Justices Rule for Protesters at Military Funerals

[waxthis]

Naw, only one way to go,, The Sex Pistols, The early stuff.

Cheers....Throw in some Exploited, Black Flag, Dead Kennedy's and its a done deal.....

[Bailey Guns]

Well...I don't buy the freedom of speech angle on this issue and agree with the dissent written by Alito.

What these scumbags do is nothing more than harassment. If they just picked random places to hold their "protests", no problem. These people are going out of their way to torment and inflict emotional distress on the members of fallen soldier's family and friends. I don't see a free speech protection in this at all. I think the SCOTUS dropped the ball on this.

[TDO]

Well...I don't buy the freedom of speech angle on this issue and agree with the dissent written by Alito.

What these scumbags do is nothing more than harassment. If they just picked random places to hold their "protests", no problem. These people are going out of their way to torment and inflict emotional distress on the members of fallen soldier's family and friends. I don't see a free speech protection in this at all. I think the SCOTUS dropped the ball on this.

+1

[BigMat]

Have to agree with Bailey on this one, I don't see how a funeral is a location where a political statement type thing can be said. Just pure and simple rude harassment. They can stand in front of the white house, capitol, bank office building or even .mil recruiter, but a funeral is not such a place. They are their to offend, only offend.

I believe they are more interested in suing a family of a deceased person who looses it and hits them, far more than making a statement.

[lebru]

Its free speech, like it or not. That is how the USA works. If they get denied the right to do it, they will just bitch and moan about infringement of freedoms, the same way gun owners do whenever a gun bill is introduced. Round and round it goes.

[Hayes]

I will preface by saying, I think Westboro is (are?) despicable for what they are doing.

The problem is, they are covered by the same Constitution we hold dear. If we don't allow them their first amendment right, should we be entitled to our second amendment right?

Now, if I hear of a funeral here in CO they are attending, I will show up in full force with my motorcycle and all my buddies and anyone I can get ahold of to sit between them and the funeral and rev the shit out of our engines so they can't be heard.

[Ah Pook]

Free speech is one thing, harassment is another. If it was the Westboro Law Firm, there would be no question. Throw in the word church and everything changes.

Protesting at funerals (anyones funeral) is just reprehensible.

Some people here have mainstream musical tastes. My pick would be Ministry "Stigmata". Preferably the live version. Second would be John Zorn's "Sweat, Sperm + Blood".

In all seriousness, if the WBC was met with this kind of response more often, I doubt they would protest for long.

[lebru]

I will preface by saying, I think Westboro is (are?) despicable for what they are doing.

The problem is, they are covered by the same Constitution we hold dear. If we don't allow them their first amendment right, should we be entitled to our second amendment right?

Now, if I hear of a funeral here in CO they are attending, I will show up in full force with my motorcycle and all my buddies and anyone I can get ahold of to sit between them and the funeral and rev the shit out of our engines so they can't be heard.

said it better than I can. and you nailed it on the head.


are they fucked up? yes
are they allowed to be fucked up? yes

america, fuck yeah.

[Hayes]

Free speech is one thing, harassment is another.

I agree that it is harassment, but its a hard line to draw. Where do we draw the limit?

[FireMoth]

the answer is simple: Some ones constitutional right ro freedom of speech and freedom of assembly is being marginalized...

...because if the soldiers and their families and other friends of the fallen showed up outside of these assholes churches every Sunday to call them soul peddling fear mongering fuck tard ass holes at the top of their lungs, they would be charged with harassment and menacing, because its a fucking church.

So, there is freedom of speech. constitutionally protected for those with imaginary friends they all gather to play with.
I guess the souls of the fallen don't get that respect.

I am all in favor of free speech for EVERYONE. No just those who conduct themselves poorly.

Now, even as an atheist, i think its a clear cut case of religious persecution. Burial ceremonies are a SACRED RELIGIOUS RIGHT to ensure the passing of the soul into paradise.
The church freaks are using their religious beliefs to persecute some one else's, and they are not being held accountable for it.

I say we see how far they want to take this free speech thing. If they can scream at the families of the fallen that their sons and daughters were evil murderers, then i can sit on the steps of the church and scream that the people inside are all child molesting, baby raping cannibal perverts. Cause that's my constitutional right.

Some day some one will explain to me how we can simultaneously have freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion, as well as laws against libel, slander, harassment, and menacing.

That's like saying i have the freedom to walk where ever i want.. as long as i stay on the side walk, and obey all the crossing gourds....