What do you think of making it a law?
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=109573925730229
Make It Illegal to Protest at Military Funerals
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by gb93433, Apr 9, 2010.
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Crabtownboy Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I feel that protests at military funerals or any other funeral for that matter are abhorrent they are the exercise of the freedom of speech and that is protected. -
I must reluctantly agree with Roger.
I find the slimy protesters rude, obnoxious and unChristian. I have attended several funerals for soldiers who died in Iraq, including a couple at which the Topeka crazies threatened to show up, and the mere announcement they would attend (I don't think they actually carried out their threat) created unnecessary heartache for the families and communities.
That said, I am reluctant to unnecessarily restrict free speech rights, which several states already have done. (My own state, for example, prohibits picketing within 500 feet of the funeral site or cemetery an hour before or after the service.) It is bad law prompted by the unconscionable actions of a few publicity seekers.
I would note, Roger, that the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge on Massachusetts' law that forbids protesters from approaching within 35 feet of an abortion clinic. Whether that will hold up when the court considers the case of the Maryland family that won a judgment against the Topeka folks remains to be seen. -
If the protests intrude onto private property, that's where I draw the line. private property should be just that.
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Just do what we WVians did to the idiots yesterday....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoZK0IvE-Z8 -
I am not necessarily a Tea Party fan, but a lot of their popularity is based on the freedom to protest. That is part of what makes America great. Infringing on that is the real beginning of a totalitarian state.
Their actions are truly abhorrent, but denying them their right would be even more abhorrent.
I agree on the private property issue by the way, be it private cemetery, church yard, or abortion clinic. -
The burial at a cementary is normally private property - thus that is one way to keep them out.
Otherwise, I would reccommend a 1,000 foot buffer - about 3 football fields. -
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I'm also an advocate of private property rights. I believe all government building are open to anyone, private property, business or home or what ever is open to who ever the owner want to allow on it. The value of this was pointed out to me by Judge Leslie Isaiah Gaines from Cincinatti.
The two could at time cause me and others problems. -
The difference with a funeral is that it is a solemn event and should be given additional protection. -
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I have to agree with ROger here as well. This cult has a right to do what they are doing and their wickedness should be combated with rational refutation, not by force.
That said, if they infringe on private property that is another matter.
Here is another idea, what if people who opposed what the Westboro cult do at funerals were to show up to protest the protesters.
not in the same manner of course but to distract them, challenge them on their own sin etc. I have seen youtube videos where people have challenged these people. They don't know how to handle it.
Laws against this behavior would probably make them protest all the more. -
The best solution to folks like this is to totally ignore. If they did not get a response they would not be there. If there we the only ones yelling and causing a scene it would quickly cease to be newsworthy and they go back to their family church.