Should it be legal to protest near soldiers funerals?

Question

Does freedom of speech protect people who wish to peacefully protest near the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq? Such as silently holding signs or other "vigils"?

Answer 1

Yes, freedom of speech protects it, as long as it's not on private property. And the flip side of it is it also protects those wack jobs who hold up horrible signs blaming the soldiers for their own deaths (you know, the "god hates fags" idiots).

Answer 2

a. Should it be legal? Yes. (But there should be a limit as to how close the protest can come to the church, funeral hall, etc.)
b. Should it be done? No. When anyone dies, it's a sad event. (You don't want to upset the parents any more then they are already.) Protesting at a funeral is.... In bad taste, to say the least. The best thing to do (in my opinion) would be to send a wreath, bouquet, etc. with red, white, and blue flowers to the funeral with the name of the organization on the attached card. If the parents are very anti-war and interested in joining, they will send a thank you card and a note. If they are not, they can send a thank you card and leave it at that.

Answer 3

Yes it should be illegal and in many states it now is due to the antics of Rev. Phelps and his rabble. It should be illegal to protest at any funeral and those that do for any reason are just uncouth. The family and friends are grieving and it is a very emotional and private time and no one should be allowed to intrude or disrupt that for any reason. They have enough to deal with at that time in their lives they don't need anything else to cope with. Think about it. How would you, your family, or friends feel if someone was protesting out side of the funeral of a family member or loved one? As far as the free speech argument, no one is prohibiting the protest they are just prohibiting where they protest. Ergo their freedom of speech is still protected.

Answer 4

That's a tough and very emotional subject. The Constitutional right of Free Assembly and Freedom of Speech should never be abrogated. While I think it's reprehensible for some to protest a soldiers death when he died for their very right to protest, I can't say they can't do it. Just as I don't believe in flag burning I still uphold a persons right to burn our flag in protest (as long as the flag belonged to them). If we deny rights to some then eventually we will deny rights to all of us. The folks that protest at soldiers funerals are, in my opinion, mis-informed or demented but that does not give us the right to deny them their rights.
Oh... by the way... I'm a member of the Patriot Guard. The organization was formed to screen the families of our fallen soldiers from the protesters. We don't confront them or try to deny them their right of protest but we show our support and help screen the bereaved from those ********.

Answer 5

No, I am a military wife and I can say from the families' side it is very disrespectful. If you don't want to support the men and women that are serving to give you the right to free speech then do it somewhere other than a funeral. A life of a dear love one was just lost, don't torment the family even more.

Answer 6

No.

How would you feel had that been your loved one? You're finally seeing them be put to rest and all you hear are the protesters chanting and screaming. How would you feel when you looked back at that funeral and remembered these obnoxious people ruining it? It's completely rude and uncalled for even if they are 'silently' participating.

Apart from it being outright wrong, I disagree with many of these protesters views. All of them seem to be flawed...

Answer 7

I learn the grizzly homicide on the thin dogs, so sorry... :( I DO think of that's suitable for Canada to bar get admission to, they're working under their rules, and their rules help this. I applaud them, and secretly think of "on your face Westboro!" i won't be able to say that such measures might desire to be taken contained in the U. S.. even nonetheless I cheer Canada of their endevors to stay away from such hatefulness into their united states, the U. S. has constitutional rights that all of us (human beings and non-human beings) have the hassle-free civil precise to precise themselves, even while they're expressing hate, as long as they do no longer harm yet another. that's an exceedingly great line, and could be taken care of heavily, with the aid of fact the point at the back of that Constitutional modification became into to stay away from minorities (even the Westboro Baptist Church) from having their rights trampled upon. Whats greater, Westboro won't be able to sue Canada for implementing their very own rules. If Westboro needs to pass into yet another united states, they might desire to abide by that countrie's rules. Westboro won't be able to sue the Canadian government for no longer up-conserving their U.S. rights, even is a worldwide court of regulation. are you able to assert JURISDICTION!?

Answer 8

"NOT NO,BUT HELL NO". Anyone caught protesting at a funeral should be SHOT. Show some Respect for the DEAD.That soldier Didn't die for some IDIOT to Get His/Her Jollies Off.

Answer 9

It would be staggeringly disrespectful but not illegal. It can be said that even if the war it's self is for the wrong reasons, many of which may be unhonorable, there is honor in sacrifice and those who give their lives for their country deserve only the highest respect.

Answer 10

I think it's bad form not to mention downright disrespectful to protest at a soldier's or anyone else's funeral. Imagine if it were one of your family members funeral that this was going on at.