phelps in my emails. Isn't there another way to protest? I asked her also. I also asked her when your dad passes do you think people will protest his funeral, I told her NO, there are some things people don't do.

 

She sooned barred my emails.

He did not see the signs the protesters made Clyde. He did however see the protesters

 

"I had one chance to bury my son and it was taken from me," Is the comment Snyder stated on the issue.

 

That's incorrect.

 

"Snyder's family only encountered Phelps' vile words through after-the-fact news reports and a visit to Westboro's website."

 

http://www.newschief.com/article/20101009/NEWS/10095047/-1/living?Title=Picketing-of-military-funerals-vexing

 

"In fact, Snyder says he did not actually see or hear about the horrible Westboro signs until later on television news and the Internet."

 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-10-08/news/ct-oped-1010-page-20101008_1_westboro-baptist-church-albert-snyder-funeral-procession

That's incorrect.

 

"Snyder's family only encountered Phelps' vile words through after-the-fact news reports and a visit to Westboro's website."

 

http://www.newschief.com/article/20101009/NEWS/10095047/-1/living?Title=Picketing-of-military-funerals-vexing

 

"In fact, Snyder says he did not actually see or hear about the horrible Westboro signs until later on television news and the Internet."

 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-10-08/news/ct-oped-1010-page-20101008_1_westboro-baptist-church-albert-snyder-funeral-procession

 

They did not see the signs. I stated they didn't. They did however know that the protesters were there.

 

You stated the father didn't know they were there when in fact he did.

 

"Al Snyder rerouted the funeral procession so his family wouldn't have to see the protesters,"

 

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2021068,00.html#ixzz11tIrqFJJ

 

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2021068,00.html

I believe there is a simple answer here. Pass a federal law that defines protesting at the funeral of a fallen soldier as an act of treason. That would end these protests.

 

The federal law would be found, I believe, to be in violation of the first amendment.

The federal law would be found, I believe, to be in violation of the first amendment.

 

I don't think it would if it were considered treason.

The federal law would be found, I believe, to be in violation of the first amendment.

 

 

I think you are probably right. The first amendment protects freedom of assembly as well. To make an assembly like this illegal could easily expand to making any and all protests against government actions illegal and it then takes us right back to where we were before the revolution.

I think you are probably right. The first amendment protects freedom of assembly as well. To make an assembly like this illegal could easily expand to making any and all protests against government actions illegal and it then takes us right back to where we were before the revolution.

 

That's quite a slope you just slipped down.

 

So if this military family started rioting because of the things the protesters are saying, would both parties be in trouble? If they protested my son's funeral, I promise they'd have a riot on their hands.

 

I still believe that their rights should end at the point where they infringe on someone else's rights. Have the protest - just not where it disrupts the event. 1 mile away would be a good distance to write into law.

 

I agree with this.

 

Maybe the easier answer is put soldiers and their families into the group protected by hate crimes. For some reason, this group has decided to hate soldiers and their families and are directing that vocal hatred at them at the worst time. If these protests such as this were targeted at a racial minority funerals just because they were a racial minority do you think there would not be federal charges?

 

Free speech and freedom of assembly rights should be carefully protected. However, when those actions migrate to acts that are directed at targeted individuals it seems to cross the line into laws that govern acts such as:

- threats

- terroristic threatening

- personal and direct harassment

- exploitation of private individuals or their families for political purposes

- 'hate' crimes (I am not big fan of these laws since the acts covered are usually covered under other laws - but if we are going to have them...see above)