1st amendment rights

Lacrew you bring up some good points and it has raised a question in my mind. The fact that they can be classified as a hate group (a prime example is their sign s with a certain 3 letter word on them which can be seen in many pictures) if they were to actually trespass during one of the protest could it be elevated to a hate crime? There have been many simple low level crimes that have be elevated to hate crimes so it would be interesting.

Me personally I am waiting for him to protest the wrong funeral and having a grieving mother or father taking him totally out because I think that person would get off on temporary insanity due to the grieving process and also I don't think there is any way a jury would convict. I don't even think a grand jury would let it go to trial.

Mya, Fred rarely attends the protests himself. Also, his group video documents everything that happens.

For the moderators; why was my post removed? It was short, very short and nonsensical but it didn't cross any lines.

So basically Fred is a coward I forgot about that. The one thing I find interesting is when Britain (I think) refused to allow him and his group there to protest a play and he wanted to complain to the our government about it. Too bad it is not that easy to get him out of here.

This is nothing new. Phelps has been picketing the Topeka are for about 20 years now. The picket everything for just about every reason. They even picketed my wedding (true story...don't know why...we just ignored them and never asked). They usually show up...jump out and stand on the corner for 20 minutes or so...then move on. I remember people saying 20 years ago that someone would snap and take 'em out. My guess is that this father, in his own way, snapped.

Johngalt, I'll check with the others, but I see no indication that anything was deleted.

I think the Court will narrowly tailor a decision against Phelps. The First Amendment right to Free Speech is subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions. Now I know, I'm the big advocate for freedom, but if it were my son or daughter being buried, I wouldn't want to hear how they "deserved to die" because the US is not harsher against homosexuals.

BTW, it should be obvious to anyone who passed Psychology 101 with a C- or better that Fred Phelps is a latent homosexual. He hates himself for it. He's a sad person, and the best punishment would be to ignore him, but for those saying good-bye to loved ones, it is too early in the grieving process to be kind or turn the other cheek to that kind of bullshit.

And while I'm at it, God Bless the Patriot Guard for all they do to protect the families from these idiots.

And while I'm at it, God Bless the Patriot Guard for all they do to protect the families from these idiots. Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

Completely agree!!

+1 COG

They even picketed my wedding... Originally Posted by swarmyone

...to a woman? LOL I could see why they'd picket if you were getting married to another guy.

I'm happily shocked by the responses in this thread. Most of you guys seem to be on top of this issue. Hopefully, the SCOTUS finds away to rule for free speech and against Fred Phelps. Winning or losing this Supreme Court case might be the best thing Phelps ever does in his rotten life.

That said, I'd like to know what people are going to do about Westboro Baptist Church. Are they going to protest Fred's funeral? Are gay men going to leave butt plugs on his grave? Maybe we should print 10,000 "GOD HATES FRED" signs just to be ready.

I wouldn't protest his funeral. A few years ago a musician (Bite Boy?) held a rally/picket at his compound. Two days ago, white powder was sent to his law office, a month ago somebody hurt their dog, a week ago somebody spray painted their house....the Phelps group eats this stuff up (assuming they didn't stage some of it). They crave attention. I wouldn't do a thing at Fred's funeral that would get him any attention. I would hope that nobody would give them the time of day, and force them to bury their patriarch in a quiet ceremony, with no fanfare.

I tend to agree that it's within their free speech rights to protest, no matter how despicable they are.

I heard someone on a radio talk show that said the Phelps crew more or less welcomes attacks on themselves during their protests. Several family members are attorneys and they make a very good living suing people for personal injury. That’s where they get their funding to do the things they do.

That said, I'd like to know what people are going to do about Westboro Baptist Church. Are they going to protest Fred's funeral? Are gay men going to leave butt plugs on his grave? Maybe we should print 10,000 "GOD HATES FRED" signs just to be ready. Originally Posted by Longermonger

Longer! We agree on something! That would be fun!

God doesn't hate Fred. Extremely disappointed in him, but He doesn't hate Fred.

Although, LOL, it would be a funny site to see a ton of butt plugs laying on his coffin with a sign that says "Eat Shit Fred", LOL.

Again going back to my "revenge is never the answer" post, this would not be the most effective way to handle things LOL. May seem more fun at the time, but in the end we are just putting ourselves down to the same low-life level as Phelps. Would we not be treating him the same way LOL?

I go with the idea of erecting a Port a John over the Phelps grave. Other than that I do like the protesting the funeral idea.