I heard some bastards from westboro babstist church were doing this at MILITARY funerals, I mean come one don't these soilders deserve respect for dying for our country?
2006-08-09 11:46:24 · 13 answers · asked by hawkeyes 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No freedom of speech. You may not like the speech......but then again, other might not like your speech. I realize it's at a funeral....but freedom to say what you wish to say.....MUST REMAIN PARAMOUNT!!
2006-08-09 11:50:35 · answer #1 · answered by pjay 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, but I think there should be laws regulating how, when, and where they can protest.
I would support laws that keep protesters back a certain distance, close enough for the family to see their message on the way to and from the funeral, but far enough away that the protesters won't be a distraction DURING the funeral service.
I don't think this would be a violation of free speech, any more than restrictions on a downtown protest during rush hour or a bullhorn speech in a neighborhood at 2 a.m. would be violations of free speech. We wouldn't be censoring the content of their message or preventing the message from reaching their audience. We would just be balancing their speech rights with the families right not to be harassed.
I find the Westboro Baptist Church's message to be revolting, but the First Amendment was created to protect unpopular messages.
2006-08-09 19:00:14 · answer #2 · answered by timm1776 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes. In fact, here in Louisiana, there is a new law in the works that will make it illegal b/c these westboro baptists were going to picket at this poor guy's funeral (but they found a bigger funeral elsewhere- maybe it had something to do with the police force and a biker brigade coming to the funeral). The guy had a wife and 4 kids for crying out loud!
I'm all for free speech and all, even if I don't agree with it- as in this particular case, but disrupting a funeral- that's ridiculous!
2006-08-09 20:57:32 · answer #3 · answered by miss advice 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is really disrespectful and those people should know better than to make a Serviceman's funeral about their bigotry instead of the fallen soldiers service and sacrafice. However, should we really make new laws whenever someone acts a fool? I would hope that our lawmakers have more important things to worry about than these jerks and flag-burning. Even if it were made illegal, these fanatics would break the law to protest and get arrested and thus be in the news. I'm not sure what a good solution would be for this problem.
2006-08-09 18:57:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes they were, near where i live in athens, ga they gathered but there police officers and a veterans bike club that blocked them from the service..this veteran's bike club, i don't know the name travel around basically following these lunatic extremists and shield the families from their lunancy. if you've ever looked up the westboro 'baptist' church they are complete and utter nutcases...and its these kinds of extremists nutjobs that pervert the truth to use for their own agendas and make real christians look bad, unfortunately people will throw the blanket of guilt over all rather than see these idiots for what they are....homegrown terrorists no better than al qaida. btw if that were my son or daughters funeral they showed up at the police and motorcycle club better be prepared to protect those people cause i wouldn't leave a one standing...thats MY right to free speech and expression.....although i'll bet every police officer there and the motorcycle members would have been striken with sudden blindness and deafness if someone had went after the nuts
2006-08-09 18:52:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is protesting, and then there is egregious activity that has no purpose other than to be disruptive.
Under the Time-Place-Manner doctrine for 1st Amendment activity, it is permissible to limit the location and mode of expression, where there is an important interest being protected, and where there regulation leaves open ample alternative venues for expressing the same message.
So, the restrictions against protesting within the immediate area of a funeral are generally valid, as long as they don't get too extreme.
2006-08-09 18:54:46 · answer #6 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We've had the same problem in our area. A law was passed making protesting a funeral illegal. And it was the same people..
2006-08-09 21:17:07 · answer #7 · answered by Mary J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't like them, but we don't need more laws. We have too many already! Hell, you can't walk out of your house without breaking some law you don't even know about.
The police will keep them a safe distance!
They died for Bush and the oil company's, NOT our country!
2006-08-09 18:53:05 · answer #8 · answered by cantcu 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
tes there should for now a person is overstepping there bounds and bothering a grieving family. That is not ok
2006-08-09 22:39:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it should be a crime to bother a family who lost someone in war.
2006-08-09 18:52:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋