Soldier Funeral Law

[Superman79]

Ok, I know this could possibly lead to an interesting debate.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13034721/

Bush signs this law, to protect soldiers funerals from the likes of Fred Phelps, which I am totally in agreement with. Yet at the same time some people are saying it totally violates the 1st Amendment. Now I can’t remember the case names off the top of my head, but it think under the Supreme Court’s fighting words doctrine, as well as the principles of hate speech they refer to, that the Court would possibly uphold this law as preventative of hate speech. If it did, it would certainly help further any other hate speech legislation like against the KKK and such. I’ll go look up those cases for a stronger legal argument, but my first reaction would be to agree with the law and (for the first time in a long time) applaud Bush for doing this.

 

[Odin's Lapdog]

who is fred phelps?

 

[DOG LIPS]

who is fred phelps?

The guy who plays Grimace from McDonald's.

 

[logansoldcigar]

Its a good law, IMO. someone's funeral, whether you agreed with the reasons they died or not, isnt the place to score cheap points, either political or religious .

 

[Superman79]

who is fred phelps?

A psycho anti-gay preacher who runs a church of about 100 people (most of which are his family) who protest soldiers funerals with signs saying:

"Thank God for dead soldiers"
"God hates gays"
"God Hates the USA" (for tolerating gays)
ETC.

Basically, he thinks God is killing Americans becasue we don't exterminate homosexuals like Phelps would prefer. He's a real lovey-dovey guy aka huge *****ebag

 

[danielisthor]

I agree with this law. Anybody's funeral, does not need any hate mongering from the likes of Fred Phelps or any of his ilk.

I will give Bush and the US Congress a good little pop for something they finally did right. Cheers.

 

[Superman79]

The only problem is that the ACLU is bound to come after this law (it's inevitable) as a 1st Amendment violation. I just hope the governement put some decent lawyers on the case as opposed to the B or C teams

 

[ToddIsDead]

I'm liking this law. It just pisses me off immensley when I see Phelps and his goons ruining yet another funeral.

 

[jaguarr]

Well, as much as I hate Fred Phelps and his moronic followers, this really is a 1st Amendment violation. Besides, if you think a law like this would really stop Phelps from protesting at funerals, you're sorely mistaken.

jag

 

[Superman79]

I'm liking this law. It just pisses me off immensley when I see Phelps and his goons ruining yet another funeral.

They really should have added a provision allowing families to "shoot on sight" of people like Phelps protesting a funeral...that coulda been fun/interesting

 

[Odin's Lapdog]

The guy who plays Grimace from McDonald's.

eh?



i don't get your american references...

 

[DOG LIPS]

eh?



i don't get your american references...

Filthy Canadians.

 

[huskerwebhead]

Its a good law, IMO. someone's funeral, whether you agreed with the reasons they died or not, isnt the place to score cheap points, either political or religious .

 

[Mister Sinister]

I remember reading the article with people holding banners saying 'God hates ****' at SOMEONE'S FUNERAL! If that was someone I knew's funeral, I would have been there beating the crap out of those people.

And why are gays being targeted? Why not suicide bombers, or people cohabiting? Just homophobes trying to justify their sad existence.

 

[Superman79]

I remember reading the article with people holding banners saying 'God hates ****' at SOMEONE'S FUNERAL! If that was someone I knew's funeral, I would have been there beating the crap out of those people.

And why are gays being targeted? Why not suicide bombers, or people cohabiting? Just homophobes trying to justify their sad existence.

Pretty much. That's why the law was made, to allow soldiers families to grieve without the crazies making a mockery of the service

 

[redmarvel]

A funeral or a wedding is a Private function. Unless you are invited you should not be there. Arrest Phelps for distrubing the peace, I'm sure that some of the funeral goers would testify against him. (No need to enact a special law).

 

[Superman79]

A funeral or a wedding is a Private function. Unless you are invited you should not be there. Arrest Phelps for distrubing the peace, I'm sure that some of the funeral goers would testify against him. (No need to enact a special law).

ah, BUT private funeral on public burial ground still leaves the surrounding areas to protest without technically violating community peace and decency laws...on a public ground the protestors technically have a right to be there...it sucks but it's true, that's why the special law was drafted

 

[Super Flight]

The church has curpted fred phelps mind, just has it did to hitler, and that monk from the da vinci code

 

[Addendum]

From the article...

"The bill was sponsored by Representative Mike Rogers of Brighton. It bars protests within 300 feet of the entrance to a national cemetery or within 150 feet of a road into the cemetery"

There's a buffer zone, similar to one used in restraining orders. This law is only for cemetaries that the federal government owns. State and city governments have either passed or working on similar laws for the cemetaries that they own.

Free speech doesn't cover harassment, libel, slander, or plagiarism.

This "church's" inane hate-filled ramblings fall under "harassment", and their speech isn't being restrained, since their website is still open and they can spout their hate from the pulpit.

 

[Super Flight]

They have a website!! whAt is it! thats somthing that i might have to..... POOP ON!

 

[Super Flight]

I remember reading the article with people holding banners saying 'God hates ****' at SOMEONE'S FUNERAL! If that was someone I knew's funeral, I would have been there beating the crap out of those people.

And why are gays being targeted? Why not suicide bombers, or people cohabiting? Just homophobes trying to justify their sad existence.

because those church followers are pure evil... i mean they dont want to kill their own kind... he is like a less powerful Emporer Palpitine from star wars

 

[Kritish]

I'm all for it, there are some things you just shouldn't do. Protesting at a funeral is one of them.

 

[Super Flight]

WTF!! Read this! in the middle it says he killed a dog for going on his propety!! He is also mess up on drugs and abussed his children! theres something else in there that says he might have killed his sons 17 year old wife, what a ****er! he is the devil, damn him!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps

 

[DOG LIPS]

WTF!! Read this! in the middle it says he killed a dog for going on his propety!! He is also mess up on drugs and abussed his children! he is the devil, damn him!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps

R.I.P. cousin Ralph.

 

[Kritish]

WTF!! Read this! in the middle it says he killed a dog for going on his propety!! He is also mess up on drugs and abussed his children! theres something else in there that says he might have killed his sons 17 year old wife, what a ****er! he is the devil, damn him!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps

I'd pay money to beat the crap out of him.