If at first you don't succeed ...

The Kansas Legislature has passed another bill that would limit funeral protests, only without a judicial trigger. (The state passed a similar bill, but it was knocked down because it would only take effect if a state or federal court ruled it constitutional.)

The new bill, which was introduced March 11, is on its way to the governor now ...

Comments

[*sexy*]

I think this is a great proposal!

[jeano]

Now Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas and possibly other states will have to do this. The Phelps group will find a way to spread their hate and lack of respect. Picketing funerals is just plain evil. Perhaps Phelps is the anti-Christ the Bible predicts.

[G]

This is not a great proposal. Being a complete douch bag and picketing peacefully are both protected rights of every American citizen.

I hate Phelps as much as the next person, but all these proposals do is give the Westboro crazies two things they crave:
1) Attention
2) Judicial victories

[James Hart]

G: I would add "punitive damages and legal costs."

[Nick]

I just don't see the benefit in moving them out of range.

[Kevan]

"limit funeral protests"? How about getting rid all together. The person is dead & family in morn. Leave these people alone! Protests of military funerals really piss me off too & not just due to me being a 10 year combat veteran! You dont have to support the war but at least show some respect for your fallen soilder fighting for you & our country!

[G]

Respect for what country, KEvan?

Oh, I know, the country that has freedom for EVERYONE.

I empathize with you Kevan, I do, these people are the lowest form of scum...but your service was all about ensuring that even these Americans have the same freedoms as everyone else.

come on ..I like farmer fred....

[blarney]

No matter how you view these people they have a right to do this. It smacks of bad manners, is tacky and pretty much disgusting but it is their right. They are no infringing on other peoples rights and should be left alone to do as they please.

[dln]

Do these aweful people just sit and read the obituaries to find out where they can go to spread their hate?

[Gee]

Blarney has the key words in his post regarding the Phelps crowd--"left alone." While I admire the efforts of the veterans on motorcycles who drown out the chants from the Westboro Baptist crowd at these funerals, for the most part, the worst thing that can happen to these people is to be ignored.

They thrive on attention, and this sort of legislation simply validates their belief that they are "prophets" crying in the wilderness trying to "save" a sinful nation who wants to drown out their message of "salvation."

Of course, the irony is that, while I'm calling for people to ignore them, here I am reading and writing about them . . . sigh

We already categorize certain non-physical actions as "assault" (usually in the third or second). This is because assault is defined as a threat to person, not a harm on person. I guess they're not actually threatening harm.

And, I guess I don't want yet another you-can't-do-something law.

Bah, I feel unclean for siding with their right to do this.

the B Guy

[blarney]

B guy,

assault is a non physical action by definition.

Battery is the physical part.

So basically the threat is assault and then when you actually do it then it's battery. That is why guys who beat up someone don't get arrested for assault, they get arrested for battery.

[td]

I am amazed that somebody hasn't already taken Phelps out. Hopefully he will die soon, and wake up on the dark side where he belongs.

[Patriot]

There is a big difference between free speech and harrassment. Picketing at funerals is harrassment.

[True American]

Honor has become lost in this country.

[Billy the Kid]

There is a big difference between free speech and harrassment. Picketing at funerals is harrassment-Patriot

I agree with that completely. The second amendment was more about the right to gather for politcal meetings with fear of incumbant government harassement.

You can't yell FIRE in a theatre.

You can't say the word bomb in an airport.

Why should these terrible people be allowed to harass the grieving at a funeral? What has this got to do with free speech? I mean what if I walked into a HS classroom and started screaming obscenities? I honestly don't get it.

I also agree with the one poster who asked why this fellow Phelps has not yet been popped.

[True American]

I'm all for censorship when it keeps idiots from spewing their filth - especially around my kids. And I agree with Billy's post. But someone is typing as we speak, that any violation of free speech is governmental supression, man... No matter how hateful and vulgar. Wouldn't this picketing be considered a hate crime if accompanied by threats of violence? Isn't it also illegal to disturb the peace? There are probably several laws being ignored for this political group of whack-jobs.

[Steelblues]

"G", Being a Viet-Nam Vet I assure you I did not fight to insure Rev. Phelps the right to degrade the memory of a fallen patriot. Some people seem to think that no matter how they act or what they do, it is protected by their freedoms. I assure you that had General Washington witnessed such scumbags as the Phelps Clan back in his day, no doubt there would be a few lines of someones Genealogy erased from the face of the earth. Ones freedoms should not infringe on the freedoms of others. Freedom of speech does not mean that I can slander or use racial slurs without recourse. To me what Rev. Phelps is doing can well be described as a hate crime and treated in that context. Freedom of speech is not unlike any other freedom that we have in our lives, but freedom is not free. We must use those freedoms for the betterment of our nation and peoples if we are truly to stay a great nation, and we must insure that those who use freedom as a disguise to mask hatred shall not prevail!

[True American]

Steelblues - that was awesome.

[Chris]

And yet nobody cared when they just protested at gay funerals... It was horrible and wrong then and it's horrible and wrong now. They do it for the attention and we're all giving it to them because they know how to push buttons.

Free speech should be protected and those who fight for this country would do well to remember that not everyone they are fighting for thinks the same way they do. We can be greatful for the service to our country and respect the soldiers without agreeing with the politics behind the decision to send them to battle, while still speaking our minds and practicing the freedoms for which we should all be prepared to defend. I would gladly fight for this country and die for it were we ever truly under attack - but I don't have to sign up for any old war the rich and powerful want us to fight they can get more rich and more powerful.

[Kevan]

To Steelblues: As another vet not of vietnam but 3 tours during storm - irag freedom I have to say couldnt be more right but remember that the ones that havent put the boots on & made the sacrafice & seen the "other side" seem to talk alot more about something they really dont know anything about. Like these fat politicians that sit around now talkn about our & dem boys & what we should be doing & never served a day in life. They piss me off as much as the people @ a soilders funeral